Lonavala Holiday
As this is my first post I just wanted to give you a heads up on what this blog is all about. Naturally as the name of blog suggest it is about my favourite holiday destination Lonavala City but more than that it is about desire to let people see a different side of lonavala and most importantly not with the eyes of a week-end tourist but that of a lover of beauty and life.
I will not only be highlighting some of the most interesting things about lonavala which you can use as a lonavala travel guide but also some of the negatives that we as tourist have created in recent times with this hope that after reading this blog at least some of us will start to take more responsibility show more care the next we visit this paradise.
If you are expecting some technically perfect website with statistical information about lonavala, a few links and rate cards then please turn back as this blog is my eyes to a place that I have come to love and care about. Its people are now my friends who I know by name and share a relationship with.
Another purpose of creating this blog is also to demonstrate to my good friend Namz here the power of blogging. So hope you will join me and Namz on this is beautiful and timeless journey to our very own paradise called lonavala.
Lonavala City
Lonavala City was once a quaint little hill town surrounded by the Sahyadri ranges that demarcate the Deccan Plateau and the Konkan coast. Situated 622 m. above sea level it has some absolutely breath taking sights. (Lonavla got its name from the Sanskrit word lonavli, which refers to the many caves like Karla Caves, Bhaja Caves and Bedsa that are close to Lonavla.) In the monsoons it has a carpet of lush green fields and is decorated with waterfalls and ponds by nature itself. It is easy to understand why it attracts the likes of many artist and film makers during this time.
With easy accessibility via road and rail from nearby cities like Mumbai and Pune lonavala has unfortunately changed from a small hill town to a party heaven for the young and restless Mumbai-ites and Pune-ites. A week-end getaway for most it has now become a place for some to show off their excess wealth by building the most extravagant houses in the valley. (OK, I am ranting now…)
In spite of all the crap and restlessness of the week-enders if one goes a little deeper (which is where I intend to take you with this blog) it is easy to re-discover the natural beauty and freshness of what might have been in a different time.
lonavala and khandala are often confused by many due to their proximity but in reality Khandala is adjacent to Lonavala and slightly below it as far as statistics are considered. Lonavala and Khandala are some times also referred to as the ‘twin hill stations’ a point that I can never understand. Lonavala has a very distinct personality to Khandala and anybody who has ever bothered to look carefully will easily notice that.
Some Lonavala trivia:
-
The population of Lonavla is around 100,000 as of 2009. -
The lonavala hill station is all of approximate area of 38 km² -
Lonavla and Khandala were discovered in 1871 by Sir Elphinstone, the Governor of the Bombay Presidency or so they say…blah! -
Lonavla got its name from the Sanskrit word lonavli, which refers to the many caves like Karla Caves, Bhaja Caves and Bedsa that are close to Lonavla. -
As per the 2001 census Lonavla had a population of 55,650. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. -
Lonavla has an average literacy rate of 75%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 81%, and female literacy is 69%. In Lonavla, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.
lonavala hill station
I pretty much know lonavala city in and out but for the benefit of readers who are planning to visit soon or the first time I will in my further post be posting lonavala city map to make it easier to navigate through the crowded alleys and streets.
lonavala from mumbai
lonavala distance from Mumbai is 96 km and it is quite easy to reach here with either road or rail travel. While most week-end tourist prefers to drive in their cars, there are plenty of other options available in case you want to take a break for driving. All major services that go to Pune (State and Private Bus operators, Pvt. Taxi, Trains) readily stop at lonavala to drop you off (Keep in mind that it’s a still fare to Pune that you end up paying).
