Pune to Lonavala Distance: Local Train, Road Routes, Bike Ride and Stops
Pune to Lonavala is about 65 km. Local train, Expressway vs old highway, bike ride, PCMC and Hinjewadi routes, stops like Karla and Kamshet, and costs.
Pune to Lonavala is about 65 km, around an hour to an hour and a half by the Mumbai–Pune Expressway or the old highway, and about an hour and a half by the Pune–Lonavala local train. For Pune, Lonavala is the default weekend escape and an easy day trip, especially in the monsoon. This guide covers the local train (the cheapest way to go), both road routes, travel from Pimpri-Chinchwad, Hinjewadi and Wakad, stops on the way such as Karla and Kamshet, the cost of the trip, and where to stay.
| Mode | Distance or time | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Pune–Lonavala local train | About 64 km, about 1.5 hours | Cheap, frequent, no driving |
| Express train | About 1 hour | Faster, with a reserved seat |
| Car via the old Mumbai–Pune highway | About 65 km, 1.5 hours | Karla, Bhaja, Lohagad and Malavli on the way |
| Car via the Expressway | About 70 km, 1–1.25 hours | Fastest to the Khandala and Tungarli side |
| Bike | About 65 km | The classic monsoon ride (with care) |
Pune to Lonavala local train
The Pune suburban railway runs EMU local trains between Pune Junction (and Shivajinagar) and Lonavala through the day, stopping at Khadki, Pimpri, Chinchwad, Akurdi, Dehu Road, Talegaon, Kamshet, Malavli and other stations. The trip takes about an hour and a half and is one of the cheapest ways to reach a hill station anywhere in India. Services are less frequent in the middle of the day and have been disrupted at times for maintenance, so check the current timetable on the official railway apps and buy tickets at the counter or on the UTS app.
Get off at Malavli for Bhaja Caves, Lohagad and Visapur, at Kamshet for paragliding and Bedse caves, or at Lonavala for the town, the market and the viewpoints.
Pune to Lonavala by express train
Many Pune–Mumbai express and intercity trains stop at Lonavala, taking about an hour. Reserve a seat on weekends; unreserved coaches fill fast.
Pune to Lonavala by road
Route 1: the old Mumbai–Pune highway
From Pune, follow the old highway (part of NH48) through Wakdewadi, Khadki, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Nigdi, Dehu Road, Talegaon, Vadgaon, Kamshet and Karla to Lonavala. It passes through towns, so it is slower, but it is the direct road to the Karla caves, Bhaja, Lohagad, Malavli and Pawna turn-offs, and it has plenty of food stops.
Route 2: the Expressway
From Pune, join the Expressway at Dehu Road (or from Hinjewadi and Wakad via the bypass) and exit at Lonavala. It is faster to the western side of town, Khandala and Tungarli, and is tolled.
From Pimpri-Chinchwad, Hinjewadi and Wakad
From PCMC, Lonavala is about 45–50 km, roughly an hour. From Hinjewadi and Wakad, join the Expressway or old highway near Dehu Road or Somatane; allow about an hour.
Pune to Lonavala by bike
The old highway is a popular monsoon ride. Wear proper rain gear and a full helmet, watch out for potholes and buses, and avoid the ghat roads to Tiger's Leap and the Khandala bends after dark. Two-wheelers are not allowed on the Expressway.
Pune to Lonavala trip cost
| Item (return trip) | Rough cost | How it is worked out |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel, hatchback or sedan | About ₹900 | 130 km at about 15 km per litre, petrol at about ₹100 |
| Fuel, SUV | About ₹1,400 | 130 km at about 10 km per litre |
| Tolls | Expressway toll if you use it; the old highway has a toll plaza near Somatane | Depends on the route and vehicle class; keep your FASTag topped up |
| Cab with driver | Roughly ₹2,500–4,500 for a sedan, return, for a day trip | Varies by operator, vehicle and season |
These are rough planning figures. Fuel prices, toll rates and cab fares change, so check current prices before you travel.
By local train, the fare is a small fraction of the cost of driving; check the current fare at the counter.
Stops on the way from Pune
- Dehu, home of Sant Tukaram, and Bhandara Dongar near it.
- Talegaon and Vadgaon Maval, for breakfast on the old highway.
- Kamshet, for paragliding (October to May) and Bedse caves.
- Karla Caves and Ekvira temple, right off the old highway; see our Karla Caves guide.
