Places to visit near Lonavala
Places to visit near Lonavala
Lonavala, a popular hill station in Maharashtra's Sahyadri range midway between Mumbai and Pune, is famous across Maharashtra for two things above all else: its spectacular monsoon waterfalls and the irresistible sticky chikki candy made from jaggery and nuts that is synonymous with the town. The Bhushi Dam, Kune Falls, and the dramatic Rajmachi Fort trek are the most beloved attractions, while the mysterious Karla and Bhaja rock-cut Buddhist caves dating back to the 2nd century BCE add surprising historical depth to what might otherwise be seen as a weekend getaway destination. Lonavala's proximity to Mumbai and Pune makes it perpetually popular, but its natural beauty rewards every visit.
30 km
Matheran
→Matheran, nestled in the Sahyadri Hills at 800 meters just 90 kilometers from Mumbai, holds the unique distinction of being Asia's only automobile-free hill station — a haven of absolute peace where the only sounds are birdsong, rustling leaves, and the charming whistle of the narrow-gauge toy train from Neral. The 38 viewpoints around the town, including Echo Point, Porcupine Point, and the One Tree Hill panorama, offer spectacular views of the Sahyadri valleys below, particularly magical during and after the monsoon. Matheran's car-free lanes, horse rides, red laterite paths through dense forests, and the heritage toy train journey make it a uniquely restorative escape from urban Maharashtra.
58 km
Alibaug
→Alibaug, a coastal town in Maharashtra's Raigad district just 100 kilometers south of Mumbai and accessible by a scenic ferry ride from the Gateway of India, is the preferred beach escape for Mumbaikars and is increasingly popular for its luxury beach resorts, water sports, and historic Maratha coastal forts. The Kulaba Fort rising dramatically from the sea near Alibaug beach, the beautiful Kashid Beach, and the forested hillsides of the Konkan coastline make Alibaug a scenic destination beyond its role as a city escape. The region's fresh seafood, particularly the Alibag seafood thali, and the lush Konkan landscape in monsoon make Alibaug particularly enchanting from June to September.
66 km
Mumbai
→Mumbai, India's Maximum City and financial capital, is a teeming, dynamic metropolis of 20 million people where Bollywood glamour, colonial grandeur, cutting-edge fashion, and ancient fishing villages all collide in an exhilarating urban tapestry unlike anywhere else on earth. The iconic Gateway of India overlooking the Arabian Sea, the UNESCO-listed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus railway station, and the elegant promenade of Marine Drive are symbols of Mumbai's unique civic pride. From the street food heaven of Mohammed Ali Road and Juhu Beach to the art deco architecture of Oval Maidan and the vibrant gallery scene of Colaba, Mumbai is a city that rewards every type of curious traveler.
96 km
Mahabaleshwar
→Mahabaleshwar, at 1,353 meters in the Sahyadri Hills of Maharashtra, is the state's most popular hill station and the summer capital of the Bombay Presidency during British times, renowned for its spectacular valley viewpoints, lush strawberry farms, and the panoramic Wilson Point from which the sunrise over the Western Ghats is one of Maharashtra's most beautiful sights. The Arthur's Seat viewpoint, known as the Queen of all Points, the sacred Krishnabai Temple at the source of the Krishna River, and the old colonial town of Old Mahabaleshwar with its charming 16th-century stone church add historical depth to the scenic beauty. Fresh strawberries, cream, and the local chikki candy make Mahabaleshwar's food as memorable as its views.
132 km
Trimbakeshwar
→Trimbakeshwar, situated at the source of the sacred Godavari River near Nashik in Maharashtra, is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas — the most sacred shrines of Lord Shiva in Hinduism. The magnificent Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple, built in the Hemadpanthi style of black stone, is unique in housing a Jyotirlinga with three faces representing Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. The temple town is also the starting point of the Brahmagiri mountain trek, from the summit of which the Godavari River originates, making it a deeply sacred and scenically beautiful pilgrimage destination.
144 km
Nashik
→Nashik, situated on the banks of the holy Godavari River in Maharashtra, is one of India's most important pilgrimage cities and one of the four sacred venues for the Kumbh Mela, the world's largest human gathering. The city is famous for its ghats along the Godavari, the Panchavati area associated with the Ramayana, and the ancient cave temples of Pandavleni. Nashik also sits at the heart of India's most celebrated wine country, the Sula Vineyards and surrounding wine region, making it a uniquely dual destination that appeals to both pilgrims and modern lifestyle travelers.
159 km
Shirdi
→Shirdi, a small town in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district, is one of the most visited pilgrimage destinations in India — home to the Shri Sai Baba Samadhi Mandir, the shrine of the revered saint Sai Baba of Shirdi, who is worshipped by both Hindus and Muslims as a manifestation of God and whose teachings of love, forgiveness, and brotherhood continue to attract millions of devotees from across India and the world. The Samadhi Mandir housing the marble idol of Sai Baba, the Dwarkamai mosque where Sai Baba lived for much of his life, and the Chavadi where he slept on alternate nights are the three most sacred sites in the Shirdi complex, creating a deeply moving spiritual circuit for devotees of every faith.
194 km
Daman
→Daman, a Union Territory on India's western coast north of Mumbai, is a compact beach destination with a distinctive Portuguese colonial heritage visible in its old churches, forts, and cobbled streets. The Moti Daman Fort and Nani Daman Fort, both well-preserved Portuguese bastions from the 16th century, flank the Damanganga River mouth and reflect Daman's four centuries of Portuguese rule before independence in 1961. The relatively uncrowded Jampore and Devka beaches, the Church of Bom Jesus, and the duty-free liquor policy that makes Daman popular with visitors from neighboring dry state Gujarat add to the town's laid-back beach holiday appeal.
234 km
Ellora Caves
→Ellora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Maharashtra, is perhaps the greatest testament to India's tradition of religious tolerance and artistic ambition — a 2-kilometer stretch of cliff containing 34 remarkable rock-cut monasteries and temples representing Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism, created between the 6th and 11th centuries CE. The centerpiece is the awe-inspiring Kailasa Temple (Cave 16) — entirely carved out of a single basalt rock face from the top down in a feat of engineering that remains miraculous to this day, a monolithic reproduction of Mount Kailash dedicated to Shiva. The Buddhist viharas and chaityas, the towering Jain temples, and the dynamic Hindu sculptures of Shiva make Ellora a journey through the artistic genius of ancient India.
302 km
Tarkarli
→Tarkarli, a pristine beach destination in Maharashtra's Sindhudurg district, is one of India's best-kept coastal secrets — a hidden paradise of white sand beaches, the clearest shallow waters on the Konkan coast, and a rich underwater world that has earned it the nickname of the "Poor Man's Andaman." The spectacular scuba diving and snorkeling in the crystal-clear waters off Tarkarli Beach, the backwater boat rides on the Karli River estuary through dense mangroves, and the centuries-old Sindhudurg Fort built by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on an island offshore are the destination's crown jewels. Tarkarli's fresh cashew feni, Malvani seafood cuisine, and unhurried pace make it a destination of authentic Konkan charm.