Lavasa

The beautifully planned city of Lavasa snuggles in the majestic Western Ghats and is 65 km away from Pune. The place has become a tourist attraction for different types of travelers with a high Sahyadri range valley, beautiful rivers, and mesmerizing lakes. This privately planned city is a blend of topographical variations and marvelous infrastructure. The city covers a sprawling 25,000 acres. 

The tranquility here gets united with the raw beauty of nature to smoothen your soul from the daily chaos and racing life. The magnificent city of Lavasa boasts numerous attraction sites. You can enjoy the enigmatic beauty of nature during your travel towards the city itself, visit Devkund waterfall, Tikona Fort, Dasve Viewpoint, and the Tamhini Ghat. However, if you seek adventure, you can visit the Vortex Splash Pad, Xthrill Adventure Academy, etc. No matter what are your traveling choices, your wanderlust will be satisfied assuredly. There are plenty of activities that you can experience in Lavasa. 

To calm the adventure fanatic in you, the place has various exciting, adventurous activities. For example, you can try out raft building, rappelling, biking, hiking, camping, etc. However, if you seek peace and the chance to admire nature, you can do that. Now, if you are someone who enjoys exploring food joints, then Lavasa will not disappoint you. Experiment with different regional and global cuisines here. Moreover, since the place is at an altitude of about 3000 sq feet from sea level, the climate here is pleasant throughout the year. However, the best time to visit is during the monsoon and winters, i.e., July and March. 

Once you start to explore, you will observe the city is incomplete. At most of the places, the construction work has started but never achieved. And if you read about the original plan of how this city was supposed to shine, you'll be a little disappointed. However, there is a chain of reasons stated behind the incomplete dream. The most crucial reason was damage to the environment. The construction of the town in the evergreen tropical forests was putting wildlife in danger. The forest is home to around 325 species of endangered animals, birds, and fauna. 

People and Culture:

Tourists frequently visit the place, and you will find the locals to be from all parts of the country. Thus, Lavasa has a great diversity of people and cultures. One can notice the cosmopolitan culture of this place while you are there. People are polite and friendly and speak Marathi and Hindi languages.

Availability of Accommodation Type:

There are some fine places to stay put during your visit to Lavasa. You can pick from a wide range of hotels and resorts for a comfortable stay. Some of the famous names among tourists are Hill Forest Resort, Upper Deck Resort Pvt. Ltd., and D.A.T.A Resort.

Treks around Lavasa:

Andharban Trek: Starting near Pimpri, Andharban is a small forest full of many surprises. This is the famous trekking route and has a descending trail all the way to the top. 

During the monsoon, the place is full of beautiful seasonal flora and fauna, which makes the trek more enjoyable and attractive. The trail is of 13 km with gorgeous sceneries and takes around 5-6 hours to complete. Though the trail is long, one might think it is not easy, but it is easy. Anybody, even with little experience of trekking, can easily accomplish it.

2. Ghangad Fort:  The fort that once was used as a prison is now in ruins. But still standing high, Ghangad fort is in the heart of Tamhini Ghat. 

The scenic and easy trek with a beautiful path to the top can be easily covered by anyone having a good physique and basic trekking knowledge. The upper part of the fort will take you to the medieval era when rulers enjoyed the panoramic view of surrounding forests.

3. Tikona Fort: Famed for its rugged rocks and beautiful climate, Tikona Fort stands at the height of 3500 feet. The steep pathways and rocky terrains make this a bit difficult hike. And hence, hardcore trekkers just love this trek. 

Since the fort stands high, it gives a chance to feel clouds touching your head. Just imagine the picturesque scenery of verdant green mountains around. Apart from the beauty and the fun, a primitive thrill fills you with the adrenaline rush throughout, making Tikona the best place for trekking.   

4. Devkund Waterfall: The huge gushing waterfall at Devkund attracts numerous tourists every year in the monsoon. The cascading streams falling through huge stones fall down to create a pool of turquoise blue water. 

People can sit or swim in this pool. The waterfall arrives after you trek for 3-4 km. It is an easy trek, and anybody can achieve it with less effort. 

5. Torna Fort: Torna is the highest hill-fort in the Pune District, thus making it a medium-difficult level trek. The trek takes you away from the dull and same lifestyle. The fort stands amidst the beauty of the lush green landscape. The ruins at the fort testify to the historical era making it a frequent place to visit for tourists all over the world. 

This largest fort is also famous as Prachandagad. The fort has significant importance in history as this was the first fort captured by Shivaji Maharaj at the age of 16. The trek is of around three hours which will surely make you feel the prickles at the back of your neck.