by mansiagarwal on July 16, 2010
Lonavala is a popular hill station in Maharashtra. Lonavala is located in the green hills of Sahyadris. It is a very popular weekend getaway from Mumbai and Pune. This hill station offers a complete fun filled package to the tourists with places like clean woods, pristine valleys, roaring waterfalls, caves of historic importance and beautiful views. This place also has a history behind it; it was the stronghold of the Maratha Empire. They engaged in Guerrilla warfare here against the Britishers and the Moghuls before that. Many celebrities have purchased holiday homes in Lonavala. Khandala, another famous weekend getaway is just at a distance of five kilometers from Lonavala.
How to reach:
Train: All the trains on their way to Pune or South from Mumbai halt at Lonavala.
Air: The nearest airport is in Pune which is at a distance of sixty six kilometers.
Road: You can take a deluxe bus from either Mumbai or Pune. If you travel by road you can enjoy beautiful view on the Mumbai Pune highway.
Places to see in Lonavala:
Lonavala is a great place for those wanting to take a break from your hectic lifestyle. This hill station is known to be the perfect host to those who are searching for a place to unwind and relax. Lonavala is a great place to bond with ones family, loved ones and friends. Although, Lonavala is a small hill station but there are so many places to visit here. Here are some of the places that you must visit when in Lonavala:
1. Rajmachi Point: It is situated at a distance of six and a half kilometers from Lonavala. The Rajmachi Point is famous for offering an amazing view of the Rajmachi Fort. The Fort at one time belonged to Shivaji. You can also get a spectacular panoramic view of the surrounding valley. This place is a must visit when in Lonavala.
2. Ryewood Park and the Shivaji Udyan
This is another important tourist place in Lonavala. Both the gardens are extremely beautiful with perfectly chopped grass, towering trees, amazing flowers with lot of nice comfy places to sit and bond with your loved ones or even enjoy alone. For people coming to Lonavala with their families, this is the perfect place for an evening out with them. When here, you must also visit the ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva situated right in the garden.
3. Tungarli Lake: This is a striking lake that looks even more brilliant in the monsoon season. This lake is the source of water to the residents of Lonavala.
4. Valvan Dam: The construction area of the Valvan Dam has now been transformed into a beautiful picnic spot with breathtaking gardens. The dam actually provides water to power station which is used to generate electricity.
5. Lonavala Lake: This is another beautiful Lake if all you need is beauty and serenity. The natural beauty around this lake will help you forget the stress of your hectic life. Though the lake dries up in the summers, however it just springs back to life in the monsoon season and remains full of life in winters.
6. Karla Caves: This is a significant Buddhist site of historical importance which was built in the second or the third century. This site is visited by anyone come to Lonavala, so you must not miss it either.
There are several more worthwhile places to visit like the Lohagad Fort, Bhushi Dam, Lion’s Point and Duke’s Nose.
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by mansiagarwal on July 16, 2010
Not any and every location in India can boast of the highly magnificent beauty and feel that Chandigarh offers a visitor. Chandigarh is a haven for naturists, travelers from several parts of India and the world rush to see the best that nature has to offer in Chandigarh. There are so many places in Chandigarh worth visiting that a single’s days visit is insufficient to cover all the tourist attractions here. To help you make the most of your visit we have short listed top five places worth visiting in Chandigarh.
Leisure Valley: This is one of the most favored places to visit in Chandigarh. Most people visit this beautiful picnic spot with picnic basket along with their loved ones. The calming atmosphere of this place gives people a chance to relax and bond with their families, friends or lovers. The Leisure Valley begins from Sector One of Rajendra Park. This place is famous for fitness sessions such as yoga and group walks. The Leisure Valley stretches till Bougainvillea garden in Sector 3. It also covers beautiful rose gardens of Sector sixteen. At the Leisure valley you will get to see several variety of theme based floral patches.
Rock Garden: Rock Garden is situated between Sukhna Lake and the Capitol Complex in Sector one. Rock Garden is a theme based garden filled with intricate artwork made from urban and industrial day today waste. The creativity and innovation with which these artworks are created leaves one awe-inspired and amused. Nek Chand Saini Started making the garden’s sculptures from waster materials in the year 1957. This garden was made open to public in 1976.
Rose garden: The Rose ragen in Chandigarh is also known as Zakir Hussain Rose Garden. It is the largest Rose Garden in Asia spreading over thirty acres of land. There are over sixteen hundred species of roses and other flowers from the rose family grown here. There are more that seventeen thousand flowers in the garden. The flowers have been planted in the form of beautifully carved flower beds and lawns. You will also come across several plants with medicinal value such as camphor, bel, harar, bahera and yellow gulmohar. This garden was set up in the year 1967.
Sukhna Lake: Located on the foothills of the Shivalik Range, this is a beautiful manmade lake. This very fact that this is a manmade lake leaves one intrigued. The lake stretches for a distance of three kilometers. This lake was made in the year 1958 by damming the Sukhna Choe stream, a seasonal stream flowing down from the Shivalik Hills. Sukhna lake is a significant landmark and tourist attraction in Chandigarh. This is a beautiful place where friends, families and couples spend memorable time together enjoying the fresh air and the beauty of the lake. You can also participate in fun water activities such as boating, water skiing and yachting.
Chhatbir Zoo: The highlight of the zoo is the Royal Bengal White Tiger. This zoological park has been developed over the last decade and it is now a prominent zoological park in India. The visitors can visit the tiger sanctuary with a trained guide and in a caged jeep to see the wild animals roaming freely. You will also get to see many different species of birds. The Zoo is closed on Mondays and national holidays.
