Peanut chikki
The original — crunchy, nutty and jaggery-sweet. The one that started it all.
Food & shopping
Chikki, fudge and the Lonavla food trail
Lonavla's sweet claim to fame is chikki — peanut brittle bound with jaggery, invented here. Add fudge, a proper Maharashtrian thali and Mapro's strawberry treats, and you have a full food day.
The legend
The story of Lonavla chikki
Chikki is said to have been created in Lonavla by accident — when a batch of jaggery and peanuts was left too long and turned into a hard, delicious brittle. The recipe caught on, and by the early 20th century the town's sweet shops were famous for it.
The most storied name is Maganlal, whose lineage near the railway station is widely credited as the original chikki maker. Today the station area is lined with shops selling chikki in every imaginable variety — from classic peanut to cashew, sesame, coconut and even chocolate-coated.
Buy near the station
The original recipes and best prices are in the market around the railway station — not at the highway stalls.
The varieties
Which chikki should you try?
Cashew chikki
Softer and richer, with whole cashews. A premium pick for gifts.
Sesame (til) chikki
Toasty and slightly savoury-sweet — a winter favourite.
Coconut & more
Coconut, almond, chocolate-coated and mixed-nut varieties for every taste.
Beyond chikki
Fudge and the rest of the sweet shelf
Chocolate fudge
Lonavla's second famous sweet — dense, fudgy and dangerously easy to