Ride to Nowhere
A tad further away from Malavali towards Mumbai on the National Highway 4 comes the town of Lonavala. A decade ago it was still a rather quaint spot that only experienced a burst of tourists in the monsoons. But all that has changed since the advent of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway in the year 2000, and Lonavala is now overflowing every weekend with revellers from Mumbai as well as Pune. Where quiet spots were easily available back then, the mad rush for holiday homes and hotels has erased much of the earlier green cover and replaced it with the noise and pollution of the vehicles. The lack of a strong civic waste management infrastructure has further left room for damage to the environment.
But if you are adventurous enough to venture beyond the main market, some really picturesque spots that still are hidden open up for discovery. There are no video game parlours here or food stalls (or sometimes, even a decent public loo). This is true wilderness with the only sign of humans being a narrow tarred road that cuts through the swathe. Lion's Point, although not entirely untouched by tourists, continues to be a relative haven for the traveller seeking solace. The lack of anything interesting to 'do' is a blessing that helps keep away the types who would rather be munching their pizzas while strolling through the mall. But it continues to be a choice location for the traveller with no agenda and an afternoon to laze in its natural environs.