While most people and services prefer to take the new the Mumbai-Pune Expressway I still prefer to either take a train ride or the old Mumbai-Pune highway for the sheer beauty that I miss out on if I take the expressway. I will explain this in detail in a future post as in this case I feel the journey is as beautiful as the destination.
lonavala from pune
lonavala distance from pune is around 64 km and its pretty much the same way as you would travel to Mumbai except that you miss the excitement of the very-very scenic western Ghats. Being so close to Pune it has become a popular one day picnic destination for the residents of Pune city.
lonavala attractions & lonavala places to visit
Although there are no fixed tours to take you around lonavala like a complete lonavala darshan (OK, I picked it up from our local Mumbai Darshan trips) most hotels and resorts will happily arrange taxi’s for your convenience that take you to and fro to any destination of your desire. You can also use the local rickshaws if you don’t have your own vehicles but be sure to fix a price mutually agreeable before you board them, and YES you have to bargain and then bargain some more to get to them down to a realistic price. I do plan to put up a relative rate card (not official obviously) to give a certain benchmark idea of the prices.
Some of the most popular destinations in recent times are:
lonavala amby valley
Also known as the lonavala sahara city it is a place where the rich and famous show their might. Known to be beautifully built from the inside but inaccessible to the common man it’s become more of a mystery and information only trickles in through hear-say. If we are lucky I might just be able to get you the real deal in my future post so stay tuned to this channel.
lonavala bushi dam
By far the most popular tourist destination at this point. It’s also the most crowded and over-rated if you ask me. But, nevertheless people seem to enjoy waterfall near the dam when they come for their day trips. Unfortunately it results in massive traffic jams and ugly cover of dirty shacks trying to make buck out of the tourist while they are there. I will write more how this is taking its toll on lonavala and has caused much destruction to natural hill side already.
lonavala dam
Valvan Dam has a garden at its foot, and is a popular evening spot 2 km from the town. The dam supplies water to the Khopoli power station at the foothills of the Sahyadris for generating electricity. The Kundali River feeds into the dam's reservoir.
lonavala tiger point and lion’s point
This is a scenic point midway between Bhushi Dam and Aamby Valley. A must see during the monsoons as the views of the valley can be absolutely spectacular. Will cover this topic in detail in my future post.
lonavala lake
I was heartbroken on my last trip when I saw the state of the Tungarli Lake and Dam on last trip (a week back). This lake and Dam used to come to life during the Monsoon season but not this time. May be its nature giving us the signs. The dam was built during the British era and features a serene surrounding. An excellent place for back-pack Camping.
lonavala beach
Ok, this one does not exist. This probably the one thing lonavala does not have (quite naturally its lonavala hill station remember?). You never know though some rich resort might build its first and very own lonavala beach.
There are many other destinations and attractions which I intend to write own soon, some more famous ones like Rajmachi Point, Ryewood Park & Shivaji Udyan, Duke's Nose & Karla Caves and others yet only known to those who dare to go beyond the known path.
lonavala accommodation
As far as accommodation goes there is something for everyone in lonavla. While I don’t really know if there is any lonavala five star hotels but there are the more famous ones of the many lonavala hotels and resorts. They include the lonavala avion, lonavala days inn, lonavala lions den hotel, lonavala rainbow retreat, lonavala upper deck, lonavala sterling resorts, lonavala dukes retreat & lonavala dukes resort (more known simply as the lonavala dukes), lonavala fariyas hotel & lonavala fariyas resort (known simply as lonavala fariyas – a hot favourite with most corporate folks, they just relish having those long conferences here….wonder what goes on). Lonavala kumar resort is another of the popular day break places with a very own lonavala water park. (I just hated the frequency with which they advertised on local cable…almost swore never to go there). Lonavala treasure island is a another popular time share destination (Oh! Just love the pool there, had the time of my life)
There are also the usual lonavala cheap hotels & lonavala budget hotels if your on a budget. Hiring a lonavala bungalows for rent is a good idea if you are coming in a large group. (I kind of prefer these when travelling with family and friends as it gives us just the privacy and the luxury we require to enjoy amongst ourselves without disturbing the rest of the guest which would have been the case had we been staying in some lonavala resorts and hotels. They tend to be spacious as well giving plenty of room for fun and games)
Lonavala day rooms are another popular option these days specially after spurt of growth in youngsters and families visiting lonavala from Mumbai and Pune only for a day. The main idea is to come for a short break to places like bushi dam, have your fun, change up, do some shopping and go.
