When you think of taking off somewhere for the weekend, what
place comes to your mind? You think of some cool place surrounded by natural
beauty. Somewhere in the hills, near a lake or a quiet town,etc. are the places
of interest for such a vacation. Hill station is one such place. In fact, it is
the preferred choice of many.
Khandala is one of the many hill stations that comes to our
mind when we think of hill stations in Maharashtra. Along with its twin hill
station Lonavala, Khandala is one of the popular weekend getaways from Pune. Located at one end of the Bhorghat
(valley), Khandala is about 3 kilometers away from Lonavala. Also, the
Mumbai-Pune expressway passes through Khandala. So, it is easily accessible
from either of the cities.
There are so many beautiful spots places in and around the
hill station, which makes this place a perfect place for a mini vacation during
the weekend. Some of the major attractions are:-
●
Karla caves - This is one of the most popular attraction
of the city. They are rock cut Buddhist caves dating back to 2000 years ago.
These caves were built during the reign of Satavahana rulers. Known for their
amazing architecture, these caves have maximum number of Chaityas built for the
Buddhist monks. Chaityas are Buddhist shrines with a stupa at one end.
●
Bhaja Caves - These primitive caves are very
close to the Malavali railway station. Their structure is quite similar to the
Karla caves, but they are smaller in size comparatively. There are a lot of
intricate sculptures in this cave of human figures and deities. Many
interesting mythological stories form the basis of these images and sculptures.
One of the characteristic attributed to its uniqueness is that the rays of the
setting sun enters the interiors of this cave.
●
Duke’s nose - This point is named after the Duke
of Wellington. This is because the Duke
had a pointy nose that resembled this cliff.
This point offers a breathtaking view of Khandala; all the natural
elements such as mountains, forests and valleys. This makes it a popular
tourist spot.
●
Kunefalls - It is located at the center point of
the KhandalaLonavala valley. It is a beautiful tourist spot surrounded by
greenery. Nearly every part of this waterfall is almost 100 meters high. Local
transport buses ply in this area, making it easily accessible. It is a popular
picnic spot for the locals as well as the tourists.
●
Tiger’s leap - It is another popular point that
offers a magnificent view of the surrounding area. Also, it has its own uniqueness.
While viewing the valley from certain spots in this location, it appears as if
a tiger is leaping across the valley. The illusion of leaping tiger makes it a
major attraction for the tourist.
●
Reversing Station - Formerly a station used by
the railway department, the Reversing station has now become a pleasantly
charming spot. Although unused by the railway department, it has become a
popular destination for those who want to have a magnificent view of the area.
Even during the night, one can enjoy the picturesque view of the lighting of
the nearby cities. It is as if the stars have descended on earth from the sky.
