Things to Do
in Lonavala
— The Complete Guide

Kamshet is just 15 minutes from Lonavala and is one of Asia's premier paragliding destinations. The Classic Paragliding Joyride at Mantra Paragliding is the most popular way to experience the Sahyadris from above — a 15–20 minute tandem flight with an APPI-certified pilot over the green hills, with Pawna Lake shimmering below.

No experience needed, no fitness requirements, just a willingness to step off a hillside and trust the wing. Helmets, harnesses, and a full safety briefing are included. Age 10+, weight up to 100 kg.

The Instructional Tandem Joyride is a step up from a standard tandem flight. Your APPI-certified pilot hands you the controls mid-flight and walks you through the basics of paragliding in real time — turns, pitch control, and reading the air. It's the perfect introduction for anyone curious about learning to fly.

By the time you land, you'll have had your hands on the brakes and a feel for what solo paragliding is actually like. Many pilots who go on to complete their full P1 course start here.

If a standard paragliding flight sounds too gentle, the Acro Tandem Joyride is built for you. Fly with a specialist acro pilot and experience spiral dives, wingovers, and dynamic manoeuvres that will genuinely rearrange your understanding of what's possible in the air.

This is for people who want to feel the full range of what a paraglider can do — not just float, but fly. Minimum age 16, and a strong stomach is recommended.

Ready to move beyond the tandem seat? The APPI P1 course at Mantra Paragliding is where solo pilots are born. You'll cover ground handling, kite control, meteorology, airspace rules, and your first solo flights — all under the supervision of internationally certified instructors in Kamshet's ideal training conditions.

The P1 is the global entry-level certification for paragliding and is your passport to flying at sites around the world. Kamshet's predictable, gentle thermals make it one of India's best places to earn it.

The P2 course builds on P1 fundamentals and takes your flying to the next level — thermal flying, cross-country navigation, and the skills to fly safely at a wider range of sites and conditions. It's the point at which most pilots start to feel truly free in the air.

Mantra Paragliding's P2 programme is structured around Kamshet's excellent flying seasons and delivered by experienced APPI instructors who fly these hills every day.

For pilots looking to progress beyond P2, Mantra Paragliding offers the full APPI pathway — Club Pilot, P3 (Pilot), P4 (Advanced Pilot), and the Acro course for those drawn to aerobatic flying. Each level unlocks new skills, new sites, and a deeper understanding of the air.

Whether you want to fly cross-country routes across the Sahyadris, compete in XC races, or throw spirals over a lake, there's a structured course to get you there.

Not ready to commit to a full course but want something more than a tandem ride? The APPI Discover course is a structured one-day introduction to paragliding that gives you real ground handling experience and early flight training under instructor supervision.

It counts toward your full P1 certification if you decide to continue, making it a low-commitment, high-reward way to test whether paragliding is for you — and for most people, it is.

Already certified and ready to own your own wing? Mantra Paragliding's equipment store stocks a curated range of gliders, harnesses, reserves, helmets, and instruments — all vetted by pilots who fly them regularly. Get advice from people who actually know the gear, not just sales staff.

Whether you're buying your first glider after P2 or upgrading to a higher performance wing, the team can help you match equipment to your skill level and flying goals.

Bhushi Dam is the most visited spot in Lonavala, and during the monsoon (July–September) you understand exactly why. The overflow spills down wide stone steps in a sheet of white water — locals and tourists wade in fully clothed, and the whole scene becomes a joyful, chaotic, soaking celebration of the rains.

Outside monsoon it's quieter but still scenic, with the reservoir and surrounding hills making for good photography. Arrive by 8 AM on weekends to beat the crowds and find parking.

Kune Falls near Khandala drops 200 metres in three tiers, making it one of the tallest waterfalls in Maharashtra. The approach is an easy walk through forest, and the viewpoint delivers a genuinely spectacular curtain of water during the monsoon season.

The falls are accessible year-round but at their best from July through early October. Combine with a visit to Rajmachi or the Karla caves for a full day in the hills.

Tiger's Leap (Vaaghjai Point) is a cliff edge that juts out over the Sahyadri escarpment, offering a sheer 650-metre drop to the Konkan plains below. On clear days, the view stretches all the way to the coast. It's named for the shape of the rock — resembling a leaping tiger — and it's one of the most photographed spots in Maharashtra.

Best visited at sunrise or just before sunset when the light is soft and the valley below fills with mist. The short walk from the road is easy enough for all fitness levels.

Pawna Lake is where Lonavala's visitors go when they want to escape Lonavala. The reservoir is larger and far less crowded than the town itself, ringed by hills that turn impossibly green in the monsoon and golden-brown in winter.

