Old highway or Expressway
There are two ways to reach Lonavala. The Mumbai–Pune Expressway is faster and smoother, and makes sense if you are heading straight to a resort. The old Mumbai–Pune highway (NH48) runs through Talegaon, Kamshet and Malavli, and is the better choice when your plan includes Karla caves, Bhaja caves or Lohagad, since they sit just off this road.
Your driver will choose based on your stops. Many groups take the old highway in the morning for sightseeing and the Expressway back in the evening.
Spots worth your time
Karla and Bhaja caves are ancient Buddhist rock-cut caves, with the Ekvira Devi temple at Karla drawing large crowds of devotees, especially Koli families from the coast. Lohagad fort is a gentle trek with big views of Pawna lake on clear days.
In Lonavala itself, Bhushi Dam is famous for water flowing over its steps in the monsoon. Tiger’s Leap and Lion’s Point look out over deep valleys and are best when the mist lifts. Across in Khandala, Rajmachi point gives a view of the Rajmachi fort and the valley below, and you can see Duke’s Nose from the Khandala side.
Monsoon weekends need a plan
A Pune to Lonavala tempo traveller trip in July or August is beautiful, but it pays to be smart. Weekend traffic on the roads to Bhushi Dam and the viewpoints can stall for hours. Go on a weekday if you can. If it has to be a weekend, start early and visit the busiest spots first.
Rain also makes ghat roads and steps slippery. Our drivers slow down in fog and heavy rain, so build that into your timing. Our guide to monsoon getaways near Pune has more ideas.
Food and shopping on the way
No Lonavala trip is complete without a bag of chikki and a box of fudge from the main market. On rainy days, roadside stalls selling hot bhutta (roasted corn), vada pav and cutting chai appear along the old highway and near the viewpoints, and stopping for them is part of the fun. Ask your driver to pause where parking is easy, since many stalls sit right on busy bends.
If your group prefers a sit-down meal, Lonavala has plenty of restaurants and dhabas for both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. On busy weekends, lunch can take longer than you expect, so build in a little extra time.
Who books this trip
Lonavala works for almost everyone: families with grandparents who want a scenic drive, college friends heading for waterfalls, and IT teams from Kharadi, Hinjewadi or Viman Nagar on an offsite at a resort. For an office outing, a 20 seater or 26 seater keeps the whole team in one vehicle. For more short trips like this, see our one-day trips from Pune guide.
A word on pricing
Day trips are priced per km with a daily minimum distance. Toll, parking at the sightseeing spots and driver allowance are usually extra. Visit the price page for details, or WhatsApp us your date and group size.