Spread over seven hills and around 60 km of lake, Lavasa is one of the few planned cities in India that attracts a huge number of visitors every year. International hotel chains, convention centres, water sports, cafes and resto-bars – you name it and Lavasa has it! Here’s what all you can do in the destination over a weekend…
Priyanka Saxena Ray
Lavasa, India’s first Smart city is one of the most favoured tourism destinations in Maharashtra. The city has clocked in a footfall of over 11 lakhs in the last one year alone and has offered patrons a variety of options to enjoy ranging from nature trails, adventure sports to water sports. The city provides hospitality and stay options while catering to all segments of the society starting from budget hotels to luxury premium hotels.
A city set amidst seven verdant hills, along the sparkling waters of the Warasgaon Lake, Lavasa is the perfect getaway for those seeking adventure amidst pleasure. Check into Ekaant, a scenic 20 room resort perched amidst the Sahyadris, or you may choose Mercure for an affordably luxurious stay. If you need to be amidst the action, check into the Waterfront Shaw or simply indulge at Fortune, the elegant 60-room hotel by the ITC Group. If you are an adventure freak, you may camp at the Xthrill Adventure Academy.
Start your day with a walk along the picturesque nature trails. You can tour the city streets on Segway, which are great fun to ride as all you need to do is to basically propel yourself forward while standing upright at speeds topping 20kmph. Head out to Lakeshore Water sports for a thrilling Jetovator or a Hovercraft ride. Build an appetite and then enjoy sumptuous meals at the various multi-cuisine restaurants at the promenade. For those who are into soft sports, enjoy a game of golf at the Indoor Golf and enjoy other gaming activities at the Games Arcade. Unwind with a spa treatment at the Dasvino Town and Country Club and end an eventful day strolling at the Lakeside Promenade.
Developed mainly by HCC India, Lavasa is a convenient three-hour drive from Mumbai and an hour’s drive from Pune. The master plan of Lavasa City has been developed by internationally renowned design consultant HOK, USA, and is based on the principles of new urbanism. The design is based on the transect model, wherein development of the hill city begins from a densely populated town centre and gets sparser as it goes uphill. The manmade environment blends into the natural environs without disturbing the ecology of the place.
A lifestyle destination, Lavasa supports a varied cross section of people, comprising vacationers, business tourists, holiday homers, staff employed by the industries, full-time residents, amongst others.
Lavasa City is divided into multiple towns, of which Dasve is the first. While developing the blueprint for the city, Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions, or MICE business, was planned as a large share of its economic activity. With this in mind, the planners built one of the finest convention centres in Western India, called LICC (Lavasa International Convention Centre), after which hotels mushroomed rapidly, and today, all facilities at Lavasa City are focused on this segment.
Nestled between the majestic Sahyadri and beautiful Warasgaon Lake, Lavasa enjoys a naturally rich landscape. With the blessings of Mother Nature along with some integrated smartness, the destination offers a lot more to the customers than normal tourism destination. From customised holidays to group tours, from adventure sports to nature trails, from summer special to festive fiesta packages, the destination has a lot to offer. With world class infrastructure, star hotels and entertainment centres, our city offers superlative facilities in a proficient, hassle free way, which is inspirational for every city. Lavasa enjoys a pleasant year round weather, making it a perfect holiday destination. The monsoons are mesmerising at Lavasa with waterfalls and luscious greenery around.
Fascinating facts of Lavasa
- Lavasa is home to the karvi flower also known as the “Blue Bloom”, which blossoms once in seven years
- One of the smallest birds of India, the Tickell’s Flowerpecker, is found in Lavasa
- The Malabar Whistling Thrush, popularly called as the “Whistling Schoolboy”, is a bird native to Lavasa
- Two prominent butterflies found in Lavasa, the Blue Mormon and the Oka Leaf are used as Bio-indicators to detect the basic health of the eco-system in Lavasa.
- Lavasa is a natural habitat for the Atlas Moth which are considered to be the largest moths in the world in terms of the total wing surface area.
Things to do at Lavasa
- Enjoy the various short and long Segway Tours that offers a unique way to experience Lavasa
- Start your day with a walk along serene Nature Trails
- Explore picturesque locales via the Trackless Train
- Explore your favourite water sport from a wide variety of adventure water sports available
- Get a complete city orientation over a cup of coffee at the Lavasa Information Centre
- Book a business conference & enjoy a social function, at the Lavasa International Convention Centre
- Take photographs from the numerous Viewing Galleries
- Set out on a historic tour to Bombay Point and Ramnagar Point
- Jet Ski across the lake at Lakeshore Watersports and have fun at the all-new Splash Pad
- Play games like Electronic Dart Machines, Photo Games and Bowling at the Neospark Games Arcade.
- Enjoy virtual golfing at the Indoor Golf at Family Entertainment Centre
- Discover the city in the Hop-on Hop-off bus.
- Have fun with your kids at the Kids Play Area
- Go camping, zip lining and take on other adventure sports at Xthrill Adventure Academy
- Unwind at the Karvi Spa, at Dasvino Town & Country Club.
- Spend a peaceful evening strolling, cycling or riding a Segway at the Lakeside promenade