Kayaking, paddleboarding, lakeside camping, and sunrise photography are all centred here. It's also the backdrop for most of Mantra Paragliding's flights — the lake below is one of the first things you see when you take off from Kamshet.

Lonavala Lake and the adjacent Ryewood Park are the town's quietest green spaces — best in the early morning before the day-trippers arrive. The park has old British-era bungalows and mature trees that make it feel surprisingly still for a popular hill station.

A morning walk here before a paragliding flight or a day of trekking is the ideal way to start any visit to the region.

Rajmachi is the defining overnight trek of the Lonavala-Kamshet region. The 15 km trail from Udhewadi winds through dense Sahyadri forest to twin forts — Shrivardhan and Manaranjan — that sit above a sweeping panorama of the Konkan coast and the Ulhas valley.

The base village offers simple homestay accommodation, and waking up inside a Maratha fort at dawn is one of those experiences that stays with you. The trailhead is 20 minutes from Kamshet, making a paragliding-and-Rajmachi weekend combination almost irresistibly good.

Lohagad and Visapur sit on the same ridge, connected by a saddle that makes a stunning twin-fort traverse for experienced trekkers. Lohagad is the more accessible of the two — steps carved into the rock lead up to the well-preserved Vinchukada (scorpion's tail) rampart with sheer drops on both sides.

Visapur is wilder and less visited, with broken walls and overgrown bastions that feel genuinely untouched. Both are within 30 minutes of Lonavala and best done early in the morning.

Tung Fort is compact, dramatic, and surprisingly overlooked given how good it is. The 45-minute climb from the base village takes you to a small but perfectly preserved fort with 360-degree views of Pawna Lake, the Sahyadri ridgeline, and on clear days, the distant shimmer of the Western Ghats fading into haze.

It's the ideal complement to a Kamshet paragliding trip — trek Tung in the morning, fly in the afternoon, and watch the sun set over the same landscape you walked through earlier.

Duke's Nose is a dramatic rock formation near Khandala that juts out over the Bor Ghat like the prow of a ship. The two-hour round trip from the trailhead is manageable for most fitness levels and rewards you with one of the best valley views on the Mumbai-Pune axis.

Rock climbers also use the cliff face for technical routes. The trailhead is near Khandala station, making it accessible even without a vehicle.

Tikona (meaning triangle) is named for its distinctive pyramidal shape rising above the southern shore of Pawna Lake. The climb is steep and direct — not technically difficult but demanding — and the summit offers spectacular views down to the water and across to Tung Fort on the opposite shore.

Combine Tikona with a morning on Pawna Lake and an afternoon flight from Kamshet for one of the most scenically complete days in the region.

The Buddhist rock-cut caves at Karla and Bhaja are among the oldest and finest cave complexes in India, carved into basalt cliffs during the 2nd century BCE. Karla's great chaitya hall — with its vaulted ceiling and intricately carved facade — is one of the most remarkable ancient interiors you can walk into anywhere in Asia.

Both sites are within 10 minutes of Kamshet, making them an easy morning stop before or after a paragliding flight. The contrast between 2,000-year-old stone and the very modern act of flying over it is quietly extraordinary.

INS Shivaji in Lonavala is the Indian Navy's oldest shore establishment and one of the largest naval engineering training centres in Asia. While public access is limited, the heritage and significance of the campus — set against the Sahyadri backdrop — makes it a point of interest for history and defence enthusiasts visiting the region.

The area around the naval base has several viewpoints and walking areas worth exploring.

Lonavala was developed as a hill retreat by the British in the 19th century, and remnants of that era survive in its old bungalows, the winding ghat roads, and the narrow lanes of older neighbourhoods. A slow drive or walk through the older parts of town reveals colonial-era architecture that sits surprisingly comfortably alongside the Maratha fort ruins on the hilltops above.

The old Mumbai-Pune road through the ghats, now largely replaced by the expressway, is a beautiful drive that rewards those who take the slow route.

Pawna Lake is perfectly sized and sufficiently calm for kayaking and paddleboarding at almost any time of year. Several operators along the lakeside offer equipment rental and guided sessions — you don't need prior experience to get out on the water and explore the shoreline.

Morning paddles are best — the lake is glass-smooth before 8 AM and the surrounding hills reflect perfectly in the water. An hour on Pawna followed by a tandem flight from Kamshet makes for a genuinely exceptional morning.

Della Adventure Park in Kunegaon near Lonavala is one of India's largest adventure parks, with over 70 activities across three zones — air, land, and water. Roller coasters, zip-lines, bungee trampolines, ATV tracks, and a go-kart circuit make it a full day for groups of any size.

