Lonavala & Khandala

Lonavala, in the Sahyadri (Western Ghats) between Mumbai and Pune, has a history far older than its modern role as a hill station. The surrounding hills are dotted with ancient Buddhist rock-cut caves such as Karla, Bhaja, Bedsa and Karla–Ekvira, dating roughly from the 2nd century BCE onwards. These caves, with chaitya halls and viharas, show that the region lay on old trade routes linking the Deccan plateau to the Konkan coast, used by merchants, monks and travellers.

In the medieval and early modern periods, the rugged hills around Lonavala were controlled by different powers—Yadavas, Bahmani and Deccan sultanates—who built and fought over nearby forts like Lohagad, Visapur, Tikona and Rajmachi. In the 17th century, these forts became important in the Maratha–Adilshahi–Mughal struggles, and later formed part of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s hill-fort network.

The modern town of Lonavala really developed under British rule in the 19th century, especially after the opening of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway line between Mumbai (Bombay) and Pune. Its cooler climate, misty monsoon views and easy rail access made it a popular hill resort and sanatorium for colonial officials and wealthy merchants. After Independence, Lonavala remained a favourite monsoon and weekend getaway, growing into a major tourist centre known for its viewpoints, chikki, caves and forts.

Khandala lies very close to Lonavala on the Bhor Ghat, one of the key passes through the Western Ghats linking the coast with the Deccan plateau. For centuries, this ghat route was vital for the movement of caravans, armies and later colonial traffic between the port of Mumbai and the interior. The hills and valleys around Khandala, like those near Lonavala, were originally inhabited by tribal communities and controlled by regional powers who relied on nearby forts to guard the passes.

During the Maratha period, forts such as Rajmachi, Lohagad and Visapur overlooking the ghats played an important role in monitoring and taxing movement through the pass, and Khandala’s surrounding plateau formed part of this strategic landscape.

Khandala rose to prominence in the 19th century with the construction of the Mumbai–Pune road and, especially, the railway line that climbs the steep ghat using tunnels, viaducts and zigzags. The British developed Khandala as a small hill station and rest stop for engineers, officials and travellers negotiating the difficult ascent. Bungalows, rest houses and viewpoints like Duke’s Nose and Rajmachi Point became popular.

In the post-Independence era, Khandala blended into the broader Lonavala–Khandala twin-resort identity. With the Mumbai–Pune Highway and Expressway, it has remained a classic weekend escape, combining cool climate, ghat scenery and colonial-era hill-station charm.