Monsoon Trip to Lonavala

Trip from Pune to Lonavala in Monsoon ....

Summer is on it's peak and you might be already wiping your sweat. Suddenly one day, some droplets start falling through.. suddenly climate start getting changed... You feel cool and refreshed. You started feeling that monsoon is on it's way and then you start planning for your first monsoon trip of the season.

You guessed it right. Today, I will be sharing experience of one of the most populated monsoon getaways near Pune and Mumbai which is Lonavala. It’s like when you think of monsoon trip, you think of lonavala (at least a first place that comes in your mind).
Lonavala is a beautiful hill station in Pune district of Maharashtra and at a distance of 67 km from Pune and 95 km from Mumbai.

It was June end. We started from Pune around 9 am. When we left from Pune it was not raining heavily but shrouded by mist.  There are two ways from Pune to reach lonavala by drive :
1. Old Mumbai-Pune highway road  Or
2. Via Mumbai-Pune express way

We selected Old Mumbai Pune road as there is only one toll-gate on the way costing around 35 rs. It will take around 2 hours to reach at lonavala market.

Our first point was obviously most famous Bhushi dam as we wanted to spent more time here.
From lonavala market, you have to take left to reach to Bhushi dam. From market to Bhushi dam, entire road is traffic jammed in monsoon due to lots of visitors. Though situation is OK recently as traffic police are there to manage the traffic.

On the way to Bhushi Dam

Traffic started at Bhushi Dam

Beautiful Climate of Lonavala in Monsoon

Bhushi dam place is actually a lake and artificial steps on which water flows. We reached there around 11 am. There are many local vendors which allows you to park your bike/cars at their places (shades they created). I will suggest that don’t go very near to dam area with your car/bike but park little behind and then go by walking as near Dam there is heavy traffic jam and you might stuck there. Parking also become congested as you move closer to Dam.

Parking for Bike : 40 rs.  and for Car : 100 rs.

Rush at Bhushi Dam and Vendors selling food stuffs

There are lot of food stall available nearby and on the roads where you can eat snacks as well as do lunch. We enjoyed hot tea and kandabhaji at one stall. It just feel amazing and you can't forget taste when you eat hot and crispy Kanda Bhaji (Onion Pakoda) while it's heavily raining and you are completely wet and shivering due to cold.

In this climate Onion Pakoda taste is anytime superior than food in any five star hotel in the world.

Crispy Kanda Bhaji and Tea while it's heavily raining !!

But during this enjoyment do also beware of your cash from monsoon water as well as from pocket–thefts roaming around. At some stalls they also sale Plastic carrybags which can protect your wallet in monsoon. It was cost around 10 rs. per plastic bag.

Lonavala lake from which water flows down to Bhushi Dam

We left from there at around 2 pm and then decided to visit “Shree Narayani Dham Temple” which is 20 mins from Bhushi dam and you need to come again toward Lonavala market.

It’s very huge temple near to express highway.Very clean, lot of space for the parking, has huge garden, fountain and lift for disabled people. They also have lunch facility in their premises.
Since it was already lunch time, we decided to have lunch there. Veg Thali was nice and with very nominal price of 100 rs. per person (buffet system).

Shree Narayani Dham Temple Font and Fountain

Shree Narayani Dham Temple Garden

From there we went to “Rajmachi Garden” point. It’s on Old Mumbai Pune road and 15 mins from temple (towards Mumbai). There is small garden at this place where you can seat and enjoy the view. The view from this point is best.

Some vendors were selling fast food there. We enjoyed hot corns there. You will find lot of Monkeys around here. Thought they will not hurt you, don't go too close to them. You can click picture of them as they are habitual of Camera due to lot of visitors coming there.

View from Rajmachi Garden Point

There are two nearby points from garden (walkable distance) which are “Khandala Ghat View Point” (also called as “Dukes nose point”) and “Water Fall View Point”. I have mentioned exact location of all the points in google map link mentioned at the end. They also offer nice view from different angle.

