CHAPTER THREE LONAVLA - A REGIONAL PROFILE 3.1 Presenting Lonavla 3.2 Historical Perspective of Lonavla. 3.3 Location and Physiography of Lonavla. 3.4 Population 3.5 Climate 3.6 The Town 3.7 Occupational Structure 3.8 Land use of Lonavla 3.9 Important Tourist Destinations 55 3,1 Presenting Lonavla This chapter aims to highlight in brief the physical and demographic background of Lonavla and to show how it is a tourist place and how the local population, occupational structure and land use of Lonavla make it most important tourist destination. In short this chapter highlights the regional profile of Lonavla as a tourist centre. One of the most important hill stations in the state of Maharashtra is Lonavla. It is popularly known as the Jewel of the Sahayadri Mountains.Lonavla is set amongst the Sylvan surrounding of the w'estem ghats and is popular gateway from Mumbai and Pune. It also serves as a starting point for tourists interested in visiting the famous ancient Buddhist rock - cut caves of Bhaja and Karla, which are located near this hill station. It has some important Yoga Centres near it. There are numerous lakes around Lonavla Tungarli, Bhushi, and Walvan, Monsoon and adventure seekers can try their hand at rock climbing at the Duke’s Nose peak and other locations in the Karla hills and Forts. In order to make the travel tour to Lonavla even more joyful the right kind of accommodation is provided by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (M.T.D.C.). The various hotels packages offer the best of facilities. The well furnished rooms give most of comforts. Imagine a world full with peace and honesty, where the air you breathe is fresh like the purity of soul where every stroke of breeze brings hope and freshness to the mind. One can wander freely into the lush greens and not worry about anything else. A place that is dedicated to bring out the youth in every person who visits this place. Lonavla provides a panoramic view o f. the lush green surroundings of the Sahayadri ranges. The peaceful environs of the town, w'hich provides a great escape from the hustle bustle of Mumbai, the hill resorts attract tourist to this place. Tourists get attracted towards a walk along waterfalls, the grassy abimdance and hills in and around Lonavla. The mountainous terrain of Lonavla is ideal for trekking and hiking. Lonavla is a year round destination; however, people prefer to visit the hill station during summer and the monsoons. 56 3o2 Historical Perspective of Lonavia. Lonavla, the famous hill station in Maharashtra is also known, because of the Chikki - (sweetmeat prepared from the mixture of groundnuts, jaggery and glucose). Lonavla was discovered in 1811 by Sir Elphiston, Governor of Bombay as a tourist place. The origin of the name Lonavla is derived from the name “Lonali”. Lonauali means series of caves i.e. Karla, Bhaja etc. Lonavla is situated at 18° 45’ latitude and 73° 24’ longitude. The total area of this towmi is 38.84 sq. Ion. It includes places like Khandala, Tungarli, Valvan, Bhushi, Nangargaon and Lavalwadi. This is the last town in the boundaries of Pune district. Immediately after this town, western ghats series i.e. Bhor ghat starts. The inscription written on the caves nearby Lonavla infomas that this was the most important place for transport and business. Some temples, rest houses and caves give evidence of existence of roads. There was an old route from ancient times, the route was Nala Sopara, Surat, Kaiyan and Junnar. There exist following landmark i) An old route from ancient times from Khopoli to Lonavla. ii) The Buddhist influence on the cave temples, iii) A Legend that Shivaji brought Suxat loot to Siddeshawar temple. (The Ryewood temple) iv) The British Battle with captain Stuart, v) The ghat road vi) The railway track vii) The Tata power plant. (Forbay point), viii) Industrial beginnings ix) Highway x) Recent development. There is a reference given in “The gazettes” (Chap No. V I1, page 263). On 22"*^ Nov 1778 under agreement with Raghunathrao an advance party of British troops under Captain James Stewart consisting of six companies of native granediers from different corps with small artillery moved from port Asti in Colaba took possession of the Bhor pass without opposition and encamped at Khandala. Lonavla and Khandala developed mainly due to this age old highway which is referred to in the gazetteers. The construction of Bombay—^Pune highway started in the year 1826. This ghat road was constructed by Captain Huges. The Bhor ghat Konkan and Deccan Plateau. The railway track construction between Lonavla and Bombay started in 1860. Initally 2500 workers were appointed for the same. But in 1861 the number of workers increased to the extent of 42,000. They were working under the supervision of nearly 90 British experts. 