Lonavala gets pretty packed during the weekends with the notorious Mumbai Pune crowd (they sometimes can be a nuisance if ask me but..) so I really suggest you do lonavala hotel booking ahead of time in case you are very particular as far as the place of stay is corned. Weekdays are pretty relaxed (and also a better time to see lonavala away from the mad rush of crowd) so it should not be much of an issue. Most hoteliers and guest house owners would welcome you readily for even half the rates sometimes as crowd on a weekday is just a bonus for them.
While most lonavala hotels rates & lonavala hotels tariff’s are available on the internet it would still be a better idea to call them up and check up the current rates as I find quite a few of the sites don’t update that often and as a result the rates they put up are quite old or irrelevant. It is also a good opportunity to ask for any special deals and discounts if you are in the off-season.
Stay tuned with this blog as there will be more on lonavala best hotels and I will let you in on some of the best places to stay while on a holiday in my future posts.
lonavala restaurants
Well, what can I say, lonavala today boast of a number of restaurants & eaters but most people only contend with the ones on the main road (all vegetarian – irritating!) and fail to visit the gems inside. Some of these wonderful places are now slowing becoming famous but most of them are hidden from the weekend crowd. I can think of quite a few places at the top of my mind right now but I would really to explore this topic in detail giving you the ultimate choice as far as eating in Lonavala is concerned.
BTW, did you know there is a Smokin Joes and Dominos outlet in lonavala?
lonavala real estate
With the boom in the economy and people’s purses in near by Pune and Mumbai it was quite natural that the effects would be visible in the lonavala real estate market as well. It was not uncommon for a affluent few to have their lonavala properties, lonavala bungalows & lonavala farm house which were their weekend retreats and a place to show their might and wealth but off lately the scenario completely changed. In the last couple of years there has been a sporadic and what I can only term as “UN PLANNED” growth in lonavala apartments, lonavala cottages and . It has resulted in an unhealthy growth in the lonavala property with property prices shooting off the roof. Lonavala became sort of become the choice location for anybody and everybody staying in in Mumbai or Pune who wanted to have a second home. (holiday home).
Recently though, the effects of recession were quite visible on my last trip ( a week ago) with the number of lonavala bungalows for sale boards and sights of incomplete projects all around the place.
lonavala chikki
Just love the awesome lonavla chikki, they come with various ingredients and there’s always something for everyone. I tend to love the dry fruit mix and the classic peanut chikki while my dad loves the ‘til’ one. There are too many brand names and too many people who are into this business so quality has been severely affected but, if you keep coming back I will reveal to you some of the best brands and where you can get them in lonavala. Oh! What I would give to get that lonavala chikki recipe.
The perfect lonavala holiday
When should you holiday in lonavala? Well, all year round I guess (nah, pretty hot for me in summers). Lonavala in summer gets very hot so I generally avoid getting up there during the heat. While lonavala in February is pleasant I can hardly bare the heat of lonavala in march. Monsoons and winter would be my pick for the time to visit. So, pack you backpacks, come with friends and family and enjoy this lovely paradise.
Have I managed to convince you for a trip to lonavala on your next week-end?
I guess not yet. I am not that great a writer yet. But, seriously consider it.
Coming soon…
-
Loads of lonavala photos, lonavala pictures and those special lonavala pics that will blow you off your feet and make you want to come to lonavala right now. -
Some super cool lonavala wallpaper to remind you that fun trip you had on your weekend. -
Information on lonavala pune local trains & lonavala pune local train timetable -
A lonavala road map & a lonavala detailed map. -
A complete lonavala train schedule -
More information on lonavala tourist spots & the most hidden and special lonavala sight seeing locations that you will not find on any map. -
More on films shot in lonavala or as I call it lonavala films -
More unknown, unheard of and unseen lonavala sight seeing locations.
0 comments:
Post a Comment
I would love to hear from you ...