Best booked in advance for weekend visits. Combine with a morning paragliding flight from Kamshet for a genuinely action-packed day in the hills.

The trail network around Lonavala and Kamshet offers some of Maharashtra's best mountain biking — forest singletracks, ridge paths with valley views, and village lanes that wind between ancient forts. Several operators offer guided MTB tours with quality rental bikes.

The terrain is varied enough for both beginners and experienced riders. A two-hour morning ride followed by an afternoon paragliding session is one of the best ways to use a day in the region.

Kundalika River near Kolad — about 80 km from Lonavala — is Maharashtra's only Grade 3 white water rafting destination, and it runs only during the monsoon season when the dam releases make the river runnable. Two hours of rapids through dense Western Ghats forest makes for an exhilarating day trip.

Combine with an overnight stay in Kamshet and a paragliding flight the following morning for a proper adventure weekend.

Pawna Lake camping has become one of Maharashtra's most popular weekend experiences — and the setting more than justifies the hype. Dozens of campsites line the banks, offering bonfire nights, stargazing without light pollution, and morning mist rising off the water that makes the Sahyadri hills look painted.

A Friday night camp, Saturday morning paragliding, and a Sunday fort trek is the ideal Lonavala-Kamshet three-day itinerary.

The basalt cliffs around Duke's Nose and the broader Khandala escarpment are a serious rock climbing destination — with routes ranging from beginner top-ropes to advanced multi-pitch lines that follow the natural cracks and features of the volcanic rock.

Several operators in Lonavala offer guided climbing sessions with all equipment included. No prior experience needed for introductory sessions.

No visit to Lonavala is complete without buying chikki — the brittle-sweet mix of jaggery and nuts that the town has been famous for since the 1860s. Maganlal Chikki and Cooper's are the most celebrated names, but dozens of smaller shops on the main street make their own versions worth trying.

Chikki travels well and makes a better gift than anything you'll find in an airport. Buy at least twice as much as you think you need.

Alongside chikki, Lonavala is known for its soft fudge — a British-era legacy that has become a local industry. The main market street also has good options for batata vada, corn on the cob (a hill station staple), and Maggi noodles cooked at roadside stalls that feel inexplicably perfect at altitude.

For a sit-down meal, several restaurants near the old market serve solid Maharashtrian thalis — the kind of meal that makes a long trek back to Pune feel very manageable.

One of Lonavala's simplest and best experiences costs almost nothing: a cup of masala chai from a roadside vendor at one of the ghat viewpoints as the sun drops behind the Sahyadris. The light turns everything amber, the valley below fills with shadow, and the road noise fades.

Favourite spots include Monkey Point, the viewpoints along the old Mumbai-Pune road near Khopoli, and the ridge above Khandala station. No booking required.

If you're spending more than a day at Kamshet — for a course, multiple flights, or just to make the most of the region — Mantra Paragliding's own accommodation puts you right at the flying site. Wake up, check the weather, walk to the launch. No commute, no missed morning flights.

It's the choice of serious students and anyone who wants to fully immerse in the Kamshet paragliding experience rather than day-tripping from Pune or Mumbai.

The Lonavala-Kamshet belt has quietly become a hub for wellness retreats — yoga centres, Ayurvedic programmes, and silent meditation weekends set against the Sahyadri hills. Several retreat centres operate out of old colonial bungalows or purpose-built hilltop properties, offering programmes ranging from a single day to a week.

For those who want adventure paired with recovery, a paragliding weekend with a morning yoga session is an increasingly popular combination.

Kamshet is 100 km from Mumbai — approximately 90 minutes by car or expressway, or a direct train to Kamshet station which sits five minutes from the flying site. For Mumbai residents, it is genuinely the closest world-class paragliding in India.

A Saturday morning departure from Mumbai gets you in the air by 9 AM, with time for a lakeside lunch and back to the city by evening. Mantra Paragliding's Mumbai page has all the travel details and booking options.

For Pune residents, Kamshet is the most accessible world-class adventure activity in the region. 45 minutes on the expressway or the old Mumbai-Pune highway gets you to the launch site, and morning slots mean you can fly and be back in the city before lunch.

Mantra Paragliding's Pune page covers everything — directions, timing, what to bring, and how to combine a flight with a Lonavala day trip.

If a weekend at Kamshet makes you never want to go back to your desk, that feeling might be pointing at something. Mantra Paragliding regularly welcomes motivated people to join the team — pilots, instructors, ground crew, and operations staff who want to build a life in the sport they love.

Paragliding is one of the few careers where your office is the sky. If that sounds right, the team wants to hear from you.