As a teenager, I always used to hear people going to Lonavala for a getaway. All I knew was that it is a fantastic place to be in the rainy season...........till I actually went for a 1-day trip to lonavala with my colg frnds. Lonavala is a fantastic place to chill out with your friends and family, highly recommended. Let me not delve into details of what all fun i did there. Instead I will list down the details on how to get there and what to do so that will help a first timer to
Lonavala.
Gather at Dadar Station:
Take local ticket to lonavala, cost of the ticket:42 Rs. Deccan Queen I suppose was the Train, it leaves at around 7:15. Caution: We were waiting for the train on Dadar platform no. 4 and it arrived on Platform no. 5. So take care else u may miss ur
train.
Journey in the train:
Around 2:15 hrs. The most amazing thing is that there is a Pantry car attached to this train. Hence u get 'garam garam' cutlet/omlet nashta and Tea in the train.
Cost: Rs 27
Reaching Lonavala Station:
As u alight at lonavala, U will feel 'Paisa Vassol'. The air does it all. It is so cool and soothing. The climate in Lonavala is to die for. While coming back in the evening, everyone is tired. So it is risky to take return local tickets in the evening. A much better idea is to take reserved return tickets in the morning itself when u arrive at Lonavala so that your return journey is assured with a sitting berth.
Cost:Rs. 52
From Lonavala to Bushi Dam:
Bushi Dam is the most famous Dam in Lonavala, the main attraction. Geting there cost us 60 rs per Rickshaw and the Rickshawala admits 4 ppl aaram se. So approx 15 rs per person. Journey Time:20 mins.
Bushi Dam and the masti ahead:
Get to Bushi Dam and change your clothes for the masti ahead. We were a all boys gang and also one of my friend had got his car along. So we changed clothes and stuffed all the belongings in his car. So, a vehicle is highly recommended if u wanna enjoy to the hilt.I dont know of any other way to kee your belongings. Additionaly, there are changing rooms provided by the local shops there. Rs 10 per person.
Masti:
Bushi Dam is amazing.The flow of the water there is gigantic. The experience is to be had to be beleived. After enjoying for about 45 mins there,we moved onto other waterfalls long inside the jungle like setting, just besides Bushi Dam. There are many small and Big waterfalls. Caution: The waterfalls are long and far from Bushi Dam,it is recommended to go there only if u r in a Big group.
Lunch Time:
After all the masti and fun, all are obviously very tired and more importantly hungry. Lonavala doesnt provide u the best of food but then 'ek din ke liye chala lene ka'. Local shops provide Omlette and Missal Pav(Rs 15 per plate) and mast chai. If u really want to have a scrumptous lunch, there 'is' a restaurant(I dont remember the name) but then it may not actually be worth the cost. Better to have missal-chai an chill.
Tiger Point:
If u thought u have had all the fun, sample this. Tiger point is a place around 20 mins(5-6 kms) from Bushi Dam. To get there, we fortunately got a SUMO, who charged us 150 bucks for 10 people. The Tiger point is a fitting end to a memorable trip. The place is all fog and u cannot recognize a person 10 meters away from you. Over there, we chilled out, did masti, listened to radio songs, danced and soaked ourselves in the mood. Over there too, we found a waterfall and
drenched ourselves once again.
Back to Station:
This is a tough part. The back Journey from Tiger Point to Bushi Dam or Lonavala Station. You generally do not get any means to travel back to Bushi Dam. Walking back is the only way, that too tired after a long day. Fortunately we managed to get 'Lift' from local 'Doohwale ki Tempo' who charged us Rs 15 per person, all the way to Lonavala Station, quite reasonable.
Take aways: We reached Station 90 mins before pur train departure. So though of just whiling our time in the Lonavala Markets near Station. Lonavala is famous for its chikkis and Fudge and jellys. You can buy some of these as a take away. The best shop in my opinion(in tems of quality and tase, not price though) is COOPERS near Lonavala Staion.
Kaju Chikki: Rs 85 for 250 grams.
Cholate-Walnut Fudge: Rs 150 for 250grams(Other shops may seel it at 110-120, trust me, if u really love chocolate-walnut fudge, buy it from this shop only)
Jelly Chocolates: Get it from any shop,doesnt matter much.
We wanted to change into fresh clothes and there was no place at the railway station. So, imagine, we requested a lady to come out of the ladies Changing Rooms so that we all 11 boys could change. She agreed and we did the needfull :)
Finally the train arrived and since we had booked our tickets beforehand, we had no problem in traveeling. We reached Dadar Station around 9:40.
In a nut shell,
Planning a trip and everyone agreeing to come: Difficult
Cost of the entire trip(journey and food): 250-300 Rs.
Shopping for jellys and chikkis: Rs. 200-300
Entire Experience with friends: Priceless !!!
Some of our trip pics can be seen here
Lonavala.
Gather at Dadar Station:
Take local ticket to lonavala, cost of the ticket:42 Rs. Deccan Queen I suppose was the Train, it leaves at around 7:15. Caution: We were waiting for the train on Dadar platform no. 4 and it arrived on Platform no. 5. So take care else u may miss ur
train.
