Archive for the ‘Maharashtra Hill Station’ Category
December 9th, 2011 | 
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Lonavala is a popular hill station and a municipal council situated in Pune District, Maharashtra. The city is located 64 km from Pune city and 96 km from Mumbai. It lies 622 m above sea level in the Sahyadri Ranges, which separate the Deccan Plateau and the Konkan Coast.
The hill station is spread over an area of 38 square km. The name of the city is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Lonavali’ which refers to a ‘group of caves’. The name was given to the place due to the presence of many caves in and around the city.
The city is popular for its sweet Chikki. It also connects Mumbai and Pune via rail. The best time to visit Lonavala is during the monsoon, between October and May, when the scenic spots become lush green and the waterfalls are in full flow. The place has valleys, hills, waterfalls and lush greenery due to which it is also called the ‘Jewel of Sahyadri’.
About the Place
Lord Elphinstone, who was the Governor of the Bombay Presidency, discovered the city of Lonavala along with Khandala in 1871.The present day Lonavala was a part of the Yadava Dynasty, which was taken over by the Mughals, who ruled the region for a long time.
There is also an important role of the Malva Warriors and the forts of the city in the history of the Maratha and Peshwa Empires. Lonavala was also the main stay of the Malva Warriors, who were regarded as the fiercest Hindu fighting clan. The city has also witnessed great warriors like Sardar Dabhade, who was the commandant of the Peshwa armies. Later, the nearby villages were used as the battleground for many battles between regional Indian rulers and British armies.
The Governor of Bombay favoured Lonavala in 1811 due to its large forest cover. This forest cover made the city a vacation and hunting spot by the British administrators, which lead to its reputation as a tourist destination.
The Tungi Fort of Lonavala is one of its famous tourist spots. Malik Ahmed founded the fort near the village of Kajrat. This fort is known for its natural strength. Apart from this fort, there are also many caves present around the city namely Karla Caves, Bhaja Caves and the Bedsa Caves.
Locating at an altitude of 625m, Lonavala and Khandala are famous for its beautiful hills, deep green valleys, huge lakes, historic forts and waterfalls etc. These two hill stations are at the Sahyadris Mountains of Maharashtra.
Lonavala and Khandala have magnificent waterfalls that give a heart catching view during monsoon. Tourists can plan their trip together with Karla, Bhaja, and Bedsa caves, which are very near from Lonavala. This hill station is also known as the ‘Jewel of Sahydri’, because of its nature’s gifted of beautiful valleys, hills, milky waterfalls, lush greenery, and pleasant cool winds.
Khandala is smaller than Lonavala and relatively calmer. It is known to be the pride of the Sahyadri Mountains. Beautiful waterfall amidst green environment is really splendid to see. The place refreshes the exhausted tourists. Tugauli, Lonavala, Bhushi and Valvan Lake are the important lakes of this hill station.
Nearest airport is situated at Pune (64 km). Lonavala and Khandala are 104 km from Mumbai and 64 km from Pune on the Mumbai-Pune highway.
Lonavala
Lonavala is such a place where nature is present in all its splendor. Lonavala has become famous because of nature’s gift. Lonavala has been blessed with valleys, hills, Milky Waterfalls, Lush Greenery and pleasant cool winds. This region full of natural beauty. Words are not enough to describe the beauty for this place. Lonavala is an epic poem created by God. Beautiful mountain ranges trying to reach the sky are sites that please the human mind and give an experience of heavenly pleasure. The morning sun rising over here appears as if it is sprinkling rose water all over. Chirping birds gently awaken oneself and all of this makes it a really Good Morning. The whole place is covered with a thick blanket of fog early in the morning; this is how the day begins here.
Khandala
Khandala neighbors Lonavala. Although is comparatively small, it is equally blessed with natural beauty and bounty. Deep valley on one side and high hills on the other side divide Khandala and Lonavala. Luckily, modern industrialization has not adversely affected Khandala. Whenever a tourist visits Lonavala he also wishes to visit Khandala. While traveling on Mumbai Bangalore National Highway, one has to cross the arduous Khopoli – Khandala Ghat. This is the famous Borghat. In a short distance of 8 Kms one has to climb a height of 369 meters. This is a difficult Ghat to climb.
But once you reach here, you feel that this climb has been worth the trouble. Khandala is One place where you will fall in love at First Site. In fact this is exactly the reason that we feel must have inspired the makers of the movie “GHULAM” to include a song “AATI KYA KHANDALA” in their movie which has created huge waves throughout India. Also, Lonavala and Khandala are full of tourist practically for the whole year. Main reasons for this is the fact that it is very close to Mumbai, so people from Mumbai find it very convenient, other reason is that the passengers traveling to south India or returning from there also pass through, making this place a busy spot. And the natural beauty of Lonavala & Khandala makes one forget the fatigue of the journey. Being at a considerable height from sea level, these two places enjoy a cool climate.
