We spent a weekend at The Fariyas Resort in Lonavala. The resort has a water park.
This guide covers how to get there, what to ask about the pools, what to sort out before you book, and what to pack.
Getting there
Lonavala sits on the Mumbai-Pune highway. From Pune it is about 64 km, roughly an hour by road. From Mumbai it is about 104 km, roughly two hours. Allow extra time on a Friday evening or at the start of a long weekend.
Lonavala station is on the Mumbai-Pune main line. Trains take about an hour from Pune and about an hour and a half from Mumbai. The resort is a few kilometres from the station, so the last stretch needs a taxi or an auto. Ask the resort whether it can arrange a pickup, and agree any fare before you set off.
The train suits anyone travelling light. A car is easier with two days of swim kit and luggage.
The pools and the water park
Alongside the water park, the resort has a main pool, a shallow pool and an indoor pool. What is included in your rate and when each pool is open can change by season, so confirm both.
A short phone call or email before you book settles most of it. These are the questions worth asking:
- Is water park access included in your room rate, or charged separately per person?
- What are the water park and pool timings on your dates, and do they differ on weekends?
- Is there a swimwear rule? Ask whether cotton clothing is allowed in the water so you pack the right thing.
- How deep is the shallow pool, and is a lifeguard on duty?
- Are there any limits on who can use the slide?
- Which pools stay open if it rains?
Check-in and check-out
Check-in is usually 2 PM and check-out 11 AM, with early check-in and late check-out subject to availability. Ask whether you can use the pools before your room is ready, and whether you can store bags and change at the pool. On the last day, ask about a late check-out so the final swim is not a rush.
Monsoon and the hills
Lonavala is a hill station in the ghats, and the monsoon brings heavy rain, mist and slippery paths. If you plan to leave the resort for viewpoints or waterfalls, check the weather and any local advisories that morning. Keep well back from edges, stay out of fast-moving water, and drive the ghat roads in daylight.
What to pack
- Two sets of swimwear each, so one can dry while the other is in use.
- Your own towel, even if the resort provides pool towels.
- Sunscreen and a hat for time in the sun.
- A rain jacket and a spare pair of shoes in the monsoon.
- Snacks and a water bottle for after swimming.
- Any medicines you take, and a small first-aid kit.
Quick facts
- Where
- Lonavala, on the Mumbai-Pune highway
- From Pune
- About 64 km, roughly 1 hour by road
- From Mumbai
- About 104 km, roughly 2 hours by road
- By train
- Lonavala station, about 1 hour from Pune and 1.5 hours from Mumbai
- Check-in and out
- Usually 2 PM in, 11 AM out
- Pools
- Water park, main pool, shallow pool and an indoor pool
Details checked October 2026. Policies change, so confirm with the operator before you book.
Our other travel notes are on the travel page.