Things to do in Lonavala

Lonavla, a stunning hill station, holds within its embrace a vast stretch of greenery, exotic valleys, gigantic hillocks, and sparkling lakes. Take off on an unforgettable flight high up in the sky on a hot air balloon safari. As you soar up into the sky like a bird, you will get an opportunity to admire the natural beauty of Lonavla far down below you. The sight of several other colourful balloons dotting the sky is also mesmerizing. The balloon rides which last for an unforgettable hour are arranged early in the morning and in the afternoon as during these times the weather remains favorable to conduct this activity. Take your pick from among the several operators who arrange to take tourists on this beautiful experience.

There are opportunities in the few lakes of Lonavla which you can avail of. The natural beauty of Lonavla is so heartwarming that even a boat ride can be memorable. Take an opportunity of a boat ride either with family or with friends. Pay between Rs.1000 – Rs.3000 and avail of boat rides on the:

• Pavana/Pawna Lake
• Tungarli Lake
• Shirota lake

Globetrotters travel the world, to experience nature in its wildest and virgin form. Lonavla boasts of lush forests, which are home to a variety of flora and fauna. You can enjoy and explore the rich biodiversity of Lonavala and spend time in taking a peek at some rare species of animals and plants during your holidays. Get your vendor to customize your trip. Enjoy a fun-filled holiday full of surprises with a thrilling safari ride during the day while you spend the night in the wilderness of the forest in a camp or resort. Experience the pristine beauty of nature and all the tiny and large species that inhabit this place.

The best choice is the Rajmachi Wildlife Sanctuary which is surrounded by dense green forests located on the foothills and hilly terrains of Western Ghat in Sahyadri ranges is a weekend destination for the nature-loving tourists. The sanctuary encloses animals and birds in abundance. The mammoth Indian squirrel is a major attraction here. It is a rare place where one can spot the wild animals freely moving in their natural habitat. Enriched with rare species of herbs and plants the landscape is very good for nature walks, trekking and bird watching.

Rajmachi Fort is one of the many historical forts in the rugged hills of the Sahyadri Mountains boasting of the twin fortresses of Shriwardhan Balekilla and Manaranjan Balekilla, with a wide Machi or plateau surrounding them. A small village called Udhewadi is situated on the Machi at the southern foot of Manaranjan Balekilla.

There are two approach routes to Rajmachi fort. One is from Karjat on the right bank of Ulhas River and the second one from Salpe village. Both the routes involve a steep climb up on foot. It is not possible to drive a vehicle on these two routes. Both these routes from Karjat involve a steep climb up on foot, of about 500 meters.

 The other routes to Rajmachi are from Lonavala to Rajmachi with a distance of 15 km is almost a plain walk, with only a few ups and downs. A sturdy utility vehicle can be taken right up to Rajmachi, on the route from Khandala.

To make the trek comfortable carry a haversack to keep your hands free. Carry at least 3lts of water, Electoral or Glucon D powder, an extra pair of clothes, ready to eat food, like plum cakes, chocolate bar, some snacks, and biscuits. Don’t forget to carry your personal medicines, sun protection cap, and goggles. A torch with extra batteries, bed sheet, sleeping bags, personal tea mugs needs to be carried if you are planning an overnight camping experience.

An adventurous one day trip to Della Adventure Park is compulsory in your itinerary if you are an adventure freak. You will enjoy an absolutely thrilling time with your friends or family. Della Adventure Park in Lonavala offers everything to keep you excited and enjoy a whale of a time. Don’t miss out on activities like:

• Swoop swing
• Flying Fox
• Rocket Ejector
• Motocross dirt bike riding
• Aqua Zorb
• Buggy Ride
• Paint ball shooting
• ATV Rides
• Bungee Trampoline
• Shooting Range
• Archery
• Rocket Ejector

   Get entry passes at the following rates: (Watch out for special offers)

• Rs.2240/- for most activities in the zone.
• Rs. 6399/- for most activities in the zone and 9 extreme adventures.
• Rs. 1600/- for kids and Senior Citizens to enjoy for most activities in the zone.
• Rs. 14616/- for an annual pass.

Yes, you can do caving in Lonavala. Though it has a lot of caves, the most preferred caves for caving are Karla caves for a good experience. You can book your tour through Thrillophilia where you get a lot of options for adventure tours in Lonavala and they can set up an equipped campsite in the caves for a never forgettable experience.

