Khandala, Hill station in Pune district, India
Khandala is a hill station in Pune district, Maharashtra, sitting at 550 meters (1,800 feet) elevation in the Sahyadri mountain range between Mumbai and Pune. The landscape shows steep valleys with dense vegetation and waterfalls that become active during monsoon season.
The British administration founded this mountain retreat in 1871 during Lord Elphinstone's time as governor of Bombay Presidency. The railway line connecting coastal and plateau regions passed through the town and made it an important stopover for travelers.
Shops along the main road sell chikki, a local sweet made from nuts and sugarcane syrup that has been produced here for generations. Visitors can watch makers pour the warm mixture onto marble slabs and cut it into pieces.
Visitors reach the town by regular trains from Mumbai or Pune that stop at the local railway station. The rainy season from June to September brings heavy downpours and makes waterfalls swell, while winter months offer drier weather.
The viewpoint called Duke's Nose takes its name from the shape of the rock outcrop that resembles a human profile. Climbers use the steep walls for ascents while other visitors can enjoy the view from the lower plateau.
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