Hey, everyone, I am currently in Pune regarding work and my family will be here with me for two days then we will all head back home to Delhi. As we won't have many days to see anything, I thought it would be a good idea to for a one day trip which is near Pune, as there is not much to see in Pune itself. I have read the picnic spots near Pune thread, but I want to know about some other places other than picnic spots. How far is the nearest hill station from Pune? Is there anything related to adventure near Pune? I don't really have any idea of what I should be looking for, so I am totally relying on the forum members for this. I would appreciate getting a quick response as I don't have many days left until my family arrives.
Hello, @Gavi! Welcome to the forum! Here's a list of the nearest hill stations to Pune (Also the attractions that you can visit and adventure activities that you can do here!): 1. Lonavala - This is about 67 kms from Pune. Lonavala is a town and hill station in Pune in Maharashtra. This is about 624 metres above sea level. It's best visited during the monsoon season to see the waterfalls being fed by the rain. It's also popular for its naturopathy and yoga centres. Here are some of the attractions in Lonavala: Lonavala Lake - This is about 1.6 kms from the city centre. This lake was constructed in the year 1876 and the Inrayani River is the source of water of the lake. Its other name is the Monsoon Lake, as it is filled with water during the monsoon season. During the summer and winter season, the lake dries up. It's a great place for bird-watching or having a picnic as well. Bushi Dam - This dam was built in the late 1860's for the Great Indian Peninsular Railway. It's the source of water for the steam engines of their trains. Now though, this dam is owned by the Indian Railways, specifically the Central Railway Zone. The dam has been a major area for drowning though. Hence, there's a set time for visiting it, this is from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm only. Tungarli Dam - This is a dam built across the Tungarli Lake. It was built around the 1930's during the British reign. The dam helps in irrigating the entire Rajmachi area. It is also a popular camper's area as there is no permit required to camp here. Tungarli Lake - This lake is filled with water all-year round, unlike the Lonavala Lake which has months that it is dried up. There's not much you can do here, either enjoy the view or have a picnic. For some adventure seekers, Tungarli Lake has some trails around the area that you can also explore. Valvan Dam - This is also known as Walwan Dam. This dam was built across the Kundali River. The Khopali Power Station derives power from this dam. Beside the dam, there's a beautiful garden that tourists and locals enjoy a picnic in. The dam is best visited during the evening especially if you're looking for some relaxation and quietness. Tiger's Leap - This is a peak in Lonaval, its name was derived from the appearance of the cliff, it's as if a tiger is leaping from it. Locally, the peak is known as Waghdari. The cliff is over 650 metres above sea level and provides a panoramic view of the valley below. If you're visiting during the monsoon season, there's also a small waterfall that you can visit nearby. Scorpion's Sting - This is also known as Vinchu Kata. This is a narrow and fortified spur in the region of the Lohagarh Fort. Its name was derived from its scorpion shape, with finger styled projections of lava fissure. From here, you can view the lush greenery all around which is why it's a popular spot amongst trekkers. Rajmachi Fort - This fort is comprised specifically of two more forts, namely: Shrivardhan Fort and Manaranjan Fort. There are two ways that you can reach the fort: one is through a tough trek from Kondivade Village and the other is the easier trek from Lonavala. The fort itself was built to control the Borghat although it also played a role in the first Anglo-Maratha War. Lohagad Fort - This fort is about 1,033 metres above sea level. It was mostly under the rule of the Maratha Empire but several other dynasties conquered it as well like the Mughals, Nizams, Bahamanis and Yadavas. In the Peshwa time, Nana Phadnavis built several structures inside the fort like a tank and a step well. Korigad Fort - This fort is about 923 metres above sea level and was likely built during the 1500's. The fort was conquered by Chhatrapati during the year 1657. Inside, there's a temple dedicated to the Goddess Koraidevi and several other temples dedicated to Vishnu and Shiva. Most of the walls of the fort are still intact and even its gateway is still intact. There are also six