Journey in the train:
Around 2:15 hrs. The most amazing thing is that there is a Pantry car attached to this train. Hence u get 'garam garam' cutlet/omlet nashta and Tea in the train.
Cost: Rs 27
Reaching Lonavala Station:
As u alight at lonavala, U will feel 'Paisa Vassol'. The air does it all. It is so cool and soothing. The climate in Lonavala is to die for. While coming back in the evening, everyone is tired. So it is risky to take return local tickets in the evening. A much better idea is to take reserved return tickets in the morning itself when u arrive at Lonavala so that your return journey is assured with a sitting berth.
Cost:Rs. 52
From Lonavala to Bushi Dam:
Bushi Dam is the most famous Dam in Lonavala, the main attraction. Geting there cost us 60 rs per Rickshaw and the Rickshawala admits 4 ppl aaram se. So approx 15 rs per person. Journey Time:20 mins.
Bushi Dam and the masti ahead:
Get to Bushi Dam and change your clothes for the masti ahead. We were a all boys gang and also one of my friend had got his car along. So we changed clothes and stuffed all the belongings in his car. So, a vehicle is highly recommended if u wanna enjoy to the hilt.I dont know of any other way to kee your belongings. Additionaly, there are changing rooms provided by the local shops there. Rs 10 per person.
Masti:
Bushi Dam is amazing.The flow of the water there is gigantic. The experience is to be had to be beleived. After enjoying for about 45 mins there,we moved onto other waterfalls long inside the jungle like setting, just besides Bushi Dam. There are many small and Big waterfalls. Caution: The waterfalls are long and far from Bushi Dam,it is recommended to go there only if u r in a Big group.
Lunch Time:
After all the masti and fun, all are obviously very tired and more importantly hungry. Lonavala doesnt provide u the best of food but then 'ek din ke liye chala lene ka'. Local shops provide Omlette and Missal Pav(Rs 15 per plate) and mast chai. If u really want to have a scrumptous lunch, there 'is' a restaurant(I dont remember the name) but then it may not actually be worth the cost. Better to have missal-chai an chill.
Tiger Point:
If u thought u have had all the fun, sample this. Tiger point is a place around 20 mins(5-6 kms) from Bushi Dam. To get there, we fortunately got a SUMO, who charged us 150 bucks for 10 people. The Tiger point is a fitting end to a memorable trip. The place is all fog and u cannot recognize a person 10 meters away from you. Over there, we chilled out, did masti, listened to radio songs, danced and soaked ourselves in the mood. Over there too, we found a waterfall and
drenched ourselves once again.
Back to Station:
This is a tough part. The back Journey from Tiger Point to Bushi Dam or Lonavala Station. You generally do not get any means to travel back to Bushi Dam. Walking back is the only way, that too tired after a long day. Fortunately we managed to get 'Lift' from local 'Doohwale ki Tempo' who charged us Rs 15 per person, all the way to Lonavala Station, quite reasonable.
Take aways: We reached Station 90 mins before pur train departure. So though of just whiling our time in the Lonavala Markets near Station. Lonavala is famous for its chikkis and Fudge and jellys. You can buy some of these as a take away. The best shop in my opinion(in tems of quality and tase, not price though) is COOPERS near Lonavala Staion.
Kaju Chikki: Rs 85 for 250 grams.
Cholate-Walnut Fudge: Rs 150 for 250grams(Other shops may seel it at 110-120, trust me, if u really love chocolate-walnut fudge, buy it from this shop only)
Jelly Chocolates: Get it from any shop,doesnt matter much.
We wanted to change into fresh clothes and there was no place at the railway station. So, imagine, we requested a lady to come out of the ladies Changing Rooms so that we all 11 boys could change. She agreed and we did the needfull :)
Finally the train arrived and since we had booked our tickets beforehand, we had no problem in traveeling. We reached Dadar Station around 9:40.
In a nut shell,
Planning a trip and everyone agreeing to come: Difficult
Cost of the entire trip(journey and food): 250-300 Rs.
Shopping for jellys and chikkis: Rs. 200-300
Entire Experience with friends: Priceless !!!
Some of our trip pics can be seen here
2 comments:
Very accurately described. The trip was really wonderful.
And I still don't understand why nikhil got afraid when I went near the edge of the cliffs. :)
PS : That restaurant that nikhil spoke abt is a good one especially for non-veg though the price is high.
A really good description for Mumbaikars to follow for a trip to Lonavala with all the 'Financial' information required. I think U had pre-planned about this description before making the journey and were possibly ready with a notepad and a pen; professional handling haan!!
I agree when U say making people agree to come is 'Difficult' as I was one of them & I'm sorry I didn't come.
I would also like to mention that today's newspaper had a report on a group of bank employees robbed at lonavala ( I think U might have seen it); just wanted 2 say that security is a very important concern over there man.
Post a Comment