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Soaring peaks, breathtaking valleys. Lush flora. Cool, crisp mountain air. This is Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra’s most popular hill station, and once the summer capital of the Bombay Presidency during the British Raj. |
| Mahabaleshwar means ‘God of Great Power’ in Sanskrit. Indeed, the place is great and bountiful, rewarding the visitor with a mix of old-world charm, natural beauty and modernity. |
| A tour of Mahabaleshwar town and the surrounding countryside would take at least a couple of days as there is much to see and experience. The town bazaar is called Malcolm Peth after the then British Governor of Bombay, Sir John Malcolm. It lies at the heart of Mahableshwar with its hotels, shops, restaurants, outlying bungalows, government offices, and jostling crowds. |
| Mahabaleshwar has proper, motorable roads to every point worth visiting. So one could tour the place by car, jeep, or even horseback. There are many buildings and sites that take one back to the days of the Raj. There’s Mount Malcolm, the one-time residence of Governor Malcolm; Moraji Castle, where Mahatma Gandhi lived during 1945; and the Mahabaleshwar Club. |
| As short drive from town is the beautiful Venna Lake, where one can go boating, fishing, and pony riding. Or indulge oneself at the entertainment center with its numerous food and game stalls. Near the lake, further down the road on the way to neighbouring Panchgani, are the great strawberry fields. |
| Mahabaleshwar is known for its numerous sightseeing points, each providing a unique perspective of the majestic hill range. En route to Babington Point is Dhom dam, which is a good place to take a break. Or one could visit Old Mahabaleshwar and the famous Panchganga Mandir, which is said to contain the springs of five rivers: Koyna, Venna, Savitri, Gayatri and the sacred Krishna River. There’s also the Mahabaleshwar Mandir, revered for its Swayambhu Lingam |
| Mahableshwar is a great holiday destination throughout the year, except for the monsoon months. During the late-June to mid-September period, torrential rains virtually shutdown this hill station, so travel is not advised at this time. |
SIGHTS
| Mount Malcolm |
| Built in 1829, this was one of the famous buildings of its time. |
| Holy Cross Church |
| The stained glass windows of this old Roman Catholic Church still retain their beauty. |
| Mahabaleshwar Club |
| Built in 1881, the Mahabaleshwar Club offers a peaceful retreat for those wanting to get away from it all. The Club offers many recreational facilities, including a badminton court and a mini golf course. Facilities are available to everyone at a very low fee. For those who prefer the quiet outdoors, there is a jogging track encircling the premises, edged with beautiful rose bushes. The Club also offers a clear view of Venna Lake below. Every year, Christmas is celebrated here with much fervour and pomp by the club members. |
| Pratapgad Fort |
| About 24 km. away from Mahabaleshwar lies Pratapgad, the pride of the Maratha Empire. Built in 1656, it is a maze of ponds, chambers and long dark walkways, some of which lead to trap doors that open to a 100 meter fall! It was here that Afzal Khan, the mighty general of Bijapur, met his untimely death at the hands of Shivaji. Since Pratapgad lies slightly off the road to Mahabaleshwar, a visit to this historic monument is recommended in all travel itineraries |
| Mahabaleshwar has many points offering great views of flat-topped ghats, dense forests and lush green valleys. Lodwick Point, towering almost 1,240 meters above sea level, is one of the most visited Points and holds a monument in memory of General Lodwick Arthur’s Seat is well liked too for its great view of the Jor Valley. About a kilometer away lies Tiger’s Spring, and if you venture further down you’ll come to a ledge named The window – a point that’s famous for its mesmerizing view. |
| There are many locations offering pleasant views of the plains below: Wilson Point, Carnac Point, Helen’s Point, Elphinstone Point, Babington Point, Bombay Point, Falkland Point, and Kate Point are all well known |
| There are pleasant waterfalls also worth visiting, such as Chinaman’s Falls, Dhobi Falls and Lingmala Falls, the latter being the most impressive, cascading amost 600 ft from a cliff! |
| Another tourist attraction is the Sangam, or the confluence of the five rivers that flow over the Deccan Plateau. There are many old temples too, which become the focus of attention during the festive season. |
Mahabaleshwar lies on the mountain ranges of the Western Ghats in Maharashtra. It is at an altitude of 1372 meters and overlooks the Krishna and Koyna valley. Mahabaleshwar is a very popular hill station in Maharashtra because of its placid lakes, verdant hills and cascading waterfalls. It is not only famous for its scenic beauty but also for its various temples, spectacular viewpoints and historically significant places.
Mahabaleshwar is also home to some remarkable temples and you will come across Krishna and Mahabaleshwar temple here. There is also a black stone, which is a little distance from the other temples and holds a venerated place among the locals and the pilgrim tourists frequenting this place.
The temple in its present state, is surrounded by 5 feet high stone wall. The main temple has two apartments, the inner room, which is the God chamber and the outer room which is the central hall. The temple is dedicate to Lord Shiva and enshrines a ‘lingam’. The Hill resort of Mahabaleshwar is named after the presiding deity of this temple, Lord Mahabali, which is also why it is considered a major landmark of Mahabaleshwar. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Maharashtra Hill Station | 
Tags: hill station, Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra, Western Ghats | 
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