Lonavala information
Lonavala and the adjacent Khandala are beautiful twin hill
stations, 622 m. above sea level, in the Sahyadri ranges
that demarcate the Deccan Plateau and the Konkan coast.
The hill stations sprawl over an approximate area of 38
km².
These popular holiday destinations are lush and beautiful
during the monsoons. People prefer visiting Lonavala and
Khandala in the rainy season. Lonavala and Khandala were
discovered in 1871 by Sir Elphinstone, the Governor of the
Bombay Presidency. The name Lonavla is derived from the
Sanskrit lonavli, which refers to the many caves like Karla
Caves, Bhaja Caves and Bedsa that are close to Lonavla.
A trip to Lonavla and Khandala can be combined with sight-seeing
visits of Karla, Bhaja and Bedsa caves and also the two
fortresses, Lohagad and Visapur.
Khandala Information
Khandala is located at one (top) end the Bhor Ghat, a major
ghat (meaning valley in Marathi) on the road link between
the Deccan Plateau and the Konkan plain. The ghat carries
an extensive amount of road and rail traffic. The Mumbai-Pune
Expressway, the main link between the major cities of Mumbai
and Pune, passes through Khandala.
Due to the ease of accessibility from nearby cities, Khandala
is a common area for hiking. One destination is the nearby
peak of Duke's Nose, which offers a panaromic view of Khandala
and the Bhor Ghat.
The town was referenced in a popular song from the Hindi
film Ghulam named "Aati kya Khandala?" ("Will
you come to Khandala?")