large cannons inside the fort, near the Koraidevi Temple. Visapur Fort - This fort is about 1,084 metres above sea level and is on the same plateau as the Lohagad Fort. It was built by Balakai Vishwanath during the 1713-1720 CE. By 1818 AD, the British has conquered the Visagad Fort and the entire village. Most of the inner structures of the fort are in ruins now but the walls have remained intact. The ruins inside the fort consist of wells, caves, old houses and decorated arch. Now, here are some adventure activities that you can do in Lonavala: Trekking - As I've mentioned, there are several peaks in Lonavala that you can do some trekking in. These are the Tiger's Leap and Scorpion's Sting. You can also trek to reach the Rajmachi Fort and Korigad Fort. On the other hand, there's a small pathway leading to the Visapur Fort from the Lohagad Fort that you can also explore. Camping - You can enjoy camping in the Tungarli Dam and other lakes in Lonavala. You can gaze under the stars and enjoy the serenity of the region. Della Adventure Park - For an ultimate adventure, you can go to the Della Adventure Park in Lonavala. They have flying fox, paintball, ATVs, buggy rides, dirt bikes, land zorbing and many more activities. You can find the park in Old Highway in Kunegaon in Lonavala. 2. Khandala - This is about 71 kms from Pune. This is the twin hill station of Lonavala as they're located at just three kms away from each other. The hill station is located on one end of the Bhorghat. Some of the attractions here are the following: Bedse Caves - These caves are in the town of Maval. The caves can be traced back to the 1st Century BC. There are two main caves: the main cave is the prayer hall or chaitya and the second cave is the monastery or vihara. Both caves face towards the East and have intricate carvings within them. Most of the murals within the caves were lost as they were painted over during the time of the British. Duke's Nose - This is also known as Nagphani, nag meaning snake and phani meaning hood. This is because the peak is shaped like the head of a snake. It was then renamed after Duke Wellington as it is also shaped like the nose of the said individual. The trek to reach the peak is surprisingly easy. At the top. you'd be rewarded by the views of the Sahyadri Peaks and the Khandala Valley. Kune Waterfalls - This is a three-tiered waterfall within both cities of Lonavala and Khandala. Its total height is about 200 metres above sea level. Its highest drop is at about 100 metres. The Kune Waterfalls is also known as the 14th highest waterfall in India. It is best visited during the monsoon season when the rain feeds the waterfalls and it turns into a milky white colour. The surrounding greenery is also an added attraction during the monsoon season. Shooting Point - This is a peak or viewing point at the Khandala region. It is best visited during the monsoon season in order for you to see the waterfalls and rivers below. Its name was derived from the several movies that have filmed here already, hence Shooting Point. Tung Fort - This fort is about 1,075 metres above sea level. The fort is surrounded by water on its three sides and it's best to ride a boat or ferry to reach it. The other name of the fort is Kathingad, with kathing meaning difficult. Reaching the fort requires effort as it's a steep and high climb. The fort was built by the Adil Shahi Dynasty during the 1600 CE. However, it was captured by Shivaji thereafter. The fort is very small so many suggests that its main function was as a watch tower guarding the roads towards Pune. Celebrity Wax Museum - This museum was founded by a wax artist from Kerala named Sunil Kandaloor. The main attraction of the museum is the wax image of Chhatrapati Shivaji. You can also find images of Rajiv Gandhi, Michael Jackson and even Adolf Hitler inside the museum. There's an entry fee of Rs. 100 for an adult and there's no entry fee for children below 5 years of age. Karla Caves - These are Buddhist rock cut caves that can be traced back to the 2nd century BC to the 5th century AD. The caves were historically connected to the Mahasamghika Sector of Buddhism and even later, it was connected to Hinduism. The main cave here is a prayer hall dating back to the 1st century BC. The cave has sculptures of animals, males and females. There are also chaityas and viharas within the other caves. Bhaja Caves - These are a group of 22 rock cut caves that can be traced back to the 2nd century BC. The caves belong to the Hinayana Buddhism sector. The main feature of the caves is the chaityagriha or the large shrine with a horseshoe shaped entrance. There are sculptures, inscriptions and relics