57 Like all other towns Lonavla is also developed only after industrialization to certain extent. The first industrial plant was established in 1941 in the form of workshop by Shri S. S. Marathe. Later on “Lakaki” company was formed by the Pioneer industrialist of Maharashtra—Shri -Kirloskar. After 1958, people from Pune and Mumbai started purchasing land in and around Lonavla on a large scale. The farmers have found the new business of selling the land. In this period, farming started losing its prime importance as an occupation. People started searching jobs as an alternative to the farming. In 1960 the Lonavla Municipal Corporation passed one Resolution regarding the exemption of octroi tax for the first 5 years from the inception of any new industrial firm in Lonavla. This was the historic decision of Lonavla Municipal Council in Maharashtra which encouraged entrepreneurs with such exemption in octroi. In the year 1962 the Industrial Estate was established, under the presidentship of Shri Dongarmal Pritvraj Lunawat. Lonavla being a tourist place, the industrial estate was set up to the east of the Municipal area in Nangargaon. The total area given was 17 acres and 36 gunthas. The industries that were started after the establishment of the industrial estate till today that are in and around Lonavla are: 1) S. S. Marathe and sons—Production of Road Roller and Heavy Machinery. 2) Lakaki Paints Works-—Production of paint and distemper. 3) Antifriction Bearing Corporation-—Production of Taper and Roller Bearing. 4) Zelet Pvt. Limited—Machinery required for production of cloth. 5) Automative and allied industries Pvt. Limited—Production of grease guns and grease nipples. 6) Supreme Washer Balls-—Producing Washer Balls. 7)Tamco Tubes— Production Wiring rolling. 8) Mulraj Dungarsi—Production Medicines.9) Messers Pethe Engineering Pvt. Ltd. —Production - Electro Magnetic Break Clutch. 10) Messers Print Origin Company—Production Electric Motors and Meters. 11) Monsanto Chemicals of India Pvt. Ltd.—Production of Pesticides. 12) Arunoday Watch Co.— Production of Clocks. 13) Zeb Exports Pvt.Ltd.—Production- Leather Garments. 14) Bhavsar Metal Works—Production Polishing of Stainless Steel Vessels. 15) Messers Pam Industries—Workshop and Remoulding of glass. 16) Messers Balpat Industries— Production Hooks and Button Holes. 17) Messers J. M. Bhatt—Electronic Materials. 18) Messers Intel Electronics—Production Electronics. 19) Messers Robstamachine Co. Pvt. 58 Ltd—Production Parts of Sewing Machine. 20) Messers C. J. Industries.—-Production of Plastic Board, Letters and Other Plastic Articles. 21) Messers M. M. Industries-— Production Electronics. 22) Messers Associated Engineering Co.—-Production Heavy Machinery Parts. 23) Messers Chedda Industries—Production Automobile Parts. 24) Messers Perfect Engineering Co.— Production Valve Tapes and Valve seats. 25) M. P. M. Chagule—Production - Injection Moulding. 26) M. B. P. Desai and sons— Production - Medicines. 27) Maganlal and Sons—Production Chikki, chivda, farsan. 28) Tecil Engineering Co—Production - Radiator Caps. 29) Rainbow Jelly Sweets— Production - Jelly Sweets. 30) Dimples Jelly Sweets—Production - Jelly Sweets. 3.3 Location and Physiography of Lonavla. Lonavla is a charming hill resort, three hours journey from Mumbai, one hour from Pune. It has quick weekend gateway to offer. Lonavla is on the line of Central Railway, Mumbai -Lonavla 118 kms, Pune— Lonavla 65 km s. Lonavla is on the the Mumbai—Pune road. Lonavla is an important hill station in the state of Maharashtra. It is popularly know^n as the Jewel of the Sahyadri mountains. Lonavla is set amongst the sylvan hills of the Western Ghats and is a popular halt between Mumbai and Pune, Lonavla is located in the western part of the state of Maharashtra in the western region of India. It is set- amongst the slopes of the Sahyadri mountain range and situated 106 kms Southeast of Mumbai at an altitude 625m above sea level. The weather in Lonavla is pleasant in summer (April-June) and mild, while winters (November-February) are cool, monsoon (Jmie-September) heavy rains. The best time to visit Lonavla is between the months of October and May. Cotton clothing is apt all through the year. At present the trend is to visit Lonavla during monsoon i.e. from June to September to enjoy the scenic beauty and enjoy getting wet in the rains. Earlier people crowded Lonavla in the winter, but today the scene has changed, we have buses loaded coming to Lonavla. Besides private vehicles, trains are crowded and tourists get down at Lonavla. It is because of the natural waterfalls and beautiful eye­ catching scenic greenery all around. To the north are some spiritual institutions like Kaivalayadhama Yoga Centre of Swami Kuvailayanandji. This institution is known 59 internationally. Manshakti is another spiritual centre set up by Swami Vidyanand. It was set up for people to achieve peace of mind tlirough socially oriented activities and self sacrifice.