Natural scenery
The two most visited hill stations in Western India have many similarities. A panoramic view awaits you with lush green lands of both hill stations.
Mahabaleshwar is popularly known as the Queen of the Hill Station in Maharashtra for its beautiful grounds with wood-bound peaks. Lingmala Falls, Sahyadri Mountains and Venna Lake are some of the natural elements that will keep you busy when you are here.
Lonavala is located at an altitude of 622 meters in the foreign Sahyadri ranges. Apart from the enchanting nature scene with the surrounding lakes, hills and waterfalls, Karla Caves and Bhaja Caves and other Buddhist temples will keep you captivated.
Weather and best time to travel
The best time to visit Lonavala is between December to February. In Lonavla, something is available throughout the year; However, there are monsoon months with heavy rainfall from June to September. If you love the rain and clouds, this is also a wonderful time to enjoy the taste of the place. Summers in Lonavala are hot and humid.
The main time to be in Mahabaleshwar is from March to June. At this time the place experiences pleasant weather and is good for sightseeing. The months from December to February are considered equally good when the temperature drops to 20 ° C and the natural hill station beautifies itself even more.
Ideal period
Both hill cities are so attractive that you want to be there for a lifetime. However, our lifestyle will not allow this.
For Mahabaleshwar, 4 days would be enough to touch-base all major sightseeing places. 4 days should be enough for you to get back into your daily schedule.
A 2 day trip to Lonavala will be very refreshing for you. If you wish, you can consider an extra day so that you can cover all the tourist places there.
Average budget
Due to heavy competition in the tourism industry, every trip can be quite affordable if planned well in advance. Rates vary between peak and slack seasons, however, if you book everything ahead of time, you will definitely get an enjoyable deal.
Lonavala
A breakup cost for visiting Lonavala could be something like this:
Flight fare to Pune (round trip) - INR 12,000 - 13,000
Pune to Lonavala bus fare - INR 350 - 500
Hotel Accommodation - INR 1,700 - 3,000
Food & Others - INR 2,000 - 3,000
On average, for a 3-day trip to Lonavala, you may have to spend around INR 32,000. You can get half price by pre booking.
Mahabaleshwar
A breakup cost to come to Mahabaleshwar can be something like this:
Flight fare to Pune (round trip) - INR 12,000 - 13,000
Pune to Mahabaleshwar bus fare - INR 400 - 500
Hotel Accommodation - INR 1,500 - 2,500
Food & Others - INR 1,500 - 2,000
For a 3-day trip to Mahabaleshwar, on an average, you may have to spend around Rs 27,500. Booking can fetch a lower rate.
Visa
An inter-state going from India to any of these places will not require visa approval. If you are traveling from any other country outside India, you must have a VISA in the place produced by the immigration department.
Planning your vacation but confused where to go? These travel stories help you find your best journey!Mahabaleshwar vs Lonavala: places to visit
In this section of the article, we are going to introduce you to some popular places to visit in Lonavala and Mahabaleshwar. This will help you sort out your itinerary well.
Places to visit in Lonavala
Tiger's leap: It is one of the famous places to stop during sightseeing of Lonavala. This place is unique because the green hills resemble a tiger leaping into the valley. It is about 8 kilometers from the main city and is close to INS Shivaji. While you are here, don't forget to enjoy the echo sound at Echo Point. Tourists enjoy a wide view of the Western Ghats.
Bushi Dam: It is another amazing place to visit Lonavala. The masonry dam must be visited during the Indrayani river and its monsoon. During this time, the water of the dam flows through the rocky terrain onto the steps of the dam and offers an attractive view for visitors. This place is often crowded with visitors.
Lonavala Lake: A major attraction of Lonavala in Lonavala Lake. It is a wonderful picnic spot where you can spend an open moment with your family and friends. Chewing on a tasty hard chikki by Lakeside is a unique experience you cannot enjoy every day. The sweet breeze of the calm lake shore is quite mesmerizing and you will spend hours on its banks.
Rajmachi Fort: The fort is situated between two famous hill stations of Lonavala and Khandala. It is a very ancient fort and is famous for the surrounding landscape which is considered as an attraction to nature. You will be able to enjoy the sight of many beautiful attractions, including Duke's Nose, Karnala, Mahuli and Ulhas River. You will be surprised at the visit to the historic mansion.
Carla Caves: The Karala Caves are one of the oldest Indian Buddhist cave temples, carved in an interesting format inside a rocky hill. This cave was built about 2000 years ago and has entertaining stories to tell from the past glory. The cave has a vast collection of viharas or monasteries and chaityas or halls which tell you more about the ancient times of the Buddhist period.
