How far is Lavasa from Pune, and what is the cab fare?
Lavasa is about 60 km from central Pune, typically 1.5 to 2 hours by car via Khadakwasla and the Temghar dam road, or via Chandani Chowk and Pirangut. RutzIndia.com charges the minimum fare one way, Rs 3,960 Pay Now to Reserve in a sedan and Rs 6,930 Pay Now to Reserve in an Innova Crysta, before 5% GST. A same-day return is billed on 250 km: Rs 9,000 Pay Now to Reserve in a sedan.
Lavasa began as one of India's most ambitious private projects: a planned hill city in the Sahyadri west of Pune, wrapped around the backwaters of the Warasgaon reservoir, with a waterfront promenade painted in Mediterranean pastels, hotels, a convention centre, schools and homes. Construction began in the 2000s, and for a few years Lavasa was the new weekend name on every Pune family's lips. Then came environmental disputes, financial trouble and years of insolvency proceedings, and much of the grand plan was left incomplete.
Today, Lavasa is an intriguing and slightly surreal place to visit: a handful of finished neighbourhoods, a lakeside promenade that is lovely at sunset, some hotels and cafés operating, and large areas that are quiet or unfinished. What has never changed is the landscape. The drive from Pune climbs past two of the city's great reservoirs, through forest and over ridges that turn into a series of waterfalls every monsoon. Think of Lavasa less as a resort destination and more as the prize at the end of one of the finest short drives in western Maharashtra. For an overview of the project's history, see the Lavasa article on Wikipedia.
Because the situation on the ground changes, check which hotels, restaurants and activities are operating before you go. Our drivers run the route often and can tell you what was open on their last trip, but they cannot promise that any private business will be.
Two roads to Lavasa
Via Khadakwasla and Temghar (the scenic route)
The driver heads south-west from Pune along the Sinhagad road to the Khadakwasla dam, the reservoir that supplies much of the city's water, where the road runs along the shoreline and corn and chai stalls line the embankment. Beyond it, the route follows the reservoir towards Panshet and then turns west over the hills towards the Temghar dam before dropping to the Lavasa waterfront. It is narrow in places, with blind bends, but the views across layered hills and lakes are superb, and in the rains the slopes run with streams.
Via Chandani Chowk and Pirangut (the quicker route)
Alternatively, the driver takes the Paud road through Chandani Chowk and Pirangut, then turns off into the hills on the Lavasa road, climbing a ghat with views back over the Mulshi valley. This is often the easier choice from Kothrud, Baner, Hinjewadi and the western suburbs, and from Mumbai via the Expressway.
From Mumbai
Lavasa is about 190 km from Mumbai, around four hours, either via the Expressway to Pune's western edge and the Pirangut road, or via the Expressway exit at the Talegaon side and a cross-country route. A one-way sedan from Mumbai is roughly Rs 6,840 Pay Now to Reserve.
On weekends in July and August both routes attract crowds of monsoon picnickers, and police sometimes restrict stopping near waterfalls. Mid-week, or early morning on a weekend, the drive is a pleasure. Keep the Khadakwasla stretch in mind on the return: the city end of the Sinhagad road is congested on Sunday evenings.
What to do in and around Lavasa
- The promenade at Dasve. The pastel-coloured lakefront, with a paved walk along the water, is Lavasa's signature. Late afternoon into sunset is the best time.
- Lakeside cafés and hotels. A few operate, depending on the season; they make a relaxed lunch stop with a view.
- Walking and cycling. The finished roads and the quiet lakeside make easy walking, and the surrounding hills are good for gentle hikes. Stick to marked paths in the monsoon.
- Temghar and Warasgaon dams. Viewpoints over the reservoirs on the drive in are as much a highlight as the town.
- Sinhagad fort. On the Khadakwasla route, the historic hill fort where the Maratha commander Tanaji Malusare fell in 1670 is an easy morning's diversion; cars can drive most of the way up to the parking area, and the fort's kanda bhaji and pithla-bhakri stalls are famous.
- Mulshi and Tamhini Ghat. On the Pirangut side, the Mulshi reservoir and, further on, the Tamhini Ghat road towards the Konkan are legendary for monsoon waterfalls.
The Pune district administration publishes local notices, including seasonal restrictions around dams and waterfalls in the district, and Maharashtra Tourism covers the wider region's sights.
The best time to drive to Lavasa
Monsoon (July to September). The most beautiful, and the busiest. The hills turn intensely green, clouds settle on the reservoirs and waterfalls appear everywhere. Roads are narrow and wet, so a careful driver is essential, and some viewpoints may be closed after heavy rain.
