A Guide to Camping in Lonavala: 5 Best Places + 5 Top Camping Organisers (2020)

About 20 km from Lonavala is Pawna Lake – by far the most popular camping site in Lonavala. Pawna Lake is an artificial lake reservoir created by the construction of a dam across the Pawna river. The Pawna Lake campsite offers breathtaking natural vistas of green pastures, majestic hills, and beautiful sunsets. The campsites of major camp organisers are situated on the bank of the lake and offer everything from delicious food, bonfire, music and comfortable accommodation in tents.

The site also has a lot of sightseeing destinations nearby, including the Tikona Fort, Lohagad Fort, Tung Fort, Visapur Fort, and Bhaje Caves. These stunning forts are a testament to the glorious past of this region. The monsoon season is the most popular season for camping here because the entire landscape is covered in a delightful green blanket.

The Rajmachi Fort built by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj during the 17th century comprises of 2 majestic fortresses saddling the Sahyadri mountains – Shrivardhan and Maharanjan. Situated at a trekking distance of 16 km from Lonavala, it is also visible from the Mumbai-Pune Expressway on the right of Borghat. The Rajmachi Fort base is a trekkers’ delight as there is tremendous scope for trekking here. Interesting tourist attractions nearby include Kataldhar Waterfalls, Udaysagar Lake, Mahadev Temple, Bahiroba Temple, and Kondhane Caves.

The best times to visit Rajmachi are the pre-monsoon and monsoon months. The camping site at Udhewadi Village is one of the most popular ones in this area. The pre-monsoon months of May and June are the time when this area is engulfed by fireflies, which illuminate the area with their faint glow after sunset. You can take an 8 km trek up to the base of the Rajmachi Fort to spot fireflies and savour a truly spectacular sight. Don’t forget to relish the delectable local cuisine on the way.

If you want absolute tranquillity and breathtaking natural scenery, then Shirota Lake, at a distance of 18 km from Lonavala, will truly beckon you. Shirota Lake is a genuinely off-beat location not known to many travellers visiting Lonavala and Pawna Lake camping site. It is situated at a higher elevation than Lonavala, and you have to pass through dense forests to reach here. The drive is rough, and your luxury sedan may not be able to make it. It is therefore advisable to hire a jeep, Sumo, or a 4x4 SUV for off-roading tracks.

Soak in the beautiful scenery at your campsite, go kayaking (or fishing) on the lake or enjoy stargazing at night. All this in complete solitude far away from the hustle-bustle of the city. If you love stargazing, the best time to go camping to Shirota Lake is in the winter months when the sky is crystal clear at nights. Nearby attractions include Lohagad Fort, Visapur Fort, Lion’s Point, Tiger Point, and Narayani Dham Temple.

Korigad is famous because of the Korigad Fort built atop a hill at an altitude of more than 3,000 ft above sea level many centuries ago. The fort takes its name from Goddess Koraidevi, the presiding deity of the region. Korigad Fort is 20 km from Lonavala and has the renowned Aamby Valley planned township in the foothills. This is another off-beat camping location, which is a favourite for trekkers as there are numerous trekking trails here. The fort has a 2 km long unspoilt perimeter wall along with a few caves and two ponds. The fort also has a temple of Goddess Koraidevi along with Shiva and Vishnu temples. The fort presents a mesmerising view of the valleys and the neighbouring areas down below, including Aamby Valley, Tung Fort, and Tikona Fort.

Khandala (immortalised by a popular Bollywood song) is 3 km from Lonavala at a lower altitude as compared to Lonavala. Both these destinations are often referred to as twin hill destinations because of their proximity to each other. If you plan to go camping in Khandala, you can be sure to get rejuvenated in the lap of profound greenery and numerous waterfalls. The most popular camping destination in Khandala is Canyon Valley, which is also known as Tiger Valley or Ulhas Valley. You can also go camping in the Canary Forest.

Pawnacamp, headed by Mr. Dinesh Dnyandev Bodke, is one of the oldest camping organisers in the Pawna Lake area. They have multiple sites on the Pawna lakeside catering to families, couples, and friends. They also provide adventure sports facilities like paragliding, rappelling, zipline, kayaking, etc. They also promise to arrange 2-way transportation from Mumbai and Pune on a chargeable basis. The camping packages are for a 1-night stay, and charges vary from ₹ 778per person to ₹ 1,799per person depending on the inclusions. For more details visit Pawna Camp.

Rusticville is a camping property on a hill overlooking the backwaters of the Pawna Lake in the village Tikona Peth on the base of the Tikona Fort. It is a family-managed enterprise. This completely family-friendly place offers mud huts and tent accommodation. In addition to campfires, outdoor games, etc., this camping site also has an organic farm whose produce is used on the campsite. You can try some farming here and also buy the organic produce to take back home with you. Overnight stay packages start from ₹ 1,500 per person for a mud hut and ₹ 1,350 per person for tent accommodation. Rusticville also organises training programs for corporate. For more details, check out Rustic Ville

BRT is one of the highest-rated camping organisers in the country. They provide personally curated outdoor destinations across India. They have four camping sites across Maharashtra. BRT SH-92 is a camping site in Khopoli, 2.5 hours from both Mumbai and Pune. The child-friendly and pet-friendly site features forest walks, rock pool, kayaking, lush greenery, Lonavala in the backdrop, and no mobile network. You will be hosted by their camping facilitator, Nitish. Prices start from ₹ 2,000 per person per night for adults, and you can make your booking on Big Red Tent.

Lets Campout is founded by Abhi, Mansi, and Santosh, who promise camping to be made convenient for Indians by providing them high-quality camping equipment. If you are into astronomy and love stargazing, this tour is just for you. The campsite near Khopoli is the idyllic location for this camping tour. The best time to go stargazing is the post-monsoon season when the night sky is clear, and temperatures normally drop to 12-15°C. You will be provided a world-class Celestron telescope, and a seasoned astronomy guide will take you on your journey to the stars. You will be accommodated in waterproof Coleman tents with a premium lake-view. The price of this camping tour starts from ₹ 1,999 per person. Visit Lets Campout for more details.

If you don’t want to compromise on your comforts and yet enjoy the pleasures of camping, there is no better place than the iconic 5-star super luxury Camp Della Resorts. Founded and designed by Jimmy Mistry, Della Resorts features 240 classic rooms, including 30 super-luxury AC tents perched on the crest of a hilltop. Each 450 sq. ft. tent features a king-size bed, 140 sq. ft. bathroom with walk-in shower cubicle and stunning views of surrounding areas. Next to the Camp Della Resort is Della Adventure, India’s biggest extreme adventure park with 50+ mind-blowing adventure activities. Prices start from ₹ 12,333 per night. For more details, visit Camp Della Resort.