City Guide ...

Accommodation in Lonavala & Khandala: Hotels available Lonavala/Khandala suits every budget and pocket size. Though resorts are located at Karla but often travellers prefer to stay at Khandala to Lonavala as it offers beautiful views, have more peace of mind and less traffic pollution. Chikkis and Jams are two eatables which make Lonavala and Khandala famous for eatables. Sweet peanut and dry fruit are among other famous eatables. Various transport mediums including auto rickshaws, bicycles and horses are available between the two places though taxis and buses are also available between Lonavala/Khandala/Karla. STD/ISD/Local telephone booths are available all accross the highway in and around Lonavala and Khandala.

Sights to see in Lonavala & Khandala: There are many local attractions of forts, caves and lakes. The rock escarpments in the hills provided vantage positions for fortresses and fortifications of the powerful Maratha kingdom established by Shivaji. The imposing Rajmachi Fort can be approached only on foot as it sits surrounded by deep valleys on three sides and a thick forest on the fourth. Other equally impressive forts are the Manoranjan Fort, Shrivardhan fort, Visapur Fort, Lohagad Fort and the Tunga Fort with arsenals and guardhouses.

The three ancient caves found in this region: Karla Caves: biggest Chaitya Caves(prayer hills)were made in or around 160 BC. The caves with viharas (monasteries) were excavated for the Buddhist monks who came here during the monsoons. Internal art of caves has lion pillars, huge elephant forms, carved representations of Gautam Buddha and dancing couples. There is a "Peepul" leaf shaped entrance gate to the Chaitya griha or hall. This large hall has elephant and human forms smooth stone pillars.The roof is high and semicircular. The Bhaja Caves are similar to Karla Caves albeit on a smaller scale. These are aslo Chaitya style Buddhist caves. The speciality of these caves is the rays of the setting sun gilding the dark interiors having carved figures of gods and goddesses. The Bedsa Caves are close to the Mumbai Pune Road near Kamshet between the towns of Kadde and Bedsa. These caves are carved with Huge pillars, lions and humans forms with a speciality of having large Chaitya hall with resting rooms.Lightning within the enitre cave is due to a vaulted roof supported by 2,000-year-old woodwork and a big skylight with the sun's rays falling straight on the inner sanctum.

The charm to Lonavala-Khandala are placid water bodies and silver cascades ; the main lakes are the Pavna Lake, Lonavala Lake, Tungarli Lake, Valvan Lake on the Valvan Dam and Bushi Lake and the prettiest falls are the Kune Falls where the water descends down 100m to a pool below. The majestic cascade visible from the Khandala Ghat is particularly magnificent during the monsoons. Tiger's Leap which seems as a tiger is leaping into the valley with a fascinating view of the valley is a speciality out here.