Planning a Lonavala Trip? These Roads Are Now Closed for Tourists

Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Lonavala, 7th July 2026: To combat severe traffic jams and avoid catastrophic accidents during the peak monsoon season, Pune District Collector and District Magistrate Jitendra Dudi has issued a comprehensive traffic diversion order for the Lonavala Rural police station limits. Invoking powers under Section 115 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and relevant state notifications, the administration has rerouted and closed several key tourist-heavy roads.

The traffic regulations came into immediate effect today, July 6, 2026, and will remain active until August 31, 2026. The decision was prompted by an inspection and safety report submitted on July 4, 2026, by the Superintendent of Police (SP), Pune Rural, highlighting dangerous road conditions and gridlocks on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays due to the heavy influx of monsoon tourists.

Gridlock and Safety Threats Prompt Administrative Intervention
Lonavala and the surrounding Maval taluka are home to some of Western Maharashtra’s most famous monsoon destinations, including the Karla and Bhaje Caves, Ekvira Devi Temple, Lohagad and Visapur Forts, and the Tiger and Lions scenic viewpoints. However, continuous torrential rain has turned these narrow mountain routes into high-risk zones.

The administration noted that massive weekend crowds cause bumper-to-bumper traffic jams, obstructing emergency vehicles and raising the likelihood of landslides and road cave-ins. In response, the newly declared guidelines enforce strict alternative routes for all visiting tourist vehicles, while protecting the mobility of local residents.

The Official Traffic Diversion Blueprint
Under the new directives, several critical roads have been closed to general tourist traffic, and specific detour routes have been designated to streamline the flow of vehicles.

For tourists traveling from Bhaje Village to Malavli-Karla Village, the direct route is now closed. Instead, drivers must proceed from Bhaje via Patan Bridge, turn left onto the Devle-Aundhe Bridge, proceed along Saksos Road to Kusgaon (Lonavala), and merge onto the Old Pune-Mumbai Highway or the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. Conversely, the Aundhe-Devle Road to Malavli-Bhaje route is also shut; traffic heading this way must take a detour via Aundhe, Lonavala, Karla Phata, Malavli, and finally Bhaje.

To manage congestion around the caves, traffic from Malavli and Sadapur towards Karla has been restricted, requiring vehicles to take the alternative path via Malavli, Sadapur, and Waksai Phata to connect with the Old Highway. Similarly, the route from Waksai Phata via Sadapur to Malavli is closed, and vehicles must travel straight from Karla Phata through Malavli, Patan, and Bhaje. Furthermore, the popular tourist route stretching from Bhaje to Lohagad Fort has been completely closed to all visitor traffic.

Specific regulations have also been introduced for vehicles descending from Lohagad Fort toward Pune or Mumbai. Four-wheelers leaving Lohagad must travel through Dudhiware Khind (Pass), Audholi, and Aundhe before connecting to the Old Highway or the Expressway. Two-wheelers and three-wheelers descending from Lohagad are rerouted through Dudhiware Khind, Audholi, Aundhe, and then across the Aundhe Bridge to Kusgaon and Lonavala, where they can safely merge onto the main highway.

Ban on Heavy Vehicles and Local Exemptions
To prevent severe bottlenecks on the narrow, winding roads leading to the highly popular Karla Caves and Ekvira Devi Temple, the district administration has declared a strict ban on heavy, oversized, and commercial cargo vehicles. These vehicles are completely prohibited from entering the segment of the Old Pune-Mumbai Highway stretching between Karla Phata and Vehergaon.

Crucially, the administration has clarified that these strict traffic diversions and road closures (listed in rules 1 through 7 of the official decree) will not apply to local residents. To ensure that daily life, business, and agricultural activities are not disrupted, residents of the affected villages will be permitted to use their regular routes upon presenting valid address proof.

The Pune District Administration has appealed to all visiting tourists to cooperate with the deployed police units and plan their journeys according to these designated detours.