Come a long weekend and invariably the questions pour in: “What’s a good place to go to?”, “Where can I get away from the maddening crowd?”, or “Goa’s too far for a three-day break from Mumbai and the other hill-stations will be packed.” Now the answer is here – Lavasa! Poised as it is to become India’s first — and its largest planned hill-station — Lavasa is still in the development stage. Some parts have already been built like the community centre and the Ekaant Resort. The water sports department is up and running and that itself makes for a fun day out on the lake. But before you even get there, the joy is at the wheel. The roads leading to Lavasa from the Chandni Chowk turn, off NH4, are uncrowded and mostly with very little traffic. The views are good, the surfaces are smooth and you can feel your shoulders start to loosen up because the drive is stress-free. It’s an ideal weekend driving getaway. Remember to: Take along swimming gear and walking shoes. Don’t forget to: Pop some car sickness pills if you are prone to feeling sick on drives. The last stretch is very twisty. Getting there: Trip set point: Start of the Mumbai Pune Expressway – Kalamboli.
- 0.0 Expressway begins.
- 32.1 First Expressway toll booth (Rs 140).
- 33.5 Exit for the Food Plaza on left. Continue straight.
- 53.8 Second Lonavala exit. Continue straight.
- 82.3 Second Expressway toll booth (show receipt from first toll booth).
- 82.6 Two simultaneous food court exits on left. Continue straight.
- 92.3 Expressway ends in 1.0km. Reduce speed now! 93.3 Expressway ends.
- 101.7 Hinjewadi signal crossroads. Continue straight under the flyover.
- 110.6 Toyota dealership on the right.
- 113.6 Chandni Chowk. Bear left off NH4 and take a U-turn under the flyover.
- 114.1 Turn left onto toll road.
- 114.3 Fork. Bear left.
- 115.0 Toll booth (Rs 18 and same day return fare also available).
- 120.9 Shell fuel station on the right.
- 122.3 Pirangut Ghat starts.
- 125.4 Pirangut town.
- 126.8 Turn left.
- 141.8 Fork on road. Bear left.
- 147.1 Turn left towards Lavasa.
- 154.9 Lavasa main gate.
- 160.5 Ekaant Resort.
