One of the quieter pleasures of living in Lonavala is how much sits within a short drive of the front gate.

There are the lakes — Bhushi, Pawna and Lonavala Lake among them — which fill through the monsoon and draw families through the cooler months. There are the hill forts of Rajmachi, Lohagad and Visapur, each an afternoon’s walk with a view worth the climb.

Closer to the highway, the rock-cut caves at Karla and Bhaja are a reminder that people have valued this pass through the Ghats for a very long time. And viewpoints like Tiger’s Leap and Lion’s Point open onto the valley below.

None of it needs planning. That is the difference between visiting a place and living in it.