Khandala

Khandala is a popular hill station and a weekend getaway of Maharashtra. Located at an elevation of 625 metres above sea level and just 5 km away from Lonavala, it has a pleasant weather and plenty of outdoor activities.

Khandala is situated at the end of the Bhor Valley and serves as a popular hiking destination for the residents of Maharashtra. There is no reliable historical evidence to suggest the origin of this place and the founding fathers. However, it is well known that Khandala was ruled by Chatrapathi Shivaji and subsequently by the Peshwa rulers, until it was taken over by the British.

Nestled among hills and valleys in the Sahyadri Mountain Range, Khandala offers a pleasant climate throughout the year which makes it a preferred outdoor destination. However, it is best to avoid Khandala during the monsoon season as it receives a lot of rainfall during that time of the year and trekking and hiking cannot be done.

Apart from adventure activities, Khandala also has some places of tourist interest. These include the Amrutanjan Point and Duke’s Nose. Amrutanjan Point is a viewing point offering views of the valley while Duke’s Nose is a cliff with a sharp bend. It is named after the Duke of Wellington and the sharp bendof the cliff resembles the shape of a nose.

Some other tourist attractions of the place are the Ryewood Park, the Bushy Dam and Shivaji Park. The hill station shot to fame across the country after it was featured in a popular Bollywood number. It is also well known for various cave temples which are as old as the 2nd century BC. These cave temples are an example of Buddhist architecture, and is evidence of the presence of the Hinayana sect in the past.

Khandala is well connected by road from most major cities of Maharashtra including Pune and Mumbai. While Mumbai lies 101 km away from Khandala, Pune is 69 km away.