Post-monsoon to winter (October to February). Clear air, full lakes and pleasant temperatures. Probably the best balance of scenery and comfort, and ideal for a relaxed lunch-and-promenade day or a short stay.
Summer (March to June). Hot in the afternoons and the hills brown out, but mornings are fine and the roads are quiet. Reservoir levels drop noticeably by May.
RutzIndia.com services for Lavasa
Most people treat Lavasa as a day trip from Pune, and our fares reflect that. You can also book a one-way transfer to a hotel, or a multi-day hire that combines Lavasa with the Mulshi valley, Tamhini Ghat and the coast beyond. Cars are within four model years, air-conditioned and driven by chauffeurs used to narrow ghat roads.
| Pune to Lavasa (about 60 km) | One way (minimum fare applies) | Same-day return (250 km minimum) |
|---|---|---|
| Dzire sedan (Rs 36/km) | Rs 3,960 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 9,000 Pay Now to Reserve |
| Ertiga MUV (Rs 42/km) | Rs 4,950 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 10,500 Pay Now to Reserve |
| Innova Crysta (Rs 57.6/km) | Rs 6,930 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 14,250 Pay Now to Reserve |
| Fortuner (Rs 84/km) | Rs 12,360 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 21,000 Pay Now to Reserve |
| Tempo Traveller (Rs 78/km) | Rs 10,740 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 19,500 Pay Now to Reserve |
Fares exclude 5% GST. Any tolls, parking and the driver night allowance of Rs 1,500 per night on overnight hires are charged at actual cost. Because a round trip is billed on 250 km for the day, a Pune-Lavasa day has plenty of kilometres to spare for Sinhagad on the way out and Mulshi on the way back at no extra charge.
Plans change, especially in the monsoon. Cancel more than 72 hours ahead and there is no charge; within 72 hours we keep 10%, within 48 hours 50%, and within 24 hours or on a no-show the whole fare. Read the cancellation policy, then book online and pay by card or UPI.
Groups of friends and office teams can compare seat layouts on the tempo traveller in Pune page, and for offsites with GST invoices our corporate car rental team can bill monthly.
A full day in the Lavasa hills
- 7.00 am. Pickup in Pune; drive to Khadakwasla and on to Sinhagad for breakfast at the top.
- 10.00 am. Continue past Panshet and over the ridge to the Temghar viewpoint.
- 11.30 am. Arrive in Lavasa; walk the promenade before it gets warm.
- 1.00 pm. Lakeside lunch, then a lazy hour by the water.
- 3.00 pm. Leave via the Pirangut road with a stop above the Mulshi valley.
- 5.30 pm. Home in Pune, ahead of the worst Sunday traffic.
Distance for the day is about 150 km, well inside the 250 km minimum. If you want a longer escape from Pune, look at our guides to Panchgani, Lonavala or the Jyotirlinga forest at Bhimashankar.
Staying overnight, and extending the trip west
If you want more than a day, there are two good approaches. The first is to stay in Lavasa itself at one of the operating hotels or serviced apartments, which gives you the promenade almost to yourself early in the morning and a quiet evening by the lake. The second, which many of our guests prefer, is to use Lavasa as the first stop of a longer loop: overnight in the Mulshi valley, then down the Tamhini Ghat to Kolad on the Konkan side, where river rafting operates on the Kundalika in season, and on to the beaches around Alibaug before returning to Pune or Mumbai. That kind of three-day circuit is typically 400 to 500 km in total and is billed on the 250 km daily minimum, with a driver night allowance for each night away.
For either option, tell us where you are staying so we can confirm parking and a room for the driver. Smaller homestays around Mulshi may not have staff quarters, in which case we book a simple room nearby at cost.
Things to know before you go
- Check what is open. Hotels and cafés in Lavasa have varied in recent years; confirm your lunch or stay in advance.
- Fuel. Fill up in Pune; there are few pumps on the hill roads.
- Mobile signal can drop on the ghat sections. Share your plan with your driver so he knows where to meet you.
- Waterfalls and reservoirs. Do not enter flowing water in the monsoon or wade into the lakes; drowning accidents occur every year near Pune.
- Motion sickness. The Temghar road has many bends. Sit in front and take a break at a viewpoint.
- Respect private property. Parts of the planned town are private or under the control of administrators; stay within public areas.
- Carry snacks and water. Food options on the hill roads are limited outside weekends, and a thermos of chai at a reservoir viewpoint is half the fun of the day.
For airport pickups and local hire at the Pune end, see our Pune taxi service and car rental with driver in Pune pages.
