10 Things You To HAVE To Do In Lonavala On Your Next Trip!

Located equidistant from Pune and Mumbai, Lonavala is the perfect weekend destination and there are a plethora of things to do, explore and discover. From iconic choco-walnut fudge to wax museums to an adventure park, we bring you a list of 10 things you must explore in Lonavala.

Go Back In Time At These Caves

You might have given this tourist spot a pass while on a vacation in Lonavala, but the caves in Lonavala are not to be missed. The Ekvira temple with grand statues of the goddess is a hotspot at the Karla Caves. These rock-cut caves are a major attraction in the area and they even have the largest and the best-preserved prayer hall in India! The Bhaja Caves have their own sense of grandeur with the vaulted horseshoe ceiling that opens into the massive monastery with magnificent stupas. These caves once were a Buddhist Monastery and the other 15 caves were small prayer halls known as viharas! Rich in history, these caves stand as a testament of time. 

Must Eats In Lonavala

Lonavala is famous for many things and it’s our favourite hill station to visit, but you can’t leave Lonavala without sampling a couple of foods. You need to head to Cooper’s Chikki and Fudge for the most popular choco-walnut fudge (Rs 800/kilo) from this iconic shop located near Lonavala railway station. You can also stop and savour vada pavs, moong dal bhaji and samosas at a 60-year-old eatery called Golden Vada Pav located on NH4, Pune-Mumbai highway. The shop has been making the best vada pav (Rs 17) in the area and your trip to Lonavala will be incomplete without sampling them. Last but not least, you must stop at Maganlal to restock your supply of chikki from peanuts, cashews, dry-fruits and many more. 

Unlock Lots Of Fun At These Amusement Parks

If you love chasing the thrill and get that adrenaline going, then you need to gather your gang and head to Della Adventure Park in Lonavala and have a riot of a time zorbing, zip-lining and 50 other adrenaline-pumping activities and rides to choose from. You can also head to Wet & Joy, and slide down water slides, play in the wave pool and enjoy thrilling rides (don’t forget to pack your swimsuit). If you want the best of both worlds, and not choose between a waterpark and an adventure park, then you can head to Magic Mountain for lots of fun! 

Visit The Wax And Miniature Museums

If you’re a big Bollywood fan and are die-hard fans of Amitabh Bachhan, A R Rahman and other notable personalities like Charlie Chaplin, Hitler and Rajnikanth, then you need to make a pitstop at Sunil’s Celebrity Wax Museum in Lonavala and get a selfie with a famous celebrity in real life! It’s no Madame Tussauds alright, but kudos to the effort! If you’re travelling with the kiddos or looking for something creative, then you need to stop across and go visit the Miniature World Museum, that houses more than 50 exciting miniature displays right from an airport, runway and aeroplane hangers to city life with roads, buildings and residences. That’s not all, they also have a working model of a train track that makes its way through buildings and mountains. Cool right? You can witness an amusement park with a giant, I mean a miniature Ferris wheel too! 

Go On An Adventure Like Never Before 

Looking for a thrilling adventure? Then how about a military resort? India's first and only Military themed glamping resort, D.A.T.A. Resort. The academy, as they call it, has 30 luxurious glamping tents; of 500 sq. feet each, which provide a spectacular military living experience. They promise to capture the military vibe from the outside, and state-of-art amenities and features with all the comforts and amenities of a five-star resort. They have military-grade training programs at the resort with training modules such as Counter-Terrorism for Civilians, Jungle Survival, Real Life Survival, Military Style Finishing School For Youth, Survival Skills For Women, Battlefield To The Corporate World, etc. If this doesn’t float your boat, then you can be catapulted as a human slingshot at Adventure Battalion. You can partake in adventure activities like- X Paragliding, a tandem paragliding experience which will make you feel like a bird soaring in the sky, go hiking and rappelling too!

Go Trekking And Visit These Forts 

Lonavala, being a hill station has its perks and trekking is one of the most popular activities. Lonavala is blessed with many forts and hiking is a nothing short of a sport around here. You can visit a few forts like Lohegad, Visapur, Tikona, Tung, Rajmachi and Koregad and scale new and great heights. The forts are also riddled with a lot of history and there's always something to discover. So be it monsoons, winters or summers, these forts are trekkable, all year long! 

Savour Asli Dhaba Ka Swaad At These Dhabas

If you’ve been on any road trip, you’d know the importance of stopping at a good dhaba to devour some simple yet delicious food. The entire NH4 is dotted with many dhabas close to Lonavala. From favourites like butter chicken to tandoori chicken and mutton kebabs and hot naans, extra makkhan marke! From Sunny Da Dhaba where you can savour everything from tandoor ka khazana, handis, butter chicken and even Raan! Other spots like Kinara Village Dhaba for that rural village feel or dine under the stars in an open-air garden at Sheetal Daa Dhaba. Bhajan Singh De Dhaba, Varsu Dhaba and Toni Da Dhaba are also a few other dhabas worth a mention. 

Look Over All Of Lonavala With Majestic Views 

Think of gorgeous panoramic views of the land carpeted in green hues, dotted with waterfalls. The high mountains and cool air allow you to see the picturesque nature in its true form from various points in Lonavala and some in Khandala. Tigers Leap or Tiger Point as it’s more famously known as is a cliff-top promises breathtaking views of Lonavala as far as the eye can see. You can also head to other popular spots like Rajmachi Point, Lion’s Point, Duke’s Nose and Shooting Point. Carry some snacks and drinks and make a picnic of it. One thing these points promise you are majestic waterfalls during the monsoons. The 14th highest waterfall in India Kune waterfall is situated against the stunning Sahyadri mountain between the Lonavala-Khandala valley. 

Head To Bushi Dam On The Weekend

Bushi Dam is a hot and popular tourist spot in Lonavala. During monsoons, you’ll find crowds of people from Pune and Mumbai climbing up the steps near the dam that is overflowing and gushing with water. Just below, there are small stalls selling hot chai, samosas, roasted buttas, bhajis and lots more. What’s better than rain, garma garam chai and baarish? You’ll also find lots of travel aficionados documenting and blogging about this dam. Heads up, it does get crowded on the weekends.  

Head To Pavana 

Pavana is another iconic spot in Lonavala that has a serene man-made lake and the place is grown popular as a camping spot! Right from regular camping with bonfires under the stars to fancy glamping in massive tents with beds and all the amenities you’d find in a hotel room. The lake is perfect for kayaking, fishing or for a quick dip in the water. From Pavana, you can also marvel at Tung and Tikona Forts nearby. If you’re into bird watching, then don’t forget to pack your binoculars! So next time you’re looking for a break, you know where to head to!  

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