Green hills, rolling clouds and the sound of waterfalls – just hearing the name Lonavala in Maharashtra brings a dreamy scene before the eyes. Located between Mumbai and Pune, this hill town is like a piece of heaven for tourists. Every weekend many people throng here to enjoy the mountain air and the thrill of trekking. However, parallel to this charming natural beauty, there is a hidden secret. There are many scary and incredible stories surrounding Lonavala. Do you know the story?

Death trap behind the beauty?

One of the main attractions of Lonavla is the Bhushi Dam. Built in 1860, this ancient reservoir spreads its wings every monsoon. But in the depths of this beautiful water there is a great danger. It is known locally as the ‘Dam of Deaths’ due to the mysterious drowning of tourists one after the other. Between 2017 and 2022, 29 people were buried here. There is no clear explanation for this phenomenon even today.

The ‘ghost’ hotel

Not only the nature, some of the hotels and villas in Lonavala also have strange stories surrounding them. The most famous of these is ‘Hotel Rajkiran’. It can be heard that if you spend the night in a special room here, you get a feeling of shivering. Terrified tourists have claimed multiple experiences, sometimes pulling the bed sheet in the middle of the night in a closed room, sometimes the presence of a mysterious blue light.

Not only Rajkiran, but the presence of Chayamurthy in Ayesha Villa at Khandala Ghat evokes excitement. The whispers of the incorporeal are always mixed in the Lonavala air. A one-time luxury Rolls Royce with broken glass and flat tires still sits neglected in Ayesha Villa’s garage, adding to the ghostly atmosphere.

How to go?

By Air: The nearest airports are Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Pune and Mumbai. Taxis or buses are available from the airport.

By Rail: Lonavla has its own railway station. Directly reachable by express train from Mumbai and Pune.

By Road: Lonavala can easily be reached by car or long-distance bus on the excellent smooth road along the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.