Mumbai being a coastal city, its residents have a lure for the mountains. In summer, droves of travellers drive to its nearest hill stations of Matheran, Mahabaleshwar, and Panchgani. But, Mumbai-ites reserve the monsoons for Lonavala and Khandala.
It would be apt to call them waterfall stations rather than hill stations as the rains slither down the Western Ghats (mountain ranges) creating both large and small waterfalls. Driving between Mumbai and Pune, the old highway NH4 and the Expressway offer spectacular views of these seasonal cascades.
The first feel
My recent return drive from Pune made me detour to this otherwise busy tourist spot to grab its ingenious Chikki and some down-time sans the crowds. First stop, the Chikki shop. Chikki is an Indian version of granola, its primary ingredient being peanuts and jaggery. There are many other varieties like coconut, dry fruits, seeds, along with sugar-free versions.
The next destination to hit was Bhushi Dam. Along the way, though is the picturesque Lonavala Lake. A lake that appears during the monsoons and winters and is a popular hangout of locals and visitors. The structure of the moss-covered arched bridge dam is a brilliant capture all year round.
Bhushi Dam
Getting ahead, I reached Bhushi Dam, the most famous picnic spot here. Built for the Great Indian Peninsular Railway (GIPR) as a water source for steam engines, this masonry dam is on the Indrayani river. The Central Railway Zone of Indian Railways inherited this 1860s structure as GIPR’s successors. Cast iron pumping structures and a pump house still exist within but are out of bounds to the public.
The dam overflows during the monsoons to create a stepped cascade. Surrounding the dam are the Sahyadri mountains (Western Ghats) with many watercourses flowing through. With these places closed for lockdown, I could spend a quiet time admiring the butterflies and flowers here.
Valley views
Further up the hill are Tiger’s Leap and Lions Point. Just to clarify, Lion’s Point has nothing to do with lions. The Lions’ Club of Lonavala developed this viewpoint into a picnic place, and hence the name. The Tiger’s Leap is a sheer drop of 650m and gets its name from the undulations of the mountain range. It appears as if a tiger is leaping across. As clouds pass by, the stellar view of a mountain waterfall is a sight to behold.
There are more places to explore around Lonavala that you can cover if spending more than a day. Karla and Bhaja caves of Buddhist origins, the Lohagad and Tikona forts are close by.
A short itinerary
Here is a short itinerary for a day trip here to get soaked (literally).
- Lonavala is about 90 km from Mumbai and 65 km from Pune. So plan to reach here for an early lunch. The city centre offers various options.
- Hang out at the Lonavala lake for a short while.
- Spend the afternoon frolicking at Bhushi Dam.
- Head out for awesome views of the sunset or the cloud cover at Tiger’s Leap.
- Get back to mouth-watering supper at the Dhabas around and you could be back to the city by night.
