Pune To Lonavala 2 day’s Roadtrip Itinerary

Here is our plan for an adventurous trip from Pune to Lonavala. While waking up early in the morning might seem like a chore, it would result in an easy and hassle-free drive along the highway. Drive, enjoying the seamless continuity of tarmac for about a distance of 70 km’s. As per the itinerary, we have planned the whole trip to be a drive of about 250 km, which would take about 6 hours of time.

The duration of the whole trip, according to our plans, would be two days, and the ideal starting time would be 8 a.m. on the first day. As per our planning, we continue with the ambition of covering at least six places. On the first day, as soon as you arrive, try to relax, find suitable accommodation nearby. Once you are well rested, you can easily commute to local eateries and explore the culture that exists in Lonavala. If you are new to driving and find driving in the mountains to be a hardship read our blog for mountain driving tips.

Day 1

Aim: To travel from Pune to Lonavala, travel to Khandala, and sightsee

Tigers Leap, Tigers Point

Situated at a distance of about 12 km from the Tung Fort, Tigers Leap, or Tigers Point, is a natural rock mountain formation that protrudes into the valley and provides scenic views of the valley. The point is situated at the Kurvande on the route towards the Amby Valley. In the recent times, the point has gained a lot of prominence thanks to the social media posts of the place. In the monsoon period, you can witness the true beauty of the place and photograph the valley in its most beautiful phase.

This point also has various other names, such as Waghdari Cliff Top being one of them. The location has a drop of about 650 meters on one side and offers a panoramic view of the valley and its lush greenery. Such greenery would help you relax and attain the calmness that has been missing from your daily office lives.

Bhushi Dam

Bhushi Dam is Located at a distance of about 6 km from Lonavala Railway Station, Bhushi Dam is a Mansory dam situated on the Indrayani River in Lonavala. This place has been considered as a top tourist destination for a weekend getaway from Pune and Mumbai. The dam is situated against the backdrop of a scenic valley with lush natural greens. A single visit here would help you understand the true meaning of being closer to the nature, the landscape here itself allows you to be in tune with the nature.

Besides the fact that the dam sits surrounded by some of the most beautiful and luscious greens, it is also famous for its veritable history. The Dam was built in the 1860s for the Great Indian Peninsular Railway. During those times, steam engines were used for travel, and hence this dam was built for water to be easily carried along to Lonavala for steam engines. 

Rajmachi Point

The location is situated at a distance of about 2.5 km from Khandala railway station.It's a bit out of the way and falls on the route that leads to Mumbai from Pune. The place has gained quite a bit of popularity in recent times thanks to its location amongst the valley and its natural presence. If you have planned to visit the Duke’s Retreat, you can easily visit this location, as this is only walking distance from the place. This place has been named the Rajmachi Point thanks to the incredible Maratha ruler Chatrapati Sivaji’s similarly named fort being right in front of this point.

The place showcases the most profound beauty in monsoons; the greenery shines and glimmers as they have gotten a new lease of life. With such serenity around your social media posts, you are sure to get the attention of all your friends. While visiting Monsoon, always ensure that you stay away from the edges of the point, and also wear trekking shoes that have a strong grip.

As according to our expertise, the day would build up to its surmise by the time you would be done with the Rajmachi Fort. So travel back to where your accommodation is, and you will find some of the most renowned restaurants while traveling back to your accommodation. For dinner, you can opt for some of the local dishes that would be available around the hotel area. For an early start, you would have to sleep early as well, and hence try to get to sleep as early as possible and wake up fully energized for day two.

Day 2

With an early start, you can grasp the opportunity for a serene and hassle-free drive along the route to our next destinations. We would highly recommend an early start because, as the day progresses, the traffic along the highways, as well as the local roads, will increase, leading to traffic jams. 

Bhaja Caves

Only about 15km kilometres from Lonavala, these caves are a popular monument of the Hinayana faith in Buddhist history.  Visitors can witness the Buddhist inscriptions and idols placed inside the caves. The historical value of these caves is so profound that they have been protected as a national monument by the National Archaeological Survey of India. These caves have been constructed by the process of meticulously penetrating the mountains, and the fact that such a feat was administered way back in the history would leave you mesmerized.

Upon witnessing the pillared halls, the question of how such a feat would have been administered way back in the history would surely cross your mind as well. To visit the place, you would have to climb a bit, so be ready. Also, there are no parking spots nearby the caves, so you would have to park below the mountains, from where the path leading to the caves starts.

Karla Caves

Situated at a distance of only about 8 km from the Bhaja caves, you can also visit the place only after traveling a short distance. The cave, being a historic monument, would mesmerize you with its enigmatic pillared halls and windows etched directly into the cave interiors. These caves are similar to a large number of caves that have been excavated in the Sahyadri Hills range. This cave has been predominantly associated with the Mahasamghika sect of Buddhism, which, for the longest time, had the greatest popularity and following in this region of India.

The cave houses a Buddhist monastery that dates back to the 2^nd century BC. According to historians, there used to be two 15-meter-high pillars outside the Chaitya, but out of these, only one remains. Both the caves are a must-visit, and these would help you realize and admire the rich cultural heritage of the nation.

Amrutanjan Point

To end the day and relax, we would recommend the humble yet stunning views of the valley around from Amrutanjan Point. This natural point in the entirety of the valley would provide you with the best views of the valley around you. Situated in the beginning of the Khandala Ghat, this point also provides an aerial view of Khopoli. Thanks to the lush greenery that surrounds the whole valley, you can take some of the most mesmerizing photographs over here and share them on your social media handles. This could be the best closure to your trip in the Lonavala area.

While traveling back, your mind would be occupied with plenty of remembrances and vistas of the whole trip. But if you want to extend the trip and want to enjoy it further, you can also visit Imagica. Imagica, being an amusement park, would be one of the best travel destinations for kids, as well as adults. This could be the best ending to your overall trip in the Lonavala area. If your lack of a vehicle has been stopping you from experiencing the profound joys that have been enlisted above, you can rent a self drive car in pune from Rentrip. Visit our vehicle booking page today.