Between June and September the Pune–Lonavala local stops being a commuter train and becomes one of the best value monsoon trips in India. Under a hundred rupees return, roughly eighty minutes, and the last half hour runs through country that turns properly green. It is also the time of year when the most things go wrong, so it is worth going prepared.
What changes in the monsoon
- Maintenance blocks. Central Railway carries out track and ghat-section work through the monsoon, and services are occasionally cancelled or retimed at short notice. This is the one season when checking the board before you travel really matters.
- Crowds. Weekend trains towards Lonavala between July and September are far busier than the weekday commuter peak. The 06:30 and 08:05 from Pune fill up completely.
- Running time. Trains slow through the ghat approach in heavy rain, so allow more than the eighty minutes the timetable says.
Where to get off
Malavli is the monsoon station. The waterfalls beside Bhaja Caves are two kilometres from the platform, Lohagad is a walk from there, and you avoid the Lonavala crowds entirely. Kamshet puts you near Pawna lake, though paragliding largely stops during the rains. Lonavala itself is for Bhushi Dam, Tiger's Leap and the town.
Safety, plainly
People die at Bhushi Dam and the ghat waterfalls every monsoon, and almost all of it is avoidable.
- Water levels rise fast and without warning. Rain falling several kilometres upstream reaches you before the sky above you changes. If the water is rising or the colour is turning brown, get out immediately.
- Do not enter fast-moving water, however shallow it looks. Ankle-deep water moving quickly will take your feet out from under you.
- Rock is extremely slippery when wet. Basalt with a film of algae is close to frictionless. Proper shoes with grip, not slippers.
- Respect the closures. The district administration restricts access to Bhushi Dam and some waterfalls during heavy rain and on peak weekends. Those restrictions exist because of things that have already happened.
- Do not climb Lohagad or Visapur in a downpour, and turn back if the wind gets up on the exposed sections.
What to carry
- Shoes with real grip. This is the single most useful thing you can bring.
- A dry bag or two zip-lock bags for your phone, wallet and tickets.
- Cash. Signal is unreliable past Kamshet and many stalls do not take UPI.
- Water and something to eat. Options at the smaller stations are limited.
- A light rain jacket rather than an umbrella — umbrellas are useless in ghat wind.
- A change of clothes in a bag if you plan to get wet.
Practical timing
Go out on an early train and come back mid-afternoon. The 06:30 or 08:05 from Pune give you the day; the return services in the late afternoon and evening are the busiest, and the last few have long gaps between them. Know which train you intend to catch back before you leave Pune.
Mobile signal drops between Kamshet and Lonavala, so do not count on looking up the return time when you are ready to leave. Open the Lonavala to Pune time table before you go — this site keeps working offline once a page has loaded.
One more thing
Sit on the right-hand side going up from Pune. After Kamshet the line opens out towards the ghats, and in the monsoon that view is the reason to take the train instead of driving.