Escape the monotonous city life in the long, meandering streets, towering greenery, historical sites, and scenic beauty of Khandala.
A narrow road bisects the hills clad in lush greenery. The hilltops seem eager to kiss the never-ending sky as a blanket of mist and matted cloud enwraps their zenith. From a distance, you hear the faint trickle of a waterfall soothing your senses inured to the cacophony of daily life. Maharashtra's Khandala has often been the respite for many locals. Equipped with versatile hills and sprightly waterfalls, this town is apt for a weekend getaway. Indulgent, affordable, and accessible Khandala lets you enjoy the small town pleasures. You can trek through the trails of The Tiger's Leap and Duke's Nose and explore Buddhist cave temples, forts, and British vestiges.
Must VisitVisit the Bhaja caves to soak in the calmness and trek through lush greenery in the trails of Tiger's Valley and Duke's Nose. Drive around town to let the undisturbed strains of nature seep into you and do not forget to carry chikki, the candy-bar that is the perfect combination of gooey and crunchy back home.
Best time to visitThe best time to visit Khandala is the monsoon months. The dry and heaving landscape is spirited by the rains. The waterfall and the lakes are shot back to life- the rains like epinephrine to the pulsating heart. A warm cup of chai or a bowl of Maggi and you are all set to enjoy the Khandala.
TriviaThis hilly town made it to pop culture with the song “Aati Kya Khandala” from Amir Khan's popular movie Gulam.
InterestA peaceful ambiance and relatively lower footfall compared to other hill stations in Maharashtra render Khandala an offbeat charm. You can soak in its tranquility from the lush valleys, serene viewpoints like Rajmachi Point, misty hills, and hidden trekking trails.
Ancient Buddhist caves with intricate carvings
Historic rock-cut temples with stunning architecture and spiritual charm
Thrilling viewpoint with stunning valley vistas and a touch of adventure
Adventure spot with a distinctive peak and panoramic vistas
Scenic spot perfect for picnics and relaxing by the serene waters
Soak in nature’s benevolent bounty
Majestic fort with scenic trails and expansive views
Explore a historic prison with intriguing tales and architectural charm
Digha, Purba Medinipur, Kolkata, West Bengal 721428
Digha is a small coastal hamlet, covered by the sands of the shore almost completely. The New Digha beach is one of its attractions, found after a quick stroll through the town. Enjoy the large waves rushing past each other on the water on their way to meet the powdery sands.
Chandpur Sea Beach, Chandapur, West Bengal 721423
While the traditional beach invokes the image of blue waves on ochre sands, Chandpur Beach creates an illustration of the passage of time. It invites all those looking to spend quiet moments amidst the myriad shades of nature.
Digha, Purba Medinipur, Kolkata, West Bengal 721428
Digha is a small coastal hamlet, covered by the sands of the shore almost completely. The New Digha beach is one of its attractions, found after a quick stroll through the town. Enjoy the large waves rushing past each other on the water on their way to meet the powdery sands.
Chandpur Sea Beach, Chandapur, West Bengal 721423
While the traditional beach invokes the image of blue waves on ochre sands, Chandpur Beach creates an illustration of the passage of time. It invites all those looking to spend quiet moments amidst the myriad shades of nature.
Digha, Purba Medinipur, Kolkata, West Bengal 721428
Digha is a small coastal hamlet, covered by the sands of the shore almost completely. The New Digha beach is one of its attractions, found after a quick stroll through the town. Enjoy the large waves rushing past each other on the water on their way to meet the powdery sands.
Chandpur Sea Beach, Chandapur, West Bengal 721423
While the traditional beach invokes the image of blue waves on ochre sands, Chandpur Beach creates an illustration of the passage of time. It invites all those looking to spend quiet moments amidst the myriad shades of nature.
