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Forget whatever you know about Khandala, the place everyone just crosses on the way to Lonavala or Pune. Hidden in these ghats are spots that surprised even me: a mountain point where it’s just you and the fog, a cafe with beautiful mountain views, and a viewpoint where a train comes towards you from far away.
I rode around in the monsoon hunting for Khandala hidden spots, and here they all are, with Google Maps pins, parking tips and what to expect, in the order I visited them. My advice: don’t try all 10 in one day. Do 3 or 4 a day and enjoy each one properly; there’s a simple 3-day plan at the end. Fair warning: it rained non-stop when I shot this and fog hid a lot of the views, so I’ll also tell you where winter is better.
What to do in Khandala: 10 Hidden Spots
10. Khandala Lake: The Walkway Most People Skip
Coming from Lonavala, Khandala Lake is on your left, right on the road, so the lake itself is no secret. The good part is behind it: a lovely walkway along the whole lake. Even at 12 noon it was barely crowded, with 7–8 boats sitting idle.
Bikes can go inside; many people park on the opposite side of the road. It started pouring the moment we arrived, so we ate bhutta first (the bhutta stalls here are there all year). Boating is ₹100 per person for 15 minutes.
Next to the lake is a temple with a huge tree. Walk a little past it, away from the lake, and you’ll see the railway line, where trains come down the mountain towards Mumbai. Enjoy it from a safe distance.
📍 Khandala Lake on Google Maps
9. Bhairavnath and Shani Mandir
Right by the lake. The day we went, some visitors had sponsored a bhandara, and with rain pouring outside we happily joined in. Locals say the temple dates back to Shivaji Maharaj’s time.
📍 Bhairavnath and Shani Mandir on Google Maps
8. Duke’s Nose Trail: The Railway Viewpoint
The first properly hidden one. Going down the ghat, turn left at the Sunrise Hill Resort board. Bike parking is easy; for cars it’s tough, so you may have to park further away and walk.
The trail looks sketchy at first (I thought so on my first visit too), but the viewpoint is totally worth it:
- Ignore the walking path and take the steps down.
- After the steps, go left, not right, over a small bridge.
- The property on the left is private. Don’t enter.
- Past the gate, follow the road beside the house on the right. After the mesh fence it splits: one way views the railway line, the other continues to Duke’s Nose point.
A group from Pune asked me how I found such an underground spot. Well, I’m not called GPSBABA for nothing! For us the railway line was wrapped in clouds with crazy wind. Come in winter for a clear, still-green view.
7. Rajmachi Garden: Washrooms, Views and Monkeys
Most people know it since it’s right on the highway, but it has great valley views and public washrooms (one in the garden, one next to the temple). Big warning: monkeys run this place, so don’t take food out, not even by mistake. On the way down from Rajmachi Point there’s also a highway and Khopoli viewpoint.
📍 Rajmachi Garden on Google Maps
6. Waghjai Devi Mandir and the Secret Viewpoint
Turn your head from the garden and you’ll see Waghjai Devi Mandir. Filming isn’t allowed inside the temple, so please respect that.
The real reason to come: a small path from the right side of the temple leads to a lovely viewpoint. From there a secret path goes down towards the old Mumbai–Pune highway, but only after the rains, once the grass dies down. The small hill ahead is Monkey Hill, and bikes can reach its foot with some off-roading.
📍 Waghjai Devi Mandir on Google Maps
5. Sunset Cafe: The Best Cafe in Khandala
A few steps down from the road, and the vibe the moment you walk in is just fun. The afternoon view was great, and at night it’s something else. It’s a pure-veg cafe.
I had peri-peri tandoori fries (₹160) and a chocolate shake (₹90); I’ve lost 16 kg, so this much is allowed! My friend had a sandwich (they start at ₹100). Very tasty, though the sauce was a little sour for me. Budget around ₹300–400 per person. (Prices are from the menu when I visited in 2025.) Then it poured, but there’s a roof, so we just enjoyed the view. Opposite the cafe, people climb up and sit on the hilltop, which looks like a great spot.
4. Bua Fort Climbing Point
That hill is Bua Fort (Google Maps lists it as “Buaa fort”). Behind its climbing path is a hidden spot, and the same road leads towards the Monkey Hill cabin. The staircase is broken, so you can’t go up right now, which is a shame because the view from the top was really good.
📍 Bua Fort climbing point on Google Maps
3. The Secret Tunnel near Monkey Hill
Turn in at Aai Ekvira Mauli Vegetable Maggi Centre, where the old Amrutanjan Bridge used to stand before it was broken down. Park up top and walk down towards Monkey Hill cabin (Google Maps shows the route). Where the path splits, left goes to the village; take the right, which has a Monkey Hill board. It’s a 500–600 metre walk to the tunnel.
Honestly, the tunnel ends almost as soon as it starts. But then clouds rolled towards us, fog and rain came in, and we heard a train in the distance. Moment made! On the way back, a left turn leads up to one more viewpoint above the bridge.