found within the caves. Another important feature here is the carving of a woman playing the Tabla, an Indian percussion instrument during the 200 BCE. Shingroba Temple - This temple was built in 1929 and is located on a steep curve in the city of Khandala. Many locals and tourists alike visit the temple despite its small size. The design and architecture of the temple is also very simple but elegant. Then, here is an adventure activity that you can do in Khandala: Trekking - The peaks of Duke's Nose and Shooting Point are great trekking routes especially for beginners. On the other hand, for the more experienced trekkers, consider the trek to reach the Tung Fort which can be very challenging. Apart from these, the Bedse Caves, Karla Caves and Bhaja Caves are also good places to explore within the city. 3. Panchgani - This is about 104 kms from Pune. This is a hill station and municipal council in Satara district. It is famous for its educational institutions and strawberry farms. Some of the attractions here are the following: Table Land - This is a mountain plateau in Panchgani. It is also the second largest mountain plateau in Asia. The region is within 95 acres of land and offers an amazing view of the land. There's also tons of activities that you can do here like horse riding, merry go rounds, trains, food stalls and game counters. Mahabaleshwar Temple - This temple is dedicated to Lord Mahabali or Lord Shiva. The temple also contains a shivalingam built in a black stone. The temple was built by the Chanda Rao More Dynasty in the 16th century. It features a Hemadant architectural style as well. Panchganga Mandir - This was built in the 13th century by Raja Singhandeo. It is also known as the Temple of Five Rivers or Krishnabai Temple. There's a stone carved image of Gomukh here or the face of a cow. The story goes that Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva came to Mahabaleshwar to perform a Yagna. Lord Brahma failed to bring along his consort, Goddess Savitri. So as a solution, since a wife is needed to perform the ritual, Brahma married a local woman named Gayathri. This angered Goddess Savitri so much that she transformed the gods into rivers and in turn, they also transformed her into a river. So with this story, the Venna River (Brahma), Gaythri River, Krishna River (Vishnu) and Koyna River (Shiva) and Savithri River originated in this place and it is known as the Panchganga. Mapro Garden - This is a garden park in the Panchgani region. It hosts the annual Strawberry Festival in Panchgani. The freshest strawberries can be picked at the garden especially during the festival. Kate's Point - This is about 15 kms from Panchgani, en route to Mahabaleshwar. It's a huge rock overlooking the valley and Dhom Dam. There's an entry fee of Rs. 10 to access the point though. Nearby, there are some eateries offering hot meals that you can enjoy along with the views. Sydney Point - This is just 3 kms from the city centre of Panchgani. The peak was named after Sir Sidney Beckwarth, the Commander in Chief and senior member of the council. The point is famous for its mesmerising views of the Krishna Valley, Kamalgad Fort, Dhom Dam, and the city of Wai. You can also see the ranges of Pandavgad and Mandhardeo through this point. Parsi Point - This is a famous picnic spot in Panchgani. Aside from the views of the Dhom Dam, the peak also offers a view of the Krishna Valley. Its name was derived from the Parsi Community who used to love this place. Bhilar Waterfalls - The Bhilar Waterfalls can only be seen during the monsoon season. It is about 300 to 350 feet in height and is fed by the monsoon rains. The falls are believed to be the source of the Kundali River. Now, here are some adventure activities that you can do in Panchgani: Trekking - There are many peaks in Panchgani and the good thing is, they're good for beginner trekkers. Sydney Point and Parsi Point are great options for trekking. Water Sports - For the extreme adventurer, you can go to the nearby town of Tapola, about 44.9 kms from Panchgani. There are tons of water sports activities that you can do here like wind surfing, kayaking, boating and water scootering. Paragliding - This activity is best done on Panchgani as the skies here are clearer and offers beautiful views of the surroundings. You can go to Tapola, Bhilar or Khinger as well as these places also offer paragliding for tourists. I hope this helps. P.S. I've included the adventure activities in each hill station already. Good luck and enjoy your trip!
If you are planning to visit Lonavala, you should also try Della Adventure Park, an amusement park located in Lonavala on Mumbai - Pune expressway.