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Places to visit in Mahabaleshwar
Lord Mahabaleshwar Temple: First on the list is the Mahabaleshwar Temple which is located in North Mahabaleshwar and is one of the major sites of pilgrimage for Hindus. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is brilliantly built in the South Indian architectural outlook. Lord Shiva has many mythologies to narrate and introduce the 300 year old Damru, Trishul, Bed and Rudraksha, which can be nurtured during your journey.
Wilson Point: This place is often called the Sunrise Point. It is situated at an altitude of 4710 feet above sea level and gives you a panoramic view of the sunrise. This magnificent tourist destination has three stone platforms where visitors can sit and admire the wonderful landscape. There are 3 watchtowers for tourists to easily view the surrounding scenery.
Lingamala Falls: If you are a nativist, you will be very happy to visit Lingmala Falls. Magistriel Falls are one of the best and quietest places in the city. To reach the falls, you have to pass through the forest and walk on a bumpy path, which makes it more adventurous. The waterfall is at its peak during the monsoon and becomes even more sublime.
Vena Lake: This lake was formed in the year 1942 and is a major tourist attraction of Mahabaleshwar. It is an artificial lake created by Shri Appasaheb Maharaj during his rule. The location surrounding the lake has rich vegetation and the overall setup looks heavenly. There are boating options, mini train rides and fishing facilities for children.
Tableland: Known for the second highest mountain range in Asia after the Tibetan plateau; This place craves for its 95 acres of lush green grass. To get the best view of the place you should be here during August or September when the grass is greenest and makes for a panoramic view. You can also enjoy horse riding, paragliding and superb food at the stalls here.
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Mahabaleshwar vs Lonavala: Shopping
While you are in Mahabaleshwar, do not forget to take the essentials of this place like fresh strawberries, raspberries, locally made jams, jellies and honey. Apart from this, handicrafts, Kolhapuri shoes and leather goods are some of the things that tempt you to buy from the town market.
Try the authentic Chikki at Lonavala National Chikki Bazaar and also pack some for your home. Lonavala market is the best place to buy some souvenirs of the beautiful hill station.
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Mahabaleshwar vs Lonavala: Getting Around
Ola and Uber facilities are not available in Lonavala, however, they are in Mahabaleshwar. When in Mahabaleshwar, you can either take the services of Uber and Ola or hire a taxi to travel in and around the city. When you are in Lonavala, you will have to hire a taxi by public transport.
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With a detailed comparison on both the hilly locations of western India, it can be easy for you to make the best choice that you will not regret later. Budget wise both are almost same. It will entirely depend on your preference to plan the journey of any of them. So, whether it is a monsoon holiday to Mahabaleshwar or a summer getaway to Lonavala, you can have the most soul pleasing experience. Disclaimer: TravelTriangle claims that there is no credit for images displayed on our blog site unless otherwise noted. All visual content is copyrighted to its respected owners. Whenever possible we try to link back to the original sources. If you hold the rights to any of the pictures, and do not want them to appear on TravelTriangle, please contact us and they will be removed immediately. We believe in providing proper momentum to the original author, artist or photographer.Frequently asked questions about Mahabaleshwar vs Lonavala
Q. How far is Panchgani from Mahabaleshwar?a. It is about 40 minutes drive from Mahabaleshwar to Panchgani. There are no direct flights or trains on this route. You will need to hire a cab or taxi for traffic.
Q. Mahabaleshwar fair is enough for honeymoon?a. Yes, of course it is. Spending time with your sweetheart in a serene dream nearby is something to enjoy after marriage. You will have to gather beautiful memories of being together from here.
Q. Are there any camping grounds in Lonavala?a. Yes, there are many places in Lonavala where you can quench the thirst for camping under the open sky. Some of the amazing places in the camps located between the Western Ghats are Pawan Lake, Babardhara, Shirota Lake and Korigad Fort.
Q. How far is Lonavala from Mumbai?a. It is 83.1 km and takes about 1 hour 50 minutes to reach. There are direct trains from Mumbai or you can opt for a rented car to travel. It is one of the getaway destinations of Prime Weekend from Mumbai.
Q. Do we get snowfall in Mahabaleshwar or Lonavala?a. There has been no snowfall in Mahabaleshwar or Lonavala as the temperature of both places is too hot for snowfall. During the winter months the frozen dew however looks icy.
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