DUKE'S NOSE / NAGPHANI

At a distance of 8 km from Khandala Railway Station and 10 km from Lonavala Railway Station, Duke's Nose is one of the popular viewpoints situated near INS Shivaji in Lonavala. It is a popular place for trekking in Maharashtra and also it is one of the top things to do in Lonavala.

Duke's Nose is named after the Duke of Wellington, owing to its resemblance to the nose of Duke in a reclining position. The cliff is pointed like a snakes hood and hence the name Nagphani. The high altitude of this place makes it a wonderful vantage point. This site is also popular for thrilling activities like trekking, hiking and rock climbing, which attract many adventure enthusiasts. A very steep climb up rocky outcrops enables the tourists to reach the site. Although the cliffs are very steep, the rock at the top is flat and enables tourists to walk along the sides.

Duke's Nose is an ideal getaway from Mumbai or Pune for a one day trip. There are two trekking routes to reach Nagphani, one is from Khandala railway station and the other is from Kurvande. The first route takes nearly 3-4 hours (around 6 km one way) while the second one takes 1.5 hours (2 km) to reach the top and is the easiest route. There is a small temple on the hilltop. Visitors can get amazing views of the Mumbai-Pune road and rail corridors, Khandala and the surrounding Sahyadri peaks.

Timings: 9 AM to 5 PM.