Nature/ Scenic

Wilson Point, which is otherwise known as the Sunrise point, is a vast plateau. One can view the sunrise from the three masonry round platforms. The second platform which is about 1 km away from the market area of Mahabaleshwar is the ideal place to view the sun rise. The platform is perfectly located at 4735 feet above sea level and is the highest point in Mahabaleshwar.

The Wilson Point is a vast barren rock with three watching towers at different spots. The point is a tourist attraction with its beautiful view point of the sunrise.

Bhaja caves, second century old Buddhist caves, in Lonavala is rare Buddhist tourist destination. These caves encloses 18 rock cut caves constructed by Buddhist nuns and enshrines many sculptures like a prince in a chariot, a prince seated on an elephant, three armed warriors and dancing couples. All these sculptures are the specimen of Indian architectural age and the mastery in sculpturing.

The first cave is believed to be the residential place of the master of the caves, the next ten caves are Buddhist viharas with one cave contains the Chaitya hall. The rest seven caves are adorned with inscriptions including the details of the donor. A water fall is also located at the last of the caves.

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Morvi Dongar is a fascinating hillock between Tung fort and Devgad. This is at one side of the Pawna Lake. There are many trekking routes from Morvi to Tung fort and other hilly ranges in Lonavala.

Morvi Dongar is a jungle region with many varieties trees and flora. This is a natural habitat of various kinds of bird fauna. Bird watchers can enjoy the days here watching beautiful birds.

Bushy Dam is one of the majestic picnic spots in Lonavala. The Dam is magnificent during the monsoons with water gushing out through the dam make exhilarating waterfalls. The Dam is located at the backdrop of scenic hilly terrains and lush green environments.

This is a much sought weekend and vacation destination in Lonavala. Calm environment and cool atmosphere add the beauty of this site. Swimming is not allowed in this Dam.

Lonavala Lake is also known as Monsoon Lake as it dries up during the winters and gets filled with gushing water during monsoons. This lake, built around 1876, is a picturesque picnic spot in Lonavala. This location is gorgeous with natural beauty and scenic surroundings. The source of the Lonavala Lake is the famous river Indrayani. This lake is a natural habitat of many water bodies. Many varieties of birds can be spotted over the lake.

Pawna Lake (Pavna Lake) is an artificial lake formed by the Pawna Dam built across the Pawna River nearby Lonavala. The lake attracts many tourists due to its imposing natural ambience and cool climate. From the dam site one can view the majestic sights of Tungi, Logagarh and Tikona forts.

Tungarli Lake is an artificial reservoir in Lonavala. This lake is the major source of water supply to Lonavala city. There is a dam across the Tungarli Lake. During monsoons the lake fills with water and during summer the scarcity of water is a common problem. The Lake is located at scenic surroundings and the well maintained lakeside add the beauty of the place. The garden near the dam site is a nice location for evening walks and hang outs.

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Valavan Lake is one of the beautiful picnic spot in Lonavala. The Valvan Lake is an artificial lake created by the Valvan Dam built across the Kundali River. The Valvan dam is the source of water to the Khopali power station. By the side of the lake there is a beautiful garden with vast expanse of landscaped plains. The Valvan Lake and the surrounding dam sites and the garden are popular evening relaxation spots.

Nagphani, later known as Duke’s Nose after Duke Wellington, is a cliff at Khandala near Lonavala. The Cliff is pointed like a snakes pointed head portion (hood) and hence the name Nagphani (Nag means snake and phani means hood). The name Dukes’nose is derived as the cliff looked like the shape of the Duke. This is a marvelous picnic spot nearby Lonavala.

Adventurous trekking is highly essential to reach the Duke’s nose and the view of the downhill plains from this point is mind boggling.

Sausage Hills is one of the best picnic spots in Lonavala. This pristine hill is covered with dense forests and is the natural habitat of many varieties of birds. The Sausage hill is the perfect place for hill climbing, bird watching and trekking. Many trekking trails originate from Sausage hills and leads to other hilly terrains, forts and lakes. From this hill one can get eye catching views of Pawna Lake and Tunga Fort.