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Lonavala

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Lonavala
Lonavla or Lonavale
Hill Station
Map
Population
 (2001)
 • Total
55,650

Lonavla or Lonavale (Template:Lang-mr) is a city and a hill station Municipal Council in Pune district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is about 64 km away from the city of Pune, 96 km away from the city Mumbai and 340 km from Surat. It is famous throughout India for the hard candy sweet known as chikki and is also a major stop on the rail line connecting Mumbai and Pune.For Mumbai suburbs local trains are available from Karjat It is also an important town on the Mumbai-Pune road link. Both the Mumbai-Pune Expressway as well as the Mumbai-Pune highway pass through Lonavla. Lonavla comes to life during the monsoon season as the countryside turns lush green with waterfalls and ponds.

Toponymy

The name Lonavla derives from Len (Prakrit, A resting place carved from stone) and Avali (Prakrit, series). Lonavli in Prakrit is a place which has a series of such Len around it.[1]

History

Present day Lonavala was a part of the Yadava dynasty. Later, the Mughals realized the strategic importance of the region and kept the region for an extended time. The forts in the region and the Mavla warriors played an important role in the history of the Maratha and Peshwa empires.[2] In 1871, the Lonavla and Khandala hill stations were discovered by Lord Elphinstone, who was the Governor of Bombay Presidency during those times.[3]

Tourism

Lonavla [1] and the adjacent Khandala are twin hill stations, 622 m. above sea level, in the Sahyadri ranges that demarcate the Deccan Plateau and the Konkan coast. The hill stations sprawl over an approximate area of 38 km² and are popular holiday destinations during the monsoons. People prefer visiting Lonavla and Khandala in the rainy season. Lonavla and Khandala were discovered in 1871 by Sir Elphinstone, the Governor of the Bombay Presidency. The name Lonavla is derived from the Sanskrit lonavli, which refers to the many caves like Karla Caves, Bhaja Caves and Bedsa that are close to Lonavla. A trip to Lonavla and Khandala can be combined with sight-seeing visits of Karla, Bhaja and Bedsa caves and also the two fortresses, Lohagad and Visapur. Another places of interest is the Tungi fort, one of the forts captured by Malik Ahmad near the village of Karjat and was known for its natural strength.[4]

Transport

By road: Lonavla is situated on the halfway of Mumbai-Pune Expressway and is well connected to several other towns of Khopoli, Karjat, Talegaon dhabad, etc.

By train: Lonavala is well connected by train. Local trains run from Pune. Also many express trains stop at Lonavala. It takes 2.5 hours by train from Mumbai and 1.2 hour from Pune. Most trains stop at Lonavala station.

By Air: Lonavla does not have air port, though Indian Air Force station, Troppo is situated on the way to Aamby Valley city. The city of Ambey Velly has its own airport. Nearest commercial airports are Pune at 64 km and Mumbai at 104 km[5]

Places of interest around Lonavla and Khandala

Rajmachi Point [[2]] is located about 6.5 km from Lonavla. This point commands a view of Shivaji's famous fort, Rajmachi (Royal terrakouioce) and the surrounding valley. Regular State Transport buses ply between Rajmachi Point and Lonavla from the State Transport Bus Stand. The famous Vaghjai Dari is also located here.

  • Ryewood Park & Shivaji Udyan

This is an extensive garden [[3]] situated in Lonavla. The garden covers a lot of ground and it is full of tall trees. There is an old Shiva temple in the park. The garden has plenty of place for children to play.

  • Valvan Dam

Valvan Dam [4] has a garden at its foot, and is a popular evening spot 2 km from the town. The dam supplies water to the Khopoli power station at the foothills of the Sahyadris for generating electricity. The Kundali River feeds into the dam's reservoir.

  • Lonavla Lake

Lonavla Lake [5] is surrounded by natural scenery, about 1.6 km from the town. The lake dries up during the winter months.

  • Duke's Nose

Duke's Nose [6] stands 12 km from Lonavla, clearly visible from the highway while driving towards Mumbai. This landmark in Khandala is popular with hikers. The cliff owes its name to the Duke of Wellington {{citation}}: Empty citation (help), whose ample nose it resembles.

  • Tiger's Leap

Tiger's Leap [7] is a cliff-top with a sheer drop of over 650 m, giving an extensive view. Buses are available up to I.N.S. Shivaji and the remaining distance of about 1.6 km has to be covered on foot.

Karla caves [8], located near Lonavla, is a complex of cave shrines built by Buddhist monks around 3rd to 2nd century B.C.

  • I.N.S. Shivaji

A Naval Engineering Training Base.

A robust climb of about 11.2 km from Malavali Railway Station takes you to the 'Iron Fort', once a formidable battle-station of Shivaji. The fort commands a view of the surrounding hills and hamlets [9].

  • Bushy Dam

A waterfall near the dam [10] is a popular spot between Lonavla and I.N.S. Shivaji. Buses running on the I.N.S. Shivaji Road stop here.

  • Lion's Point

Scenic point midway between Bhushi Dam and Aamby Valley [11].

  • Tungarli Lake and Dam

This lake and Dam [12] come to life during the Monsoon season, where youth climb the mountain top to the Dam. This dam was built during the British era and features a serene surrounding.

  • Shooting Point

Another scenic point in the town of Khandala (Bazaar peth), which provides magnificent view of the Rajmachi Fort and the valley. Also the home for the St. Mary's villa.

Education

Some major educational institutes in Lonavla are:

  • The Cathedral Vidya School, Lonavala
  • Nirvana Paragliding School
  • Gurukul High School (boarding school)
  • Samundra Institute of Maritime Studies (SIMS)
  • Kohinoor Business School-Kohinoor Global Campus
  • Sinhgad Technical Education Society
  • DC High School and Jr. College
  • Auxilium Convent School
  • Don Bosco School and Junior college
  • Dr. B.N. Purandare Vidyalay High School
  • V.P.S. HighSchool & D.P. Mehata Jr College
  • Kaivalyadhama yoga ashram and college
  • Kendriya Vidyalaya, INS Shivaji, Lonavala

Lonavla is also home to INS Shivaji (formerly HMIS Shivaji) which is the Indian Navy's Premier Technical Training Institute.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census,[6] Lonavla had a population of 55,650. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Lonavla has an average literacy rate of 75%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 81%, and female literacy is 69%. In Lonavla, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

References

  1. ^ "Lonavla, History of Maharashtra". Hotels in Lonavla. Retrieved 2010-01-31. [dead link‍]
  2. ^ "Upper Deck resorts - Lonavla History". Upper Deck resorts. Retrieved 2010-01-31.
  3. ^ "Lonavla, India". Mumbai.org.uk. Retrieved 2010-01-31.
  4. ^ "Tungi fort". NIC Raigad-Alibaug.
  5. ^ "Lonavla and Khandala". Maharashtra Tourism. Retrieved 2010-01-31.
  6. ^ Template:GR
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