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Lonavala |
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| Khandala &
Lonavala are two charming
hill stations on the western slopes of the Sahyadris, 8 Kms apart
straddling the Mumbai Pune Highway at an altitude of 625m. Khandala is the
smaller and calmer of the two, although browsing through Lonavala bazaar
could yield some wonderful surprises. Both towns offer some spectacular
scenic views of the surrounding hills and in the monsoon, with a myriad
waterfalls. Karla about 12kms from Lonavala, is the site of the site of
the largest chaitya caves in India, built in 80BC. Amongst the best
preserved Buddhist Temples in India, they represent the zenith, in terms
of design purity of this style of temple architecture. About 3 Kms away is
the more peaceful setting of the Bhaja Caves. From around 200 BC, 10 of
the 18 caves here are Viharas (monasteries) while Cave 12 is an open
Chaitya earlier than Karla. Access : Pune - 66 Kms; Mumbai - 104 Kms. All
trains from Mumbai to Pune and the South stop at Lonavala. Taxis and auto
rickshaws easily available in Lonavala and Khandala, are the best way of
getting to and from Karla. |
| Sightseeing |
- Karla Caves : 11 Kms from Lonavala.
One of the finest examples of Buddhist rock cut architecture, the Karla
Caves dating back to the 2nd Century BC, belongs to the Hinayana Period.
The caves at Karla comprise of one Chaitya which is the largest in the
country and several viharas or monasteries on a hill 150 mts high.
- Around Lonavala : Barometer Hills,
Bhusir Lake, INS Shivaji, Kune Point, Lonavala Lake, Rye Forest and
Shivaji Park, Shirota Lake, Tiger's Leap, Tungarli Lake & Dam, Valvan
Lake and Dam.
- Around Khandala : Duke's nose,
Rajmachi Fort, Rajmachi Point, Regional Police Training School,
Reversing Point.
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General Information |
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Area |
38.85 Sq Kms |
| Altitude |
625 Mts (Lonavala)
576 Mts Khandala |
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Summers |
12 - 36 Deg Centigrade |
| Winters |
11 - 31 Deg Centigrade |
| Rainfall |
450 Cms |
| Season |
October to April |
| STD Code |
02114 (95-2114 from Mumbai or
Pune) |
| Distances |
Aurangabad 288 Kms, Goa 555 Kms,
Mahabaleshwar 182 kms, Mumbai 101 Kms, Nashik 264 Kms, Pune 67 Kms |
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The Kaivalyadham Yoga
Ashram, Lonavala +91 - 2114 - 273001 / 273039, 022 - 22810494 Fax
271983, |
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