If you’re planning for a misty weekend getaway, then Lonavala is quite a good place to be in. Also, if you’re in Maharashtra, then undeniably this is the most visited and popular destination for a short weekend trip. Closest to Pune and Mumbai, Lonavala is located in the Sahyadri range of Western Ghats. One has a lot of options for activities ranging from trekking and camping to several other adventure sports. There are few ways to reach Lonavala from Mumbai. You can find a few of them listed below.
Mumbai to Lonavala by train
Luckily, Lonavala has its own separate railway station that is well-connected to Mumbai. There are around 56 weekly trains that operate from Mumbai to Lonavala. The first train that leaves from Mumbai to Lonavala is LTT Madurai Express that starts at 00:15 AM from Mumbai and the last train leaves at 23:55 PM from Mumbai for Lonavala. Other trains from Dadar to Lonavala are CSMT Pune special, Deccan Express, CSMT KOP SPL, CSMT SBC SPL, etc. You can book tickets from reliable sites like MakeMyTrip, Yatra.com, Goibibo. Traveling by train might take an average of 2 hours 30 minutes to reach Lonavala from Mumbai.
Mumbai to Lonavala by bus
There are as many as 139 buses that operate from Mumbai to Lonavala on a daily basis. Yatra.com is a good place to book your tickets for buses. The bus is another cheapest and convenient option to travel from Mumbai to Lonavala with a minimum average traveling distance of 1 hour 15 minutes only. The ticket fare is also quite a reasonable pricing around INR 355. The few top bus operators that run from Mumbai to Lonavala on a daily basis are Kamdhenu Travels, Gujarat Travels, MSRTC, Sitaram Tours and Travels, etc.
Mumbai to Lonavala by cab
The total driving distance between Mumbai to Lonavala is around 86 km with an average traveling time of 2 hours. The road from Mumbai to Lonavala is quite a decent one and this is one of the best options that one can opt for when traveling with a family as the route passes through beautiful spots such as Khandala.
It is better to book a Mumbai to Lonavala cab from online websites such as GozoCabs, MakeMyTrip, Savaari, etc, and avoid going for local cab service providers as you might end up paying more, mostly if you’re a first-time traveler. GozoCabs is a reliable online cab service provider that you might consider booking for your Mumbai to Lonavala trip. It offers reasonable prices starting at INR 1527 only.
Book your any requirement of outstation cabs with gozocabs in India.
Places to visit in Lonavala
Tiger’s Leap
This is one of the major tourist attractions which is tucked away at a distance of only 8km from Lonavala. One can have a great view of the Western Ghat and the hills from here and cannot afford to miss the stunning sunsets and the sunrises that are to die for. The name comes from the fact that it resembles the shape of a tiger taking a leap into the valley. One needs to be careful here while viewing and is recommended to enjoy the same from a safe spot.
Duration: 1 – 2 hours
Entry Fee: Bike INR 20
Car INR 50
Bus INR 100
Best time to visit: Monsoons
Rajmachi Fort
Again situated in the Sahyadri range in the Konkan region, Rajmachi is well known for Shrivardhan and Manaranjan Forts. This is a perfect place for all adventure enthusiasts and trekkers. There are two ways of trekking to this place – firstly you can start from the Kondhane caves which take around 3 – 4 hours of climbing if you wish to go for a full-fledged trek. The other option is to drive to Udhewadi village (another name for Rajmachi) from Lonavala and then start trekking for only 20 – 30 minutes to reach the top of the fort.
Duration: 24 hours
Best time to visit: June to September
Aamby Valley
Situated at a driving distance of 24 km from Lonavala, this place is a beautiful township developed and managed by Sahara India Parivaar. Covering an area of 1000 acres, this stunning landscape has been designed into an urban infrastructure that follows the environmental norms and matches international standards. The exotic location with all sorts of luxurious facilities attracts tourists from all across the globe. This place is a perfect blend of stunning natural surroundings with modern amenities. The place houses three huge artificial lakes with greenery all around. One should not miss out on experiencing the sheer beauty of this place at least once in a lifetime.
Duration: 5 – 6 hours
Entry Fee: Free
Best time to visit: All time