Weekend Getaways near Vyara

Day 1 : Bike Ride to Lonavala & KhandalaMy friends decided we'll go to Karla Caves, Lonavala and Khandala on bikes. Yes on bikes! We have 3 Bikes and 5 people, So we started in morning at around 8 it was cloudy and seemed like it might rain. Just in 10 minutes we were on the highway and it started raining, I was spell bound by the blows of morning breezes I wished I had the power to freeze time. We stopped at a dhaba to have breakfast and tea best part of the bike trip is we can stop anywhere we wanted to.Our first destination is Karla Caves and we reached there after 2 hours of bike ride. Carved into a rocky hillside, Karla caves are among the oldest Buddhist cave shrines in India. It is located on the Pune-Mumbai highway at Karla.

One of the most popular picnic spots near Mumbai is Lonavala and Khandala. The emerald green hills and valleys of the twin hill stations, only three hours away, have been serving as the most popular getaway from Mumbai since years.

-Lonavala

अगर आप मुंबई में रहते हैं तो आपके लिए मानसून में जाने वाली सबसे बढ़िया जगह है लोनावाला! मानसून की शुरुआत के साथ सह्याद्री पर्वत श्रृंखलाएं और हरे घाट, झरने और सुखद जलवायु और आकर्षक हो जातें हैं। शहर की हलचल से शीघ्र बचने के लिए विलक्षण पर्वतीय शहर लोनावाला की यात्रा की योजना बनाएं।कैसे पहुंचे - लोनावला में अपना एक रेलवे स्टेशन है जहां पुणे और मुंबई से काफी गाड़ियां रोज़ आती हैं | सबसे पास एयरपोर्ट है पुणे में, जो वहाँ से 60 किलोमीटर दूर है | और आप अगर मुंबई या पुणे से आ रहे हैं तो अपनी कार से भी आ सकते हैं, केवल डेढ़ घंटे का रास्ता है दोनों शहरों से |कहाँ रहें - होटल ग्रैंड विसवा में आप हर सुख सुविधा केवल 3,000 रुपये में पा सकते हैं | आप चाहें तो ये आप अभी ही ये होटल बुक कर सकते हैं बिना पैसे दिए, यहां क्लिक करें |2. उदयपुर

I feel envious towards those who are born and brought up near hills. I’m fond of online personality tests and whenever I’m asked if I prefer hills to beaches, I always give a positive answer. Although beaches are romantic, I find solace in less crowdy places and that is why I prefer hills. Every time I visited my boyfriend, who is now my husband, we went on bike rides to the hills near Pune. Lonavala is one such places that still fills my heart with ebullience.It had been drizzling all day and to rejoice the generosity of the weather, we decided to go on a ride to Lonavala. The breathtaking valleys, coy mist, silvery skies transforming each second, prancing clouds, and lush green blanket of curly grass blew my mind. The road to the marvellous Tiger point was full of many hairpin curves and the mist was so dense that one could hardly say if the two headlights coming from the front were of a car or two different motorbikes. The trees on the road were bent as if they were doing it deliberately to hear the harmonious music of the wind.We reached the Tiger point. The place got its name as it gives impression of a tiger trying to leap across the valley. There was a small waterfall formed due to rain and the notorious mist was hiding it from it after every fifteen seconds as if it was a secret treasure. Yes, there was crowd, but it didn’t matter either. Thanks to the mist! We roamed around the place, the mist decreased suddenly, and I found a ravine nearby. It was so deep that most of the day it must have remained in shadow. Over it, a narrow path twisted its way down through the tress, over an open ridge where Sahyadri flora in varied hues grew wild, and then steeply down through a tangle of slender bamboo. I was about to call it heaven as the mist took the scene away from my eyes, and I was left illusioned as if I had been drugged.Visiting Lonavala and not tasting its delicious corn pakoras is like being in Switzerland and not tasting its cheese. The tempting fragrance of yummy pakoras with onion chutney is something that amplifies one’s hunger. The pakoras should be followed by a kulhad of hot coffee- so thick that if you don’t wipe your mouth after having it, you will be left with a crusty, brown moustache. To dig deep into the ocean of hillside cuisines, we also tried roasted corn with green pudina chutney peppered over it.It was around 6 o’clock when we decided to leave. The orange-purple Sun was peeping out from the grey clouds, and the city below was becoming alive with all electric lights. We could hear the leaves of the trees rustling and indicating that it was time to rest. The birds were going back to their nests with some savoury gifts in their beaks for their little ones, and we too returned with imperishable memories of the wedding of hills with clouds in Lonavala.

