Lonavala, Khandala,Karla :India
Lonavala, 625 metres (2,000 feet) above sea level, and neighbouring Khandala are not as close to Mumbai as Matheran, but are far more accessible. As long ago as the 1850s they had become favourite retreats for the wealthy inhabitants of Bombay. Lying on the busy Mumbai-Pune highway, every hotel is packed most weekends most of the year. Even in the monsoon, when other hill stations are deserted, Lonavala and Khandala are full of holidaymakers from Mumbai,oaked to the skin and enjoying the rain. So if you want to go \o these towns, visit during weekdays. Between January and March, however, the crowds are slightly reduced. Both towns, but Lonavala in particular, are being transformed by an enormous amount of construction — mainly weekend bungalows for the rich of Mumbai. Despite all this, the surrounding ghats are still comparatively untouched and these with the Buddhist caves of Karla, Bhaja and Bedsa, are the main attractions.

GETTING THERE AND AROUND
There are many trains from Mumhai’s Victoria Terminus to Lonavala and fewer to the small Khandala station. The ghat section of line before Lonavala makes the journey worthwhile in itself, especially during and immediately after the monsoon when the ghats are their greenest. Regular buses also ply from Mumbai to Lonavala, a distance of 100 kilometres (63 miles), and Khandala, a distance ol 96 kilometres (60 miles). There is a frequent local train service between Lonavala and Pune, a distance ol 64 kilometres (40 miles), as well as a bus service.

The Maharashtra Tourist Development Corporation (MTDC) runs buses from the station to their holiday resort near Karla and the caves. They also arrange conducted tours of the area from the station, bul rather than wait for one you may prefer to take an (unmetered) taxi or a three-wheeler. For a list of hotels, see page 279.