Digha, Purba Medinipur, Kolkata, West Bengal 721428
Digha is a small coastal hamlet, covered by the sands of the shore almost completely. The New Digha beach is one of its attractions, found after a quick stroll through the town. Enjoy the large waves rushing past each other on the water on their way to meet the powdery sands.
Chandpur Sea Beach, Chandapur, West Bengal 721423
While the traditional beach invokes the image of blue waves on ochre sands, Chandpur Beach creates an illustration of the passage of time. It invites all those looking to spend quiet moments amidst the myriad shades of nature.
Digha, Purba Medinipur, Kolkata, West Bengal 721428
Digha is a small coastal hamlet, covered by the sands of the shore almost completely. The New Digha beach is one of its attractions, found after a quick stroll through the town. Enjoy the large waves rushing past each other on the water on their way to meet the powdery sands.
Chandpur Sea Beach, Chandapur, West Bengal 721423
While the traditional beach invokes the image of blue waves on ochre sands, Chandpur Beach creates an illustration of the passage of time. It invites all those looking to spend quiet moments amidst the myriad shades of nature.
Digha, Purba Medinipur, Kolkata, West Bengal 721428
Digha is a small coastal hamlet, covered by the sands of the shore almost completely. The New Digha beach is one of its attractions, found after a quick stroll through the town. Enjoy the large waves rushing past each other on the water on their way to meet the powdery sands.
Chandpur Sea Beach, Chandapur, West Bengal 721423
While the traditional beach invokes the image of blue waves on ochre sands, Chandpur Beach creates an illustration of the passage of time. It invites all those looking to spend quiet moments amidst the myriad shades of nature.
Digha, Purba Medinipur, Kolkata, West Bengal 721428
Digha is a small coastal hamlet, covered by the sands of the shore almost completely. The New Digha beach is one of its attractions, found after a quick stroll through the town. Enjoy the large waves rushing past each other on the water on their way to meet the powdery sands.
Chandpur Sea Beach, Chandapur, West Bengal 721423
While the traditional beach invokes the image of blue waves on ochre sands, Chandpur Beach creates an illustration of the passage of time. It invites all those looking to spend quiet moments amidst the myriad shades of nature.
Bhaja Caves Road, District, near Bhaja Village, Maval, Lonavala, Maharashtra 412106
The Bhaja Caves is an assemblage of 22 rock-cut caves which was built circa the 2nd century BC. It is located in Lonavala, in the village of Bhaja. These caves belonging to the Hinayana sect of Buddhism represent Buddha symbolically rather than in his physical form.
एकवीरा देवी रोड, Lonavala, Maharashtra 410405
The Karla Caves like the Bhaja Caves are a group of rock-cut monasteries that were constructed between 2nd century BCE and 5th century CE. Out of the collection of 16 caves, the most stunning is the Mahachaitya (Cave VIII).
Kurvande, Maharashtra 410205
The Tiger’s Valley provides a panoramic view of the surrounding hilltops and the enveloping foliage. It appears as though the valley is leaping into the vastness like a tiger for which it is named so. The high altitudes and the numerous rocky outcroppings and hills emanate clear and resounding echoes which is why this place is sometimes called the Echo Point.
Kurvande, Maharashtra 410402
The Duke’s Nose derives its name from its semblance to the long nose of the Duke of Wellington. (Naturally, this cliff seems to be projecting outwardly like a protruding nose). It is also known as Nagphani (hood of the snake) for its structure that appears to be opening up into the void.
Maharashtra 410401
6 km from Lonavala, the Bhushi Dam, constructed on the Indrayani River enjoys frantic tourist involvement during the monsoons. With the advent of the rains, the frothy waters gush down over a series of steps, flooding the senses of those witnessing the magical sight. It is like a waterfall over the steps. The experience is communal and harmonious and yet another uniting factor for tourists during the monsoons.
Lonavala, Maharashtra 410401
This lake is the epitome of peace and quietude. Surrounded by trees on all sides, Lonavala Lake is an idyllic place to relax or rendezvous with your friends and family. It is sometimes referred to as the Monsoon Lake because it is the most stunning when the rains renew the placid water body.