⚠️ Safety first near the railway line: This path runs right beside the busy Mumbai–Pune railway line.
- Never walk on the tracks or go into a railway tunnel. Walking on the tracks is also illegal.
- Trains come fast and without much warning, and fog and rain make them hard to see or hear.
- Keep well back from the tracks, no selfies on or near them, and keep kids close.
- If the path is slippery or visibility is poor, turn back.
📍 Secret tunnel location on Google Maps
2. Nini Point
Back on the road, turning right goes to the Expressway past Shree Datta Snacks Corner, but that road is in very bad condition. Go straight towards Khopoli’s inner roads and take the first left, the Mount Alterra road. It’s a beautiful ghat, and in the rain I saw maybe three or four people.
Stop at Nini Point, where there’s roadside parking on both sides, and climb up a little from behind for a superb mountain view. It’s public land, so you can camp here. Sadly, people come to drink and leave broken bottles and chakna packets everywhere. Whether you camp or just visit, take all your garbage back with you. Skip it in the rains and come in winter. I planned to come back the next day for the view, but a hidden spot on the way stole my heart.
1. GPSBABA Viewpoint
The one I named after my channel. Along the Mount Alterra road, small footpaths lead to beautiful meadows with an amazing view. Watch the end of the video to see it. Winter gives the full view; in the monsoon it’s often fogged in.
📍 GPSBABA Viewpoint on Google Maps
A Simple 3-Day Plan
Covering all 10 in one day isn’t a good idea; you’ll just rush past everything. Do 3 or 4 spots a day, in route order:
- Day 1: Khandala Lake, Bhairavnath and Shani Mandir, Duke’s Nose trail
- Day 2: Rajmachi Garden, Waghjai Devi Mandir viewpoint, Sunset Cafe, Bua Fort
- Day 3: Secret tunnel near Monkey Hill, Nini Point, GPSBABA Viewpoint
Food Options
- Samarth Krupa Hotel, Old Mumbai–Pune Highway, Khandala — 4.6 on Google. Small highway stop for omelette pav, misal, vada pav and simple thalis. Cheap and homemade; only about 70 reviews, so the score is high but the sample is thin.
- Sunset Cafe, Old Mumbai–Pune Highway, Rajmachi / Tiger Valley, Khandala — 4.4 on Google. Fries, shakes, sandwiches and pizza, about ₹300–400 per person. Best for the ghat view, not a full sit-down meal; peri peri fries and Maggi come up often.
- Pam’s Point (earlier Satu’s Point), Khandala, Kune N.M. — 4.2 on Google. Veg-heavy spot with valley views: paneer tikka, soya biryani, kurkuri bhindi. Easy parking, useful if you want a proper plate without entering a resort.
- Rani Rasoi, Zara’s Resort, Pune–Mumbai Road, near D.C. High School, Khandala — 4.2 on Google. Resort restaurant for Indian, Chinese and a few Arabic dishes; good if you are already at Zara’s or want a buffet-style meal off the highway.
- Anglo Indian, opposite Kune N.M. Gram Panchayat, Khandala — about 4.5 on dining apps (Zomato/District). The main sit-down restaurant in Khandala village: sizzlers, pasta, barbecue, garden tables. Plan ₹1,500–2,000 for two; this is the meal stop, not a snack stall.
- Duchess Restaurant, Athiva Resort (old Duke’s Retreat), Old Mumbai–Pune Highway, Khandala — around 4.0. Multi-cuisine inside the resort; handy after a valley-view stay, pricier than the highway dhabas.
- Bhutta stalls at Khandala Lake, all year
- Aai Ekvira Mauli Vegetable Maggi Centre at the tunnel turn, and Shree Datta Snacks Corner
- Nothing at Nini Point or GPSBABA Viewpoint, so carry water and snacks.
How to Reach Khandala
By Air
The nearest airports are Mumbai and Pune, each roughly 75–80 km by road.
By Train
Khandala station is small, and only a few trains stop here, for example:
- 11024 Sahyadri Express (Kolhapur to Mumbai CSMT, morning)
- 11023 Sahyadri Express (Mumbai CSMT to Kolhapur, evening)
- 17412 Mahalaxmi Express (Kolhapur to Mumbai CSMT, early morning)
- .51033/51034 CSMT–Sainagar Shirdi Fast Passenger (late night)
Mumbai locals don’t come up the ghat; they stop at Karjat or Khopoli. Pune locals end at Lonavala, the next station. Most Mumbai–Pune trains, like 11007 Deccan Express, 12127 Intercity Express and 22105 Indrayani Express, stop at Lonavala but not Khandala. So the easy option is to get down at Lonavala and take a rickshaw or cab to Khandala. Timetables change, so always check the current schedule on NTES or IRCTC before you go.
By Road
Khandala is on the old Mumbai–Pune Highway, right beside the Expressway, about 85 km from South Mumbai and 67 km from Pune station. A bike is best, since car parking near the Duke’s Nose trail is hard.
