La Wah! Sa

✈ MUMBAI · PUNE · LAVASA

A road trip from Mumbai to Pune, and then on to Lavasa.

Pune

Places to visit (₹20 parking charge): Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple, Chitale Bandhu Mithaiwala (buy bhakarwadi — their Deccan Gymkhana branch doesn't close after noon), Kaka Halwai (mango mavakatli, lasun chatni/garlic chutney, shengdana chatni/peanut chutney, and papad), Tulshibaug (a flea market for bindis, hair clips, home appliances, and more), and Saras Baug — an ordinary garden, but with a Lord Ganesh temple.

All the shops close between 1–4pm. Dagdusheth, Chitale Bandhu, Kaka Halwai, and Tulshibaug are all about 1km from one another.

Pohe sambar

Misal Pav

Puneri Patya

Trekking nearby

Amby Valley, Malshej Ghat, Devkund Waterfall, Pawna Lake

Snacks/breakfast

Misal pav, sambar pohe

On to Lavasa

Left Pune at 8am the next morning. On the way, there are waterfalls, lush green stretches, and dams, plus a popular Italian-town-styled area named Portofino, with a street and buildings named after the town. Varasgaon Dam sits alongside two others nearby — Khadakwasla and Panshet. The whole area is fairly disputed, for reasons ranging from environmental damage and hill-cutting to the use of Pune city's own water resources, and land acquisition issues.

Reached Mercure Lavasa by 11am — right in front of Temghar Dam. You can hear the water gushing down heavily during the monsoon.

Tips: carry wind cheaters instead of umbrellas — it's very windy. Visit in June or early monsoon to enjoy the place fully; during heavy rain, most attractions close.

Things to do in Lavasa

• Segway
• Minibus or toy train for a city ride
• Rent a tandem bicycle and ride the promenade
• Watersports at Dasave Dam, mornings until 5pm (closed during monsoon)
• Plenty of restaurants around the area

Tandem bicycle, ₹200 for half an hour

Route

Mumbai → Pune → Chandani Chowk → Paud Road → Pirangut → left at Ghotawade Phata → Temghar Lavasa Road → Temghar Dam → Lavasa Ghat Road → Lavasa entrance gate → Lavasa city