Lonavla is a paradise for trekkers because of its scenic beauty. Day treks are common but you the experience can be even more exciting if you are willing to undertake a night trek adventure. Lonavla has lots to offer on this. Contact vendors and go for the night treks which can be made to:

• Tikona Fort
• Rajmachi and Kondane Caves
• Visapur Fort
• Dhak Bahiri Caves
• Tamhini, Near Pune

Keep the following aspects in mind:

• Carry Flashlight with Spare Cells
• Be comfortably dressed and carry spare clothes
• Carry Sun Glasses, Sun Screen, Cap and plenty of water
• Carry Mosquito Repellent, Personal medicines, and other requirements
• Carry Bed Sheets, Plastic Sheet or mat
• Stay with the group
• No litter
• Stick to a planned schedule.
• Act like a responsible citizen
• No Alcohol
• No noise
• Be attentive to others in the group.

There are a lot of things one should carry while doing adventure sports, starting from comfortable shoes that fits you properly to avoid frostbite and discomfort while in action. Since activities like camping and trekking take you into the woods you must take mosquito repellent with you as they will be waiting there to welcome you.

You should also take extra clothes as well as sunscreen and sunglasses while keeping the sun in mind. You may even need your flip flops and towel if it is an overnight stay. Moreover, it will be ideal to carry your camera as well as a flashlight with extra batteries.

Rappelling is an activity that true adventure lovers will enjoy. It is the perfect experience for a getaway from hectic city life. Waterfall rappelling is a favorite and rejuvenating experience. Take a walk on the paths enjoying the beauty of the lush foliage and thundering falls cascading down the ridges of Sahyadri Ranges, climb up the forest trails and rappel down with a harness through the refreshing falls or reach the point on a vehicle and enjoy a great rappelling adventure. Vendors and operators will ensure your safety if you have a big heart. Go to:

• Rajmachi
• Dudhiware waterfall
• Bhaje caves

There are several opportunities to learn the art of horse-riding and a little about these majestic creatures, explore the stunning landscape, relax and unwind at this offbeat adventure in:

• Aundoli Camp
• Della Adventure Resort

There are Filly and Colt Farms also to train you at horse riding. Be ready for an expense of a minimum of Rs. 10000/-

There are certain things you should always keep in mind while experiencing adventure sports. First of all, you should be mentally prepared to attempt the activity followed by having a healthy body to do it. Even make sure you listen and follow every instruction you are being given by your instructor.

And yes, do NOT take your gears as a joke and wear them completely and properly. Moreover, a little warm-up before the activity will give a good stretch to your body which reduces the chances of injury.

Lastly, make sure you are wearing appropriate attire for the activity along with comfortable shoes. Following all these will ensure a good and safe experience of yours.

If you are the kind of person who loves the feel of the wind rushing through your hair don’t miss out on adventure biking experiences among the Sahyadri Ranges with the beautiful sights around. Get your adrenaline rushing and enjoy adventure biking at:

• Della Adventure Resort
• Rajmachi
• Lonavla Camp Site

Whether you are interested in architecture or your interest lies in Buddhism, you will find the caves in and around Lonavala interesting. The main structures like the Chaitya or the Viharas educate you on the religion as well as the architecture of the period. Visit:

• Karla Caves
• Bhaje Caves
• Bedse Caves

By bus: Lonavala has a local bus stop which is very well connected to major cities like Pune and Mumbai. You can easily book a ticket on a comfortable bus to Lonavala.

By train: There is a local railway station in Lonavala with good traffic of trains from major cities like Pune and Mumbai. So you can easily catch a train to the hill station and further book a taxi to the significant places of Lonavala.

By air: Mumbai Airport is the nearest airport to the hill station. So you will have to catch a flight until here and further book a train or bus to reach Lonavala.

The best time for camping at Canyon Valley is before or after the monsoons. October to March is the best time to undertake this activity as the weather will be at its best. Enjoy the lush green foliage, twittering of birds and the sound of waterfalls or enjoy the activities organised at the campsites. If you happen to be around during the year-end then you can enjoy a great party.

To get an organization on the right track and achieve success in the corporate sector it is important how efficiently the teams perform. A large team without bonding and spirit cannot achieve great heights. Motivation and encouragement make the team members give their best. The activities that are offered require understanding among the members of a team increasing the bonding which reflects in the day to day activities. Corporate day outing and games in Khandala, Lonavla gives you a vast choice of activities like:

• Acid river
• Roller Coaster
• Caterpillar Walk
• Stamping
• Tie-Untie
• Three Island
• Full Contact
• Traffic Jam
• Hula Hoop
• Cob Web
• Survival
• Tower Building
• Minefield
• Crossover