Best Time to Visit Khandala
Monsoon is greenest, with clouds and rain all day like in my video, but fog hides the views at the Duke’s Nose trail, Nini Point and GPSBABA Viewpoint. For clear views, come in winter, when it’s still green. The secret path near Waghjai Devi Mandir also opens only after the rains.
Places to Stay near Khandala
- Ikshana Resort and Spa: If you want a polished valley-view stay rather than a bare-bones room, Ikshana currently sits at the top of this list (about 4.6 on Google; 4.9 on Tripadvisor and #2 in Khandala). It sits on the old Mumbai–Pune highway near the old Duke’s / Athiva stretch, so the rooms look out over the same green drop that makes this side of Khandala special. Pool, spa, and the in-house Rasa restaurant get consistent praise; it is a weekend-from-Mumbai kind of property more than a backpacker stop.
- Athiva Resort and Spa: Athiva (formerly Duke’s Retreat) is the big, well-known hillside resort on NH 48 — Google around 4.3 from thousands of reviews, but Tripadvisor has it at 4.9 and #1 in Khandala. Cliff / valley-view rooms, a proper outdoor pool, spa, and on-ground activities like pottery and caricature are why families keep coming back. Food and service are generally strong; expect it to cost more than Sunrise Hill, but the setting is in a different league.
- Zara’s Resort: Zara’s is the easy-access family and event resort just off the old highway near D.C. High School and a short hop from Khandala station (Google ~4.1). Gardens, two pools (adults and kids), indoor games, and banquet lawns make it popular for groups, birthdays, and small weddings. Rooms are spacious and the monsoon vibe is often mentioned; service can be mixed, so it is a solid mid-range pick rather than a boutique hideaway.
- Hotel JD Villa: JD Villa (also listed as Townhouse Khandala Hill View) is a no-frills stay with a useful location — Khandala lake, the ghat viewpoint, and the main sights sit within a few kilometres (Google ~4.0). Rooms and staff get decent marks when the property is running well, and the tariff is closer to budget than resort. The last stretch of access road is rough, and reviews are uneven on cleanliness and night-time security, so treat it as a practical base, not a splurge.
- Velvet County Resort:Velvet County sits up in Vikas Valley, a quieter hill-top pocket rather than on the highway itself (Google ~3.9; Tripadvisor 4.1). The draw is space: big rooms, large balconies, valley views, and a pool that works well in the rains. Ownership has changed in recent years, so upkeep is a bit inconsistent, but if you want greenery and a balcony more than a brand-name lobby, it still earns its place.
- Hotel Royal Park: Royal Park is a mid-budget highway property with a garden, restaurant, and outdoor pool (Google ~3.9). Location is convenient if you are driving the old Mumbai–Pune road and do not want to hunt for a hidden lane. Staff and food are usually described as “fine for the price”; rooms and weekend rates are the common complaints. Good for a one-night halt, less so if the view is the whole point of the trip.
- Hillscape Resort: Hillscape (often listed as FabEscape Hillscape Villa) is a small Hill Top Colony property in the same pocket as Sunrise Hill — close to the lake and the forest edge, with a handful of rooms rather than a big resort layout. Online ratings are thinner and lower (Google ~3.8 on a small sample; Tripadvisor around 3.1–3.2), and older reviews flag dated interiors even when the location is praised. Use it if you want a quiet, house-like stay near the lake; inspect recent photos before you book.
- Sunrise Hill Resort: a good stay, and its board marks the Duke’s Nose trail turn. I reviewed it as a budget-friendly stay with a Khandala Lake view (watch my review).
FAQ
The walkway behind Khandala Lake, the Duke’s Nose trail railway viewpoint, the viewpoint beside Waghjai Devi Mandir, Sunset Cafe, the tunnel near Monkey Hill, Nini Point and GPSBABA Viewpoint.
Not recommended. Do 3 or 4 spots a day; 3 days covers all 10 properly.
Is Khandala worth visiting in the monsoon?
Yes, for the greenery and clouds, but fog often hides the viewpoints. Winter is better for clear views.
Which trains stop at Khandala station?
Only a few, like the Sahyadri Express (11023/11024) and the Mahalaxmi Express (17412) towards Mumbai. Most trains stop at Lonavala instead. Check the current timetable.
Is it safe to walk near the railway tunnel?
Only on the path, well away from the tracks. Never walk on the tracks or enter the tunnel.
Can we camp at Nini Point?
Yes, it’s public land. Just take all your garbage back.
Final Thoughts
Most of us have crossed Khandala a hundred times without really stopping. If even one of these spots was new to you, tell me in the comments below. And if you know a hidden spot I missed, or want me to cover a place, comment that too and I’ll make a video on it. Love monsoon getaways? Check out Bhavli Dam and Waterfall, Morbe Dam and more places near Mumbai and lakes near Mumbai. For more hidden spots, click here to check out my YouTube channel GPSBABA.
