BEST OF MUMBAI WITH LONAVALA

At a distance of 4 km from Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Gateway of India is a national heritage monument located at the waterfront in Apollo Bunder area in South Mumbai, facing Arabian Sea. It is considered to be the most famous monument in Mumbai and also one of the main tourist places visited as part of Mumbai Darshan.

The Gateway of India was erected to commemorate the landing of King George V and Queen Mary at Apollo Bunder, when they visited India in 1911. Built in Indo-Saracenic style, the foundation stone for the Gateway of India was laid on 31st March 1911. The final design of George Wittet was sanctioned in 1914 and the construction of the monument was completed in 1924. The Gateway was later the ceremonial entrance to India for Viceroys and the new Governors of Bombay.

The architecture of the Gateway is a combination of Hindu and Muslim architectural styles; the arch is of Muslim style while the decorations are of Hindu style. The gateway is built from yellow .....

At a distance of 1.5 km from Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and 1 km from Gateway of India, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, formerly known as the Prince of Wales Museum, is one of the premier art and history museum situated on the southern tip of Mumbai on the Crescent Site near Gateway of India. The Museum is one of the most significant museums in India and also one of the best Mumbai places to visit.

The Prince of Wales Museum was built in order to honor and commemorate the visit of King George V to India. Although the idea for a museum was initiated in 1904, the foundation stone was laid down by the Prince of Wales in 1905. The Museum was designed by a prominent architect, George Wittet and was erected on this site in 1915. Initially the museum was used as a military hospital and a 'Children's Welfare Center' during the First World War. In 1922, it was transformed into Prince of Wales Museum and was renamed after the founder of Maratha Empire, Shivaji in 1990s.

The .....

At a distance of 1.6 km from Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Jehangir Art Gallery is situated behind Prince of Wales Museum at Kala Ghoda near the Gateway of India in South Mumbai. It is one of the most prestigious art galleries of Mumbai and also one of the popular tourist places in Mumbai.

Built in 1952 AD, the art gallery was founded by Sir Cowasji Jehangir at the urging of K. K. Hebbar and Homi Bhabha. The entire cost of this mansion was donated by Cowasji Jehangir. It was designed by G.M. Bhuta for G.M. Bhuta & Associates, while the building was designed by Durga Bajpai. At present, the gallery is managed by the Bombay Art Society.

Located in the famous Fort area of Mumbai, the Jehangir Art Gallery is a wonderful attraction for art lovers. It has four exhibition halls and serves as both an auditorium and an art gallery. A huge variety of modern Indian art is displayed here. There are also many temporary exhibitions from all over the world. The complex also encompasses .....

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, formerly known as Victoria Terminus, is the most important train station & historical landmark situated in Dadabhai Naoroji Road in Mumbai. Declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO on 2nd July 2004, it is one of the famous places of heritage in Maharashtra, and also one of the top tourist places in Mumbai.

The Terminus is the 2nd World Heritage Site of the Indian Railways after the Mountain Railways (of Shimla, Darjeeling & Ooty) which was inscribed in 1988, and the first functional administrative building to be put on the World Heritage list. Headquarters of the Central Railways, this station links Mumbai to the rest of India. It is one of the must include places in Mumbai tour packages.

Designed by Frederick William Stevens, a British architect, Victoria Terminus .....

At a distance of 5 km from Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Marine Drive is a 3 km long beautiful road in southern Mumbai of Maharashtra. This is one of the most visited places in Mumbai city and also one of the top tourist places in Mumbai.

It is a C-shaped six-lane road along the coastline of Arabian Sea, forming a natural bay. This road links Nariman Point to Babulnath, and is situated at the foot of Malabar Hill. Officially, it is named as Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Road. Marine Drive is also referred to as 'Queen's necklace', because the street lights make the road look like a string of pearls and create an illusion of a necklace, when viewed at night from any elevated point along the pathway of the drive.