- Malavli, for Bhaja Caves, Lohagad and Visapur; see the Lohagad trek guide and the Visapur Fort trek guide.
- Pawna Lake, a detour south from Kamshet or Lonavala; see the Pawna Lake guide.
Pune to Lonavala: a one day plan
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| 6:30 | Leave Pune on the old highway |
| 8:00 | Breakfast near Karla, then the caves |
| 10:30 | Bhaja Caves or Lohagad |
| 14:00 | Lunch in Lonavala |
| 15:30 | Lion's Point and Tiger's Leap (and Bhushi Dam in the monsoon) |
| 18:00 | Chikki shopping and back to Pune |
Mistakes to avoid
- Waiting for a midday local without checking the timetable; there can be long gaps.
- Riding a two-wheeler onto the Expressway (not allowed).
- Planning Bhushi Dam or Tiger Point at midday on a monsoon Sunday.
- Returning to Pune on Sunday evening, when the old highway through Talegaon and PCMC jams.
More day trips from Pune: our guide to places to visit near Pune for a one day picnic, and the earlier guide to a Pune to Malavli weekend villa.
Distance to Lonavala from Pune localities
| From | Approx. road distance | Best road |
|---|---|---|
| Pimpri, Chinchwad, Nigdi | About 45–50 km | Old highway |
| Hinjewadi, Wakad | About 50 km | Bypass to the Expressway or old highway |
| Aundh, Baner | About 55–60 km | Bypass, then Expressway |
| Shivajinagar, Deccan | About 65 km | Old highway via Khadki |
| Kothrud | About 65–70 km | Chandani Chowk, bypass, Expressway |
| Koregaon Park, Viman Nagar | About 70–75 km | Old highway via Khadki |
| Hadapsar, Kharadi | About 80 km | Through the city to the old highway, or the ring road where open |
Pune to Khandala
Khandala is about 5 km beyond Lonavala towards Mumbai, so add ten to fifteen minutes. From Pune, the Expressway's Lonavala exit is the quickest way in; on the old highway, drive through Lonavala town.
Pune to Lonavala in the monsoon
The old highway gets crowded with cars and bikes heading for Bhushi Dam and Lohagad on rainy weekends, and Talegaon, Vadgaon and Kamshet slow to a crawl in the afternoons. The local train is the stress-free option for day trips: get off at Malavli for Bhaja and Lohagad or at Lonavala for the town. For an overnight, a villa on the Malavli or Karla side means you never have to drive through Lonavala town.
Pune to Lonavala with children or elderly parents
- Choose the Expressway for a smoother ride, with food plaza stops.
- Plan the viewpoints in the morning and the pool in the afternoon.
- Skip the long fort climbs; Lion's Point, Rajmachi Point and Lonavala Lake have little walking.
- Book a villa with ground-floor rooms if anyone finds stairs difficult.
Day trip or overnight from Pune?
A day trip is easy because Lonavala is only an hour away. An overnight changes the experience: you see the viewpoints in the quiet early morning, avoid the afternoon jams, and have the evening at a pool villa. Many Pune groups book a Saturday night and return on Sunday before lunch to beat the traffic back into the city.
Pune to Lonavala by cab or self-drive
App cabs and local taxi operators run one-way and return trips from Pune to Lonavala. For a day of sightseeing, a return cab with waiting time is usually simpler than booking separate rides, because app cabs can be scarce at Tiger's Leap and Bhushi Dam. Self-drive rentals in Pune are another option; check the fuel policy and whether ghat driving is allowed under the rental terms.
Where to eat on the way from Pune
The old highway is lined with places for misal, vada pav, thalis and sugarcane juice, especially around Talegaon, Vadgaon and Kamshet, and near the Karla caves turn-off. On the Expressway, the food plazas have chain restaurants and clean washrooms.
Frequently asked questions
What is the distance from Pune to Lonavala?+
About 65 km from central Pune by the old highway, or about 70 km by the Expressway. It takes about 1 to 1.5 hours.
How long does the Pune to Lonavala local train take?+
About 1.5 hours from Pune Junction, stopping at Shivajinagar, Pimpri, Chinchwad, Talegaon, Kamshet, Malavli and other stations.
How often do Pune–Lonavala locals run?+
Through the day, with gaps in the middle of the day. Check the current timetable on the official railway apps before you go.
Which station is nearest to Lohagad and Bhaja?+
Malavli station, on the Pune–Lonavala local line. From there it is a short auto ride or walk to Bhaja and the Lohagad base.
