Lonavala

The Great Indian Peninsula Railway opened its line through the Bhor Ghat in 1863, a 21 km climb between Palasdhari and Khandala with 28 tunnels and many bridges, one of the great engineering feats of the 19th century. It came at a terrible human cost: accounts of the construction describe very heavy loss of life among the workers, with some sources putting the toll in the tens of thousands.

• Trains once had to stop and change direction at a reversing station on the ghat, between Monkey Hill and Khandala after tunnel no. 26. New tunnels later made it unnecessary, and it was shut down.
• Even today, heavy passenger and goods trains climbing from Karjat get help: banker locomotives, such as WAG-7 engines, couple on at the rear at Karjat and push them up the incline to Lonavala.

The Deccan Queen, India's first superfast train, has climbed this ghat since 1930.

Lonavala is the end of the Pune Suburban Railway: seventeen local trains run on the Pune–Lonavala route, carrying commuters and weekend visitors. It also sits on the Mumbai–Chennai line, and about 35 mail and express trains are listed as calling here, including the Udyan, Konark, Hussainsagar and Mumbai–Chennai expresses. Trains use 3 platforms on 10 tracks and belongs to Central Railway's Pune division.

A redevelopment added about 231 solar panels, rainwater harvesting, a composting plant, a 24-hour cafeteria on platform 2 and three selfie points.

• The rock-cut Buddhist Karla and Bhaja caves, and the forts of Lohagad and Visapur
• Bhushi Dam, packed with visitors in the monsoon
• Lonavala's famous chikki, sold all around the station area
• Local train times are in our train timetable.