Lonavla

A popular town and hill station in Maharashtra, Lonavla is a major tourist stop-over for those travelling between Mumbai and Pune. Surrounded by a lush blanket of green, this hill-station springs to life during the monsoon season. At every corner, you will find shops selling the famous chikki, a rock-hard, brittle sweet popular in the area. As you stand atop a stunning hill amidst the early morning monsoon mist, you realise that Lonavla is the perfect breather from the craziness of city life. To cool off the day’s heat, you could also head to the many dams and waterfalls that are interspersed throughout the hill-station. While there, you can also visit the nearby Karla and Bhaja Caves, which are one of the best examples of rock-cut architecture in Maharashtra.