Lonavala-Khandala[1] is a hill station and a Municipal Council in the Pune district, Maharashtra, India.

It is known for its production of the hard candy chikki and is also a major stop on the railway line connecting Mumbai and Pune.

In 1871, the Lonavala and Khandala hill stations were established by Lord Elphinstone, who was the Governor of Bombay Presidency at the time.

[citation needed] Lonavala and the adjacent Khandala are twin hill stations 622 metres (2,041 ft) 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 square kilometres (15 sq mi).

A trip to Lonavala and Khandala can be combined with sight-seeing visits of Karla, Bhaja and Bedsa caves and also the two fortresses, Lohagad and Visapur.

[5] The Andharban trek begins from village Pimpri, passes through dense forests, valleys and waterfalls and ends in Bhira.

Buses are available at regular intervals to complete the remaining 15 km of the journey to Lonavla from Khopoli bus station.

This point commands a view of Shivaji Maharaj's fort, Rajmachi (Royal terrakouioce), and the surrounding valley.

[citation needed] The dam supplies water to the Khopoli power station at the foothills of the Sahyadris for generating electricity.

The lake dries up during the winter and summer months offering an expanse of green grass that is used by walkers and joggers.

[9] This place attracts tourists for its street food,[citation needed] including convenience food items like smoked corn on the cob, shaved ice (gola), vada pav, chaat, and hot ginger tea.

[citation needed] Also known locally as Naagphani (Cobra's Hood), the cliff owes its name to the Duke of Wellington, whose ample nose it resembles.

It serves the purpose of relaxing in the water better than Bushi Dam, as the force of the fall is higher.

Also, after the brief steep descent, the fall becomes a stream with a fair amount of force to go all the way down to the base of the Tiger's Leap.

Adventurers can trek down the stream whilst intermittently stepping back on land where the water current is too strong and the fall is steep.

[11] 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 temple has idols of Durga Mata, Salasar Balaji (Hanuman) and Ganapati housed in a marble structure.

Another viewpoint in the town of Khandala (Bazaar peth), provides views of the Rajmachi Fort and the valley.