‘Aati kya Khandala?’, this  line sung by Aamir Khan, put this well-known hill-station on the tourist map of every traveling enthusiast in India.

However, long before Aamir Khan made this place better known, Lonavala-Khandala has been the most favorite picnic spot for a lot of people from Pune and Mumbai.
Easily accessible from both Mumbai and Pune by both road and rail, one takes about two and a half hours to cover the distance of 128 km by railway between Mumbai and Lonavala and one hour to reach Lonavala from Pune by rail. Local trains also run between Pune and Lonavala and these take about half an hour more to reach this hill-station.

The most famous spots that attract tourists time and again include the Bhushi Dam, Nagpani, Duke’s Nose, Rajmachi Point, Rye-wood Park, Tiger’s Leap, Valvan Dam, Khandala Valley and the Navy Training Centre – INS Shivaji. Each of these spots is endowed with naturally formed landscapes, which are a visual treat.

Situated at a height of 620 metres above the sea level, Lonavala-Khandala is a favourite getaway for many people all around the year but especially more in the summer months. The routes to these hill-spots are also filled with greenery and the lush landscape is worth a visit just before the monsoons.

There are also 2 cinema theatres here for movie buffs in case you want to catch up on the latest movies while on a holiday.

There are a lot of good eating places here that cater to the cosmopolitan crowd of visitors. Many resorts also offer good packages for family stays.

And who can leave this place without a taste of the famous Lonavala Chikki? This sought-after goodie is in great demand all over the country and is even exported to many countries outside India.

The Khandala valley is a favourite spot for all trekkers although the rainy season can cause a lot of problems. Kune Point is the spot from where one can start trekking to easily reach the bottom of this valley. It also has a breathtaking waterfall that one beholds when one leaves the last tunnel to enter Lonavala.

With deep valleys on one side and high hills on the other, these spots are perfect picture-postcard locations for a weekend getaway. One can book hotel reservations or resort bookings from any other city, as prominent hotels are located in these areas. Weekends attract a lot of crowd. Hence it is advisable to plan the trip accordingly.

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Comments (11)

11. Written by zoloft , on 05-01-2008 18:48 The toughest question has always been, "How do you get your ideas?" How do you answer that? It's like asking runners how they run, or singers how they sing. They just do it! Report

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