Is the Expressway or the old highway better from Pune?+
The Expressway is faster to Khandala and the western side; the old highway is better for Karla, Bhaja, Lohagad, Malavli and Pawna.
Can I ride a bike from Pune to Lonavala?+
Yes, on the old highway. Two-wheelers are not allowed on the Expressway.
How far is Lonavala from Pimpri-Chinchwad?+
About 45–50 km, roughly an hour by the old highway.
How far is Lonavala from Hinjewadi?+
About 50 km, roughly an hour via the bypass and the Expressway or old highway.
What is the cab fare from Pune to Lonavala?+
Roughly ₹2,500–4,500 for a sedan return day trip, depending on the operator and season.
Is Lonavala a good one day picnic from Pune?+
Yes. Karla Caves, Bhaja or Lohagad, the viewpoints and the market fit into a day.
Where should I stay in Lonavala if I'm coming from Pune?+
Malavli and Karla are right off the old highway and close to the caves and Lohagad; Pawna is a short detour.
Where to stay in Lonavala
Coming from Pune, the Malavli and Karla side of Lonavala is the first you reach on the old highway, and it puts Lohagad, Bhaja and Karla on your doorstep.
BookMyFarm lists 31 private stays in and around Lonavala: 24 villas, 6 farmhouses and a weekend home, spread across Malavli, Tungarli, Gold Valley, Dongargaon, Khandala, Duke's Nose, Karla, Pawna and about a dozen other pockets. 28 of them have a private swimming pool. Each one is booked whole, so the house, lawn and pool are yours alone, and the stays sleep anything from 8 to 45 guests.
| Stay | Sleeps | Pool | More in this area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 BHK pool villa in Karla, Lonavala – BMF-V597 | Up to 12 guests | Private pool | villas near Karla |
| Pool villa in Malavli, Lonavala – BMF-V384 | Up to 10 guests | Private pool | villas in Malavli |
| 5 BHK pool villa in Malavli, Lonavala – BMF-V612 | Up to 35 guests | Private pool | villas in Malavli |
| Farmhouse near Lohagad Fort, Lonavala – BMF-F510 | Up to 8 guests | Private pool | stays near Lohagad Fort |
| Pool villa in Pawna, Lonavala – BMF-V420 | Up to 15 guests | Private pool | villas near Pawna Lake |
| If you want | Look at |
|---|---|
| Closest from Pune | villas in Malavli, villas near Karla and stays near Lohagad Fort |
| A lake stay | villas near Pawna Lake |
| A villa with a private pool | villas in Lonavala and the private pool villa collection |
| A big group or a party | villas for large groups and villas for birthday parties |
| A couple's trip | couple-friendly villas in Lonavala |
| A budget stay | budget villas in Lonavala and farmhouses in Lonavala |
| A family holiday | villas for family get-togethers |
At the time of writing, whole-villa prices start at around ₹4,000 a night on weekdays for a small villa without a pool, most pool villas cost roughly ₹7,000 to ₹16,000 on weekdays and ₹13,000 to ₹26,000 on Saturdays, and the largest luxury villas go above ₹30,000 on weekends. Long weekends, the monsoon weekends, Diwali, Christmas and New Year cost more and fill first. Prices change, so check the live rate on each listing. See every stay on the Lonavala stays page.
More Lonavala guides
- Places to visit in Lonavala and Khandala: 40 tourist places
- Khandala guide: places to visit, Duke's Nose and how to reach
- Places to visit near Lonavala within 50 and 100 km
- Lonavala distance chart from Mumbai, Pune, Thane, Surat and more
- Mumbai to Lonavala by road and train
- Surat and Ahmedabad to Lonavala road trip
- Lonavala to Mahabaleshwar distance and road trip
- Lonavala itinerary for 1, 2 and 3 days, with trip cost
- Best time to visit Lonavala, month by month
- Lonavala in the monsoon: waterfalls, Bhushi Dam and Tiger Point
- Tiger Point (Tiger's Leap), Lonavala: how to reach and safety
- Bhushi Dam, Lonavala: monsoon overflow and safety rules
- Pawna Lake guide: camping, boating and how to reach
- Forts near Lonavala: Rajmachi trek and six forts compared
- Visapur Fort trek: routes, time and monsoon tips
- Tikona Fort trek and Pawna Lake
- Places to visit near Pune: one day picnic spots
- Places to visit near Mumbai: weekend getaways
- Villa in Lonavala with private pool: villas for families and groups