Promenade is the main attraction of Marine Drive. The view of the sunset over the Arabian Sea from Marine drive is magnificent. The palm trees along the promenade make it more attractive. To the north of the Marine Drive is the Chowpatty Beach, which is famous among .....

At a distance of 4.5 km from Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Chowpatty Beach, officially known as Girgaon Chowpatty, is one of the most famous beaches in Mumbai adjoining Marine Drive in the Girgaon area. This is a popular beach which attracts people of all age groups and also one of the top tourist places in Mumbai.

Chowpatty Beach has been an important center for many celebrations over the years, including Ganesh Chaturthi. During this festival, thousands of devotees gather at the beach to participate in the immersions of the Lord Ganapathi idols in the Arabian Sea. Another popular festival that is held here is Ramlila, which lasts for a period of 10 days. Processions, energetic dance performances and beating of the drums are an integral part of this festival.

The beach is not as famous for activities like sunbathing or swimming as for its street food. Every evening, the beach is crowded by people of all ages, along with food kiosks, ferries and balloon sellers. .....

About Sri Siddhivinayak Temple

History of Sri Siddhivinayak Temple

At a distance of 18 km from Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, officially called Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link, is a cable bridge linking Bandra in the Western Suburbs of Mumbai with Worli in South Mumbai. This is one of the famous picnic spots in Mumbai.

Bandra - Worli Sea Link is an eight-lane bridge which has pre-stressed concrete-steel viaducts on either side. The bridge is a part of the proposed Western Freeway that links the Western Suburbs to Nariman Point in Mumbai's main business district. The 16 billion bridge was commissioned by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation and built by the Hindustan Construction Company. The first four of the eight lanes of the bridge were opened to the public on 30th June 2009. All eight lanes were opened on 24th March 2010.

The sea-link reduces travel time between Bandra and Worli during peak hours. Whole journey of 8 km, which earlier used to take 45 to 60 minutes, can now be completed in just 7 to 10 .....

At a distance of 3 km from Haji Ali Dargah and 7 km from Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Nehru Science Center (NSC), Mumbai is India's largest interactive science center located in Worli. It is one of the most famous science centers of India and also one of the best Mumbai places to visit.

Nehru Science Center, first conceived as a Science & Technology Museum in late sixties, took final shape as India's largest interactive science center in 1977. The center opened its first semi-permanent exhibition `Light & Sight' in 1977 followed by the world's first ever Science Park in 1979. The full- fledged science centre was finally opened to public on 11 November 1985 by late Rajiv Gandhi the then Prime Minister of India.

Nehru Science Centre, the largest Science Centre in the country has a sprawling 8 acres of Science Park with varieties of plants, trees and shrubs. More than 50 hands-on and interactive science exhibits on energy, sound, kinematics, mechanics, transport, etc. .....

About Mahalakshmi Temple

History & Mythology of Mahalakshmi Temple

At a distance of 4.5 km from Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum, formerly the Victoria and Albert Museum, is ancient museum situated inside the Jijamata Udyan in Byculla East, Mumbai. The museum earns recognition as the oldest museum in Mumbai and the third oldest across India. It is also one of the best tourist places in Mumbai.

The Victoria and Albert Museum was originally established in 1855 CE as a treasure house of the decorative and industrial arts. The present site of this museum came into existence in 1872 CE, when it was known as Victoria & Albert Museum. It was renamed as Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum in 1975 CE to honour the visionary who significantly contributed to its formation. After an extensive restoration process by Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), this museum was opened in 2008.

There are six main sections in this museum, namely Origins of Mumbai, 19th Century Paintings, Industrial Arts, Kamalnayan Bajaj .....

About Sri Babulnath Temple

History of Babulnath Temple

At a distance of 7.5 km from Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and 2 km from Sri Babulnath Temple, Hanging Gardens, also known as Perozeshah Mehta Gardens, are the beautiful terraced gardens that are situated on the western side of the Malabar Hills in Mumbai. These gardens are one of the best sites in Mumbai and also one of the top Mumbai visiting places.