Pune, Maharashtra 410405
The twin citadels of Shrivardhan Fort and Manaranjan Fort appear to be leaping into the sky. Together they make up the Rajmachi Fort, the vantage port from the top of which is absolutely stunning. You can see the valley it overlooks and the blithe cascades. The vistas from here are simply breathtaking. Trekking to the fabulous hilltop must definitely be on your Khandala to-do list.
Khandala
Although fairly neglected and forgotten, the Ancient Jail at Khandala is a reminder of the Jesuit’s struggle in British occupied India. This prison was constructed in 1896 and the Jesuit priests that founded St. Xavier’s College, Bombay were incarcerated by the colonial authority as prisoners of war.
Spring is a blend of the cool and the warm and therefore presents a pleasant weather to enjoy the beaches and all its shenanigans. There’s greenery all around to complement the blue waters and the flowers are in bloom.
The summers in Khandala are pleasant and the shy sunshine warms the otherwise cold region. It is a good time to take the edge off the heat.
The monsoon months revive the somewhat pallid vegetation of the hills thereby beautifying it. Khandala during monsoons transforms into Nature's favourite dwelling place and hence is the ideal time for a tour. Moreover, the valleys and waterfalls look absolutely stunning after being fed with the waters.
Autumn feels the impact of the heavy monsoons and the oncoming chilly winds of winter positing the perfect weather to revel in the beachfront and relish the water sports while also going around discovering all the nearby attractions.
Winter in this hilly region can be a little unpleasant. However, the mountain looks majestic as the mist and fog eat up their peaks making it seem like their bodies are floating in space.
The Lohegaon Airport (Pune) and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (Mumbai) are the closest means for air-travel. Both these airports have connecting flights to India and the rest of the world. This means you can easily fly out of cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad. The Pune airport is 48 km from Khandala while the airport at Mumbai is located at a distance of about 78km, Taxis and private cars are available for hire from both the airports.
The Khandala railway station connects the town to several other places like Pune, Lonavala, Mumbai and Solapur. Daily and weekly trains facilitate communication and transportation. The train rides from the aforementioned places take about 2 to 3 hours. This option is completely viable for those short weekend trips with your buddies. The journeys let you enjoy the pleasures of a train ride without fatiguing you so it is a win-win situation for all.
Khandala has a well-connected network of roads. The Mumbai-Pune expressway runs through the town and facilitates transportation. The Maharashtra State Transport plies government buses to and from Khandala. Besides, there are several other buses provided by travel agencies that you can avail of. You can also road trip to Khandala from neighbouring cities like Pune, Lonavala and Mumbai within 2 hours. The roads are quite motorable and the adjoining scenic beauty, quite tempting. So, whether you're travelling solo or with your company, buses are not a bad idea especially if this is a backpack trip.
Auto rickshaws and taxis are the easiest ways to go around Khandala. However, the fares might get a little tricky as there are no fixed rates. Road-tripping or biking on the long-winding roads lets you explore the town on your own accord. You can also navigate the town on foot but to get to some tourist destinations you have to rely on cars or trekking. This applies to the Bhaja Caves where the car usually stops at the base of the village.
If you’re visiting Khandala during monsoons, carry appropriate footwear, umbrellas and raincoats. Be well equipped to deal with the rains.
Khandala is located in the state of Maharashtra where the legal age of drinking is 25 years. Also, booze tends to be expensive here.
A weekend or two days should be enough the tour Khandala. Drive or walk around the town a little bit and definitely visit the Tiger’s Valley, Nagphani and the Bhaja Caves. Go trekking or just relax and soak in hilly airs.
Khandala is safe with low criminal activities and reports. There are the occasional cases of inconveniences but nothing too serious to frighten you.
Go solo, with your friends or partners. There aren’t that many things to do in Khandala so it might not entertain your kids all that much.
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