Route B: The second trail begins from Lonavala and crosses the Tungarali Dam to reach the Rajmachi Village. This is a 15km long straight road, where you can easily take a vehicle. However, cars can only go up to a certain point till a diversion comes. There is a place where you can park your vehicle at the diversion and from here the last one kilometre needs to be covered on foot.How to plan it: If you start your trek from Lonavala, you do not need more than a day to reach the fort and make your way back to Lonavala.Distance: 15kmWhere to stayKajrat:

We caught the train and started our journey. We reached Lonavala around 10.30 in the morning and hired cab to reach the Heritage Villa. On our way we stopped for breakfast and had mouthwatering spicy vada-pav and adrakwali chai. What a relief from hectic journey. Our villa provides the excellent view and surrounded by Mountains and Lush Greenery. After spending some time, we booked the cab and the journey begins.Tiger Point: This point resembles the shape of tiger. Hills were completely surrounded with the fog, which gives the spectacular view. A small waterfall makes the scene picture perfect. This exotic location beauty was just spellbound.Loin’s Point: Next to tiger point, this place is situated. The The hills and mountains get carpeted with lush greenery, clouds overflow the hills and cool breeze make the view is heavenly beautiful.Bhusi Dam: This dam was the jewel of our trip. The dam overflow with sparkling water and foggy weather and scenic waterfall makes you to fall in love with Lonavala. Indeed this place is the best hangout place with friends, and enjoys the water fun, but as its slippery steps and inconsistent water flow, you need to be very careful.Karla Caves: This is the house of the Buddhist shrines with ancient rock-cut caves. The place is very peaceful and architectural perfect. Most of the stupas are simply built and bare but some contain carvings on the top. Timing for visit is 9 AM to 5.30 PM and entry fee is 5/-Bhaja Caves: Located in Karla caves and display the sculpture of a prince in a chariot, dancing couple, an armed warrior and a prince seated on an elephant and much more. Small waterfall again makes the scene astonishingly beautiful.The caves are high up in the mountain and you need to climb up the stairs and many stalls are situated on your way. The beauty of Western Ghats is breathtakingly glorious.Celebrity Wax Museum: this was our last destination for the day. As name suggests some big celebrities, like Asha Bhosley, Rabindra Nath Tagore, Swami Vivekanand, Mr. Beans, Shaktiman, was statues are there. A good place to click photographs with all the celebrities and these statues will look original in some point. Timing for visit is 9 AM to 9.30 PM and entry fee is 100/-Our Day 1 journey ended and we came back to our villa, we packed variety of tasty roasted and grilled chicken and enjoy our dinner in balcony which is the best part of the villa. Good thing is loud music is allowed and we enjoyed a lot.

This hill resort offers a refreshing change of scenery. Just a three hour road trip from Mumbai it is a popular weekend getaway abuzz with adventuresome activities from trekking, camping and waterfall rappelling. Monsoon is the best time to see this hill station come alive. A place made very popular by Bollywood is Khandala and Lonavla, twin hill resorts that are about 93 kilometres away from the city along the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. These two places stand 5 kilometres apart from each other and offer one adventures like trekking, camping under the skies, tour’s of the various farm houses that dot the place and water rappelling. The Korigad Fort is a great monument that stands here and so are the caves, Bhaja, Lohgad, the Tiger’s leap and Karla. It would also be fun to get a glimpse of the Duke’s Nose, a cliff that resembles the nose of the Duke of Wellington and aptly named after him.Distance from Mumbai - 83 Kms

When the monsoons come, the best place to visit is just a two hour drive away. Lonavla is a paradise during this time of the year and is at a height of 2041 feet above the sea. This hill station is a wonderful place to get away for the weekend and spend a few days in quietness. Nestled in the Sahyadri Ranges, this getaway spot is ideal for those who wish to snooze undisturbed. If you a looking for a good picnic spot to spend the weekend with your family, you may want to consider this place that is just 66 kilometres along the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. For trekkers, this place has a lot to offer you. Visit the hill called the ‘Duke’s Nose’ or cave like Bhaja and Bhedsa for an adventure that will thrill you. The best time to pay this place a visit would be from October through to the month of April. We have made things a lot easier for you by adding Lonavala on our list of tourist places to visit near Pune within 100 km. Try water rappelling at Durshet, visit a rice plantation or camp out at Maval, this place is filled with options for you.Distance from Pune: 66 Km

Last week, one of my friends who was visiting Mumbai asked for my recommendations on things to do in Mumbai, where to eat and places to stay at Lonavla.Mumbai has always dazzled everyone with its charm. The warmth and high spirits of the city is quiet enticing.Here is what to do in Mumbai if you are there for a day or two!