Established in the 1880s, this garden was designed by Ulhas Ghapokar to protect a nearby reservoir from getting polluted. These gardens are named after the famous lawyer, Perozeshah Mehta, who is also the father of Mumbai's Municipal Charter. These terraced gardens located just opposite Kamla Nehru Park.

The garden has a vast area and well-laid pathways. The colourful flower clock at the center and numerous animal-shaped hedges are the unique features of this park. One can also enjoy spectacular views of the Arabian Sea from the Hanging Gardens. Its well-maintained pathways are perfect for a jog or stroll around the park.

Situated .....

At a distance of 11 km from Lonavala, 59 km from Pune & 107 km from Mumbai, the Karla Caves or Karle Caves are a complex of ancient Indian Buddhist rock-cut cave temples located at Karli near Lonavala, Maharashtra. It is one of the best Lonavala tourist places and also among well known historical places to visit near Mumbai & Pune.

Karla is one of the most famous centers of early rock-cut architecture in India. The caves are excavated nearly 100 m on a high spur of the chain of hills on the north flank of the Indrayani valley. These caves were developed over two periods - from 2nd century BC to 2nd Century AD and in 5th - 10th Century AD. The oldest of the cave shrines is believed to date back to 160 BC, having arisen near a major ancient trade route, running eastward from the Arabian Sea into the Deccan. These caves are among the must include places in Lonavala.

The Karla complex consists of 16 .....

At a distance of 12 km from Lonavala Railway Station, Lion's Point is a vantage point located midway between Bhushi Dam and Aamby Valley in Lonavala. It is one of the popular viewpoints in Lonavala and also among the must include places in Lonavala tour packages.

The view from Lions Point is majestic and panoramic. One would see dozens of small waterfalls, lush green hills, and lakes around during monsoon season. It is one of the famous places to visit in Lonavala. The sunrise and sunset views from here are mesmerizing. The wind is extremely strong at this place and it was quite thrilling to see many adventurous people get close to the edge to get 'that' living-on-the-edge photograph. The drive to the point is also equally scenic

The Shiv-ling peak is a conical peak that can be seen towards the left side of Lion's Point.

Timings: 6 .....

At a distance of 12 km from Lonavala Railway Station and 12 km from Tung Fort, Tiger's Leap or Tiger's Point is a scenic viewpoint situated at Kurvande on the route towards Aamby Valley from Lonavala. It is one of the must see tourist places in Lonavala.

Tiger's Leap, also known as Waghdari, is a cliff-top with a sheer drop of over 650 m, offering a wide view of the hills. The point derives its name from its resemblance to the shape of a leaping tiger. It offers spectacular views of forests, lush greenery, waterfalls and lakes around. The sunrise and sunset views from here are mesmerizing.

There is a small waterfall near to this viewpoint, which flows during the monsoon months only. It serves the purpose of relaxing in the water better than Bushy 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. The site is frequented by various tourists .....

At a distance of 6 km from Lonavala Railway Station, Bhushi Dam is a masonry dam on the Indrayani River in Lonavala, Maharashtra. Bhushi Dam is one of the top Lonavala tourist places and a very popular weekend getaway from Pune and Mumbai. The Dam is located in the backdrop of scenic hilly terrains between Lonavala and INS Shivaji.

The dam was built in late 1860s for the Great Indian Peninsular Railway as a source of water for their steam engines. Water from the dam was carried to Lonavala, Khandala and the reversing station of the railways by cast-iron pipes.

In the rainy season, when the Bhushi dam overflows, the water flows over a series of steps and then over some easily accessible rocky terrain. The terrain and the water make for a fun combination and this is why Bhushi dam gets crowded on weekends as well as during the holidays. There is a waterfall located .....

At a distance of 6 km from Lonavala Railway Station and 2.5 km from Khandala Railway Station, Rajmachi Point is located on the way to Mumbai from Pune, just before the starting point of the ghat in Khandala. The Rajmachi Point is one of the top tourist places in Lonavala.

