Which Hill Station Is Called The 'Italy of India'? Here's Why You Must Visit

India has many incredible destinations that are often compared to foreign locations. Today, we will give you a brief tour of an unknown city in Maharashtra, which is also called the Italy of India. This place is Lavasa, a hill station near Pune, and has been designed to recreate the feel of Portofino, a fishing village on the Italian Riviera coastline.

Why is Lavasa called Italy of India?

Lavasa received the title of 'Italy of India' as it was intentionally designed and built to mimic the colourful Italian coastal town of Portofino. From vibrant and pastel coloured buildings to beautiful lakes, Lavasa draws several inspirations from Portofino.

For the unversed, it is a planned city developed by the Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) and was envisioned as India's first private hill station.  

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ｌａｖａｓａ 🍂 (@_.official_lavasa_)

ALSO READ- Raksha Bandhan 2026 Travel Guide: Advisories, Road Closures, Bus Travel and Monsoon Safety Tips

How To Reach Lavasa?

There are different routes from which you can reach Lavasa.

Railway:

1. Pune Junction is around 60 to 65 km away from Lavasa. Take a cab or private taxi to reach the hill station.
2. Lonavala Railway Station is also 105 kms away from the city and will take around 3 hours to reach from there. You will have to take cab or taxi as direct bus is not available.

Airport:

You can take a taxi or book a cab to Lavasa from Pune Airport.

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Shivaaa_Explorer (@shivaaa_explorer)

ALSO READ- Sarnath Travel Guide: How to Reach, Top Places To Visit, Food To Enjoy, Stays and Budget Tips

Do you need a government advisory or permit to visit Lavasa?

No, you do not need any sort of permit or government advisory to reach Lavasa.

What are the things you can do in Lavasa?

There are several things you can do in Lavasa to enjoy your time, including water sports like Go kayaking, jet skiing, and pedal boating, sightseeing around lakes, rent bicycle to explore the town, take the Lavasa City Express Train Tour, visiting the Temghar Dam or Dasve Viewpoint, and much more.

What are the things you should keep in mind while visiting in Lavasa?

1. Food and water supple can be limited in Lavasa due to restaurants or cafes being closed sometimes.
2. Carry some snacks and an extra water bottle just to be on the safe side.
3. Plan your trip according to the weather. If you want outdoor strolls or water sports, October to March is the best time to visit. July to September is good if you want lush greenery and enjoy the monsoon with heavy rainfall.
4. Avoid exploring isolated places as they can be unsafe.

Where to stay in Lavasa?

The city has several resorts and hotels where you can stay. Popular options include The Waterfront Shaw and Ekaant The Retreat.

Visit the Italy of India and create an exciting itinerary by using this information. 

(Image Credits: _official_lavasa_/Instagram)
To read more such stories, stay connected to Her Zindagi.