View seen from "Khandala Ghat View Point"

So finally we were tired and it’s almost 5 pm. We have already booked our stay at “Whispering Woods Resort” which is in lonavala itself and was 15 minutes from “Rajmachi Garden” towards Pune. So, we came back again to lonavala market, while en route we brought some famous Chikki from “Magananla store”. Remember there are many shops named as “Maganlal Chikki” store but ensure you go to authentic “Maganlal Chikki store”.

After shopping, we headed towards hotel and checked-in to our booked hut ( hut? yes you heard it right :) ).

Huts in Whispering Woods Resort , Lonavala

Garden in Whispering Woods Resort , Lonavala

Whispering woods resort is big and quite place. Facility has Swimming pool, Garden, Play area and Go carting (but is was closed during monsoon at-least). They have normal rooms as well but We booked hut as we wanted to have different expereience.

Huts are all luxurious where you will have TV, AC, Fridge, Balcony, Telecom facility etc. This ensure you have all convenience to stay and enjoy here.

Luxury huts from inside at Whispering Woods Resort , Lonavala

Luxury huts from inside at Whispering Woods Resort , Lonavala

Luxury huts from inside at Whispering Woods Resort , Lonavala

 By the time it was 6 pm. So we gotten up fresh and started thinking about dinner plan. We decided to order dinner from hotel only as we got tired to explore outside options. We ordered one vegetable dish and biryani. Since it was not raining now, on my request,  Hotels staff arranged dinner in the garden in front of our hut. That was an amazing experience.

Me enjoying dinner with my wife at Whispering Woods Resort Lonavala

Next day morning, we visited  "Lonavala Wax Muesuem" which is just beside hotel. It’s nice Museum but not that great as compared to wax museum in other countries but you can definitely visit once. 

Wax Museum At Lonavala

Some are perfect statue while some hardly look alike.

Statue of Shivaji Maharaj at Wax Museum Lonavala

Wax Museum Lonavala

Entry fee is 150 Rs. per person. There are also some other activities like magic mirror and 9D motion cinema, Dashing car etc. available which has extra cost associated. We do not opted that.  Kids can enjoy here.

Click here to get complete route direction of journey and places visited:  Google Map 

Some useful tips during your visit to Lonavala:

• Traffic in monsoon can be worst mainly in lonavala market area and near Bhushi Dam area. So be prepared for that.

• If you are planning to come by local transport then no worry !! Lonavala Railway station and Bus stand is very near to the market plus there are share/private auto that can drop you to desired spot

• Some Auto or Cabs are standing outside station do also offer “Lonaval Darshan (visit)” package around 700 to 1000 rs. which is also very economical. Further you can bargain with them.

• During monsoon, most of the time it rains heavily so come prepared with umbrella, jacket etc. especially if you accompanied by kids

• Famous things to buy for : All types of Chikki (Maganlal is popular brand) and Canned jams

One more suggestion, if you are visiting lonavala in Monsoon and you are die hard fan of waterfall and also want to avoid rush and traffic of Bhushi Dam then do visit Karla or Bhaja Caves which is hardly 8-9 km from Lonavala. Karla and Bhaja caves are opposite to each other.

You can read more here...  One day trip to Ekvira temple and Karla Caves 

Above post will have trip details of non-monsoon season but I visited  Karla and Bhaja Caves in monsoon as well. You will enjoy visiting there in monsoon as both places have small and big waterfalls which are safe as well. Recently many people are visiting here so this place is also becoming crowded these days.
I am sharing below few pictures of Karla Caves (Ekvira Temple) clicked during monsoon visit. Note that you will find stay options at bottom of hill which are also budget friendly. (Rooms are OK type and best suited if you are male groups. Family or female groups will not like room types that much there).

Karla Caves near Lonavala in Monsoon

Waterfall on the way to Karala Caves

That’s it till now. Please Leave your comments below about your suggestion and improvements…See you soon…