Rajmachi Point is located within walking distance from the Dukes Retreat. This spot got its name because Rajmachi Fort of the incredible Maratha ruler Chatrapati Sivaji is situated opposite this point. The point offers spectacular views of Rajmachi Fort, the surrounding valley, and waterfalls as part of Lonavala packages. Rajmachi Point has a temple and a children's park. This is also a famous area for movie producers.

Monkey Point, Sunset Point, Lions Point are the few attractions close by. Sunset point gives spectacular views of the sunset. One can have a clear view of the .....

Lonavala hosts numerous wax museums and a visit to Wax museum is one of the prime attractions in Lonavala.

Most of the wax museums are spread close to the entrance of Lonavala from Pune - Mumbai express highway while there are few museums setup inside the town. Most of the wax museums cover the wax statues of noted personalities from many walks of life - religion, social service, history, art, literature, pop music, etc.

There are wax statues of Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi, B R Ambedkar, M S Subbulakshmi, Kapil Dev, Charlie Chaplin, Narendra Modi, Saddam Hussein etc. Almost all museums host a large image of Chhatrapati Shivaji. In addition to these, the museums also display images of Shirdi Sai Baba, and Jawahar Lal Nehru, along with wax models of many famous musicians, politicians and social workers.

Average Entry Fee: Rs. 100 for Adults and Rs. 75 for Children above 5 years.

Timings: 9 AM to 9 PM, closed on National Holidays

At a distance of 5 km from Lohagad Fort, 15 km from Lonavala, 71 km from Pune & 119 km from Mumbai, Bhaja Caves are one of the popular Buddhist caves of Hinayana faith in Maharashtra. These caves are one of the top places to visit in Lonavala and among the well known tourist places to visit near Pune & Mumbai. These caves are well known historical places near Pune protected as National Monument by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Bhaja Caves or Bhaje caves are a group of 22 rock-cut caves dating back to the 2nd century BC. The caves are 400 feet above the village of Bhaja on an ancient trade route, which extends from the eastern side of the Arabian Sea towards the Deccan.

The Bhaja Caves are similar to the Karla Caves in style and architectural designs. The most prominent among the excavations is .....

At a distance of 11 km from Lonavala, 66 km from Pune & 114 km from Mumbai, the Lohagad Fort (Iron Fort) is a historical fort situated along the Sahyadri hills in the Lonavala region of Maharashtra. It is one of the best tourist places to visit in Lonavala and also one of the popular heritage sites in Maharashtra.

Perched atop a hillock at an altitude of 1050 m, the Lohagad Fort separates the Indrayani basin from the Pawna basin. It is also among the popular trekking places to visit near Pune & Mumbai. It is one of the most visited forts in Maharashtra as part of Lonavala trip. The fort was built by Guru Govind Singh in 1564 CE to serve as a prison. Shivaji Maharaj captured it in 1648 CE, but he was forced to surrender it to the Mughals in 1665 CE by the Treaty of Purandar. Shivaji Maharaj recaptured the fort in 1670 CE and used it for keeping his treasury. Later in Peshwa's time, Nana .....

At a distance of 15 km from Lonavala Railway Station and 10 km from Lohagad Fort, Pawna Lake is an artificial lake formed by water of Pawna dam. Situated towards the outskirts of Lonavala, this lake is one of the top Lonavala tourist places.

Nestled amidst the scenic locales of Kamshet, this lake came into existence after the construction of the Pawna Dam, and now it plays a scenic host for camping, picnics and sightseeing. Pawna Lake is fast gaining popularity among the locals who are looking for a quiet weekend getaway with friends and family.

The lake is surrounded by rich greenery, making it one of the best places to visit in Lonavala. Facilities for row and motor boating are available at this place, which add to its popularity. While enjoying a boat ride on the lake, tourists get magnificent views of three ancient forts- Tikona, Lohagad and Tung.

Currently boating is stopped in the lake.

Entry Fee: Rs. .....