Khandala is a popular hill station in Maharashtra, perched on the foothills of Sahyadri in the Western Ghats. Khandala provides for a perfect weekend respite for the Mumbai population, with its scenic valleys, grassy hills, serene lakes and misty waterfalls. It is one of the twin hill stations – Lonavala and Khandala. The place immortalized by the popular Bollywood song, “Aati Kya Khandala”, is a must-visit destination for everyone looking for beautiful nature, pleasant weather and the feeling of mist in the air. The natural beauty of Khandala blooms to its zenith and reveals a magical charm during the monsoons. Its meandering waterfalls and glittering lakes attributes to the majestic look an imposing ambience. The Mumbai-Pune expressway passes through Khandala. Due to this easy accessibility, it is a popular hiking spot from nearby cities. The Duke’s Nose peak and Karla Hills are the two popular spots for rock climbing. Located near two more popular tourist hotspots, viz. Lonavala (3 km away) and Karjat (7 km), Khandala is one of the perfect hill retreats for both trekkers and young couples.
Rajmachi Fort
Midway between Lonavala and Khandala is a fort by the name of Rajmachi Fort, a prominent landmark that watches over some of the most breathtakingly beautiful and wide sceneries of the region.
Atop the Western Ghats, the complex comprises two forts that are individually located at the Shrivardhan and Manaranjan Peaks. From the fort, tourists can catch an aerial view of Duke’s Nose, Karanala, Mahuli, Bhimashankar, Matheran and Ulhas River. The fort also enables tourists to get a view of the old caves lying at Kondhavi and Tungarli Lake.
Visapur Fort
The Visapur Fort is a popular hill fort near Visapur village located close to Lonavala. Also called Visapoor Fort, it is a popular weekend getaway from Pune and Mumbai. The majestic fort is a very popular destination for a trek. The climb to the Visapur Fort is rocky but welcoming. Starting at Bhaje village, it is about 2.5 to 3 hours long each way and ends at the height of 3556 feet.
The fort stands at the height of 1084 meters above sea level offering panoramic view hills covered in a thick blanket of green. Monsoons are definitely the best time to visit Visapur Fort – the greenery, brimming waterfalls, and the beautiful fog. This massive fort was built as a twin of the famous Lohagad fort, but at a higher elevation and covering a larger surface area.
Bedsa caves
Located slightly far from Kamshet, Bhedsa Caves is a group of rock-cut Buddhist monuments dating back to 60 BC. Also known as Bedse Caves, it is one of the oldest caves of Maharashtra tracing back to the Satvahana period.
Known for their beautiful, exquisite carvings, the caves contain four 25 feet high pillars. The main cave called the ‘Chaitya’ has a prayer hall that enshrines a magnificent stupa. The other cave is the vihara or the monastery. It is best to visit Bedsa Caves early morning as both caves face eastward.
Lohagad Fort
Situated at the height of 3400 feet, Lohagad Fort is a UNESCO world heritage site and formidable fort about 52 kilometres away from Pune. Perched atop an impressive hill near Malavali, this destination is the perfect amalgam of ancient architecture and natural beauty. Lohagad Fort was built in the 18th century and is an ideal destination for trekking and nature lovers, especially from Pune and Mumbai. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj used to keep his treasury in this fort.
The trek to the fort is an easy one and perfect for the first-timers, making it a favourite haunt of hiking enthusiasts. In addition to its thrilling trek route, Lohagad Fort in itself is a massive structure that was once under the control of the mighty Maratha Empire and is connected to its twin Visapur Fort as well. Until a few years back, the base of the fort was quite far from the last point connected via road, but now a proper road has been built to the base of the fort, due to which a lot of people visit Lohagad during monsoon weekends, making it quite crowded. Whether you visit this destination for its lush green beauty, adventurous trekking route, panoramic views or illustrious history, Lohagad Fort is certainly worthy of a visit.
Duke’s Nose
With a rather peculiar origin to its name, this site is known for some of the widest and grandest views of the surrounding mountains, valleys and forests.
Owing its name to an apparent resemblance to Duke of Wellington’s nose, is this ideal picnic spot amidst beautiful surroundings. A famous spot for rock climbing, a very steep climb up rocky outcrops enables the tourists to reach the site. Trekking trail to reach the site begins from near the Khandala Railway Station. The 800-foot monolith can be reached by trekking for 1.5 hours.