Wax Museum- Lonavla

Sunil's Wax Museum, Lonavla

There are many wax museums in Lonavla. Oldest and best musem is Sunil's Celebraties Wax Museum. There are statues of popular Hollywood and Bollywood actors, political leaders, spirtual Gurus and sportsmen. Shivaji Maharaj, Mahatma Ghandhi, Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar, Anna Hajare, Amitabh Baccahn, Kapil Dev, Mr. Bean, Michel Jackson, Rajani Kant, Charli Chaplin, David Beckham etc. Some of are so real that they would speak with you.. 

You can visit website of the museum  -  http://www.celebritywaxmuseum.com/ 

How to Reach : Lovavla is well connected with all cities in Maharashtra. Its about 70 km from Pune. 

The Sunil's Museum is on the way of Bhushi dam road in the city it self. Take right turn immediate after railway crossing over bridge. Its walking distance from Lonavla bus stand n railway station. The museum is visible on Google Map.

Visit  : 

• Entry Fee was Rs. 200/- per person in May 2018.
• Timing 9 am to 9.30 pm.
• You can Book tickets online from http://www.celebritywaxmuseum.com/ 
• There are special offers to educational and Corporate groups.
• There is no time limit to exit.
• You are allowed to click photographs with statues without touching.
• There are briefs about the personality behind each statue.
• Eatables not allowed to eat inside.
• There are food stalls in the complex where the wax museum is situated.
• Separate parking place is there in the basement at least for 100 cars,
• Avoid to visit on the weekends of monsoon season.
• There are other entertainment in the same complex like Horror house, Mirror Maze and 7D rides etc. but not related to wax museum.

Katraj to Sinhgad Trek (K2S)

Katraj to Sinhgad Trek

Katraj to Sinhgad is popularly know as K2S trek. Its a hill top trek from Pune ( Katraj) to Sinhgad Fort. Its done on Full Moon nights.

How to Reach : 

Starting Point (Katraj Tunnel) : The trek start from Kartaj old tunnel i.e. on Pune - Satara road near Shindewadi. The old tunnel is about 7 k.m. from Katraj city bus depot.

The tunnel  is not a regular stop of buses. So take any bus going to Nasrapur, Khondanpue, Khed shivapur, Bhor, Ketkawale or Satara side and request bus conductor to drop near tunnel. Approx. Charges Rs 20-30 per head. (2018)OR take any jeep or six seater rickshaw going to that direction. 

First you reach to Katraj bus depot and search for the best options. Generally, in All Full Moon nights except monsoon, many groups you found on Karaj bus stop searching transport to old tunnel.

or Tell your friends/relative to drop you near Katraj old tunnel.

Once you reach to old tunnel, go on the top of the tunnel by trails.

Get to the Waghjai Devi Temple on the top. Start your trek behind the temple towards Sinhgad side.

Waghjai mata temple-Above tunnel : Starting point of K2S trek.

End Point ( Sinhgad fort Parking) :  The end point is Sinhgad fort parking. Some trekkers ends it on Kondhanpur ghat point which is 1.5/2 k.m. from parking. To get down the base of Sinhgad fort local jeep transports are available. They charge Rs.60/70 per head     ( in 2018). 

end point

Or you may get down by walk on the ghat section of about 8 km.

or You may get down to the base village Golewadi by trekking down. 

Since you already exhuasted by terkking of 14km and 8 hrs, better to go bus transport to the base Donje Phata village.

From base villages Donje or Golewadi you will get  many city buses, jeeps and six seater rickshaws to come back to Pune.

About Trek : 

• Katraj to Sinhgad fort trek is about of 14 to 16 k.m with 14 hills. 
• It takes about 8 hrs to 10 hrs to complete the trek. 
• Mostly it is done in night time.
• Its not difficult trek to trek but you need highest stamina to complete it. You have to keep your stamina on for 8 to 10 hrs. 
• Full moon nights from October to May are most popular season for the trek.
• Do warm up exercise before starting the trek and stretching after ending the trek. 
• Avoid weak persons or beginners. Its not everyone's cup of tea. 
• Take rest after regular intervals. Do stretching if you know it. 
• Don't show up of your power initially, because trek gets difficult how we progress. 
• There about 14 Hills on the trek which has risky descends. Ascending is easier but descending is difficult. Sit and get down if you fill unsafe. Don't be over confident.
• Because of over use of trails, lose soil and stones are found in the paths which makes the path slippery. 
• Take rest if you feel. Don't compete or race with others.
• You will fully exhausted after 8/10 hills, so slower down your speed and complete the trek with great sense of en-devour, courage and patience. 
• Wear full sleeve and grip shoes.
• Some plants a re thorny on the path. Some of those are height of your head and eye. their branches not clearly visible so your eyes, face, hand may get hurt. 
• Carry torch or head lamp, although the full moon gives enough light, but somewhere you need better light.
• Follow the path where most of the people going. Don't take any short cuts.

Food and Water :  

• There is no facility of food or water on the trek.
• Carry tiffins and at least 4 ltrs of water per head. take light food. Do not eat too much. Keep dry food to eat after regular intervals. 
• You will get food and water at the end point of trek i.e. Sinhgad parking. 
• Take brush and paste to get fresh in morning. 

I did this trek on 28th April 2018 at 10pm and finished it on 29th April 2018 7am with my students.. Pradeep Patil, Dinkar Pathwe, Nitin Kulkarni, Sainath Jagdale, Parshuram Bhangre, Hemant Patil, Sandip Jadhav, Srikar Surywanshi, Naresh Irphale, Khandu Dayal, Kumar Khunte, Sanjay Deshmukhe and Shrirang Gorse.