Set in the lush green hills of the Sahyadris, Lonavala is at an altitude of 625 m and is the most popular weekend destination from Mumbai and Pune. Known as the Jewel of the Sahyadri it offers the tourist pristine woods and valleys, gushing waterfalls, historic caves, and scenic vistas. The surroundings hills were the stronghold of the Maratha rulers, who practised guerrilla warfare from here, against the Moghuls and later the British. Lonavala now houses holiday homes of celebrities and industrialists, as well as a plethora of holiday resorts. Its other famous cousin town, Khandala lies just 5 Km away.