Places To Visit Near Mumbai- Lonavla & Khandala

If you are in Mumbai, India and need ideas for a two day weekend, this article series will help you out. We have already covered Alibaug and Murud-Janjira. Now, in this article, we cover Lonavla & Khandala - the most popular weekend destinations for Mumbai people. Many people in fact own weekend homes there. Lonavla and Khandala are situated next to each other with a one mile drive between them. The best time to visit these places is the rainy season from mid june to mid september and in the winter season from November to February. Lonavla and Khandala are situated in the Sahyadri hills, two-three hours from Mumbai.


In the rainy season, the region is teeming with waterfalls. People come all the way from different places to enjoy bathing in the natural waterfalls. It is a paradise for nature lovers. People who love trekking will have an awesome time exploring the various trails in the forests and hills. One of the most popular places there is the Bhushi dam. After it has rained substantially for a month or so, the reservoir behind this dam overflows and the water comes down on the steps (stairs) at the edge of the dam. Tourists sit there splashing in the water and have fun eating hot roasted corn and the local vada pav among other delicacies.


Another must visit is the Tiger point which is situated at a good height and involves an uphill drive. It is a very foggy route in the monsoon season and you will love it. Visibility is hardly three-four meters at most. It is a surreal and heavenly experience. Make sure that you take a good wind cheater along. If you are a history buff and also like trekking, you can visit some of Shivaji's forts situated at some distances from Lonavla. An hour away is the Karla caves, which is thousands of years old and still boasts of wonderful architecture.


The local food items to take home from here are chocolate fudge and chikki (made of peanuts and other nuts). Two days are enough for exploring these two places.



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