Khandala
The weekend hillstation
Khandala Tourism
Perched in between the majestic Sahyadris is the charming little town of Khandala. It is located at only 3km from its sister location of Lonavala.
Extremely well known for its picturesque views of the mountain ranges, waterfalls, caves and rock formations, it always bustles with tourist traffic because of its easy accessibility from Pune and Mumbai. Surrounded by an abundance of flora and fauna, this is a place where you will literally wake up to the chirping of birds and unadulterated morning breeze. It is the perfect budget-friendly getaway for those who want to unwind in the luxurious lap of nature.
Things to do in Khandala
1.Lohagad Fort
12 kilometres from city centre
One of the many hill forts of Maharashtra, the Lohagad Fort, translating literally to a...
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2.Bushi Dam
6 kilometres from city centre
The Bushi Dam is a masonry dam on the Indrayani river in Lonavala. For safety reasons, ...
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3.Shrivardhan Fort
7 kilometres from city centre
Shriwardhan Fort is one of the two hill forts that are a part of the Rajmachi fortifica...
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4.Manoranjan Fort
7 kilometres from city centre
Manaranjan Fort is one of the two hill forts that are a part of the Rajmachi fortificat...
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5.Valvan Dam
6 kilometres from city centre
Valvan or Walwan dam is a Dam on the Indrayani river with the main purpose of generatin...
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6.Tunga Fort
15 kilometres from city centre
Built by a ruler of the Shahi Dynasty in the 1600s, it sits at a height of around 1000 ...
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7.Duke's Nose
7 kilometres from city centre
Also called Nagphani as the cliff is pointed like a snakes hood, It is one of the famou...
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8.Shooting Point
8 kilometres from city centre
Film Fanatic? Then the shooting point is your dream destination. Numerous films have us...
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9.Visapur Fort
13 kilometres from city centre
Visapur Fort is a part of the Lohagad Fortification. It is at a higher elevation than t...
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10.Bedsa caves
18 kilometres from city centre
Among the lesser known spots in this region are the Bedse caves. Similar to Bhaje and K...
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11.Rajmachi Fort
1 kilometres from city centre
A major fortification in the rugged Sahyadris, the Rajmachi comprises two forts the Man...
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12.Lonavala Lake
4 kilometres from city centre
Originating from the Indrayani, the Lonavala lake is located in the outskirts of Lonava...
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13.Shingroba Temple
2 kilometres from city centre
Located in between Khapoli and Khandala, the Shingroba temple was built in 1929. Shingr...
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14.Kune Waterfalls
1 kilometres from city centre
Just 2 kilometers from the Khandala railway station are located the majestic Kune water...
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15.Lion's Point
4 kilometres from city centre
Most of the beauty of Khandala lies in vantage points and the views. The Lions View Poi...
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16.Karla and Bhaja Caves
12 kilometres from city centre
Hop on the magic carpet and get ready to time travel as the caves of Bhaja and Karla ta...
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17.City Shopping
788 kilometres from city centre
Khandala has more to offer other than just its breathtaking geographical beauty. Its ma...
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18.Tungarli Lake
3 kilometres from city centre
Constructed by the British around the 1930s, the tungarlis Lake is paradise for young b...
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19.Celebrity Wax Museum, Lonavala
3 kilometres from city centre
Get starry-eyed with life-size replicas of your icons. Started by a 38-year-old wax art...
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20.Reversing Station
1 kilometres from city centre
If you are someone who loves posing for the lens, reversing station is the place for yo...
Read moreKhandala Photos
Local food and cuisine :
The local cuisine of Khandala is not very different from the Marathi and Mumbai specials. The mint vada paos and the roasted corn are delicacies that can't be missed. Also, the Gujarati cuisine is something easily available around all eateries.
The best places to quench the cravings of your taste buds in the area are:
1.Ramakrishna, the best place for a typical south-udipi breakfast.
2.Rudra, serving the famous delicacy of globe-sized bhaturas with sizzling hoy chole.
3.Pragati is one place that is store-cum-coffeeshop that serves steaming hot chocolate, coffees and cold shakes.
How to reach
The best way to reach Khandala is by road from both Mumbai and Pune. It is very easily accessible by the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.
How to Reach by Flight
The nearest airport is the Lohegaon Airport of Pune, at a distance of 74 kilometers. It is a journey of around two hours via the Bengaluru-Mumbai highway.
How to Reach by Train
There are eight direct trains from Mumbai to the Khandala local railway station including the Sahyadri Express and the Deccan Express.
How to Reach by Bus
How to Reach by Road
By road is the most preferred way to reach Khandala, either from Pune or from Mumbai. It takes about two hours by road and the drive is worth the while.
How to travel within
Khandala Itinerary
Day 1
Start off in the early morning from Mumbai to enjoy the misty ride on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. On reaching Khandala, charge yourself with a full breakfast and head to the Duke's nose viewpoint. Get your adventure gear on and lose yourself in the challenging trek. Camp for the night on dukes nose with the campfire and mouth-watering dinner. Finally, doze off in your tents under the stars.
Day 2.
Start early to witness sunrise at the tigers leap and get enchanted by the svayambu shivalinga en route. After some breakfast and coffee in the lap of the lush green hillside, head out to tour the Buddhist caves of Bhaja and Karla. EndEnd the trip with a soul dipping sunset view from the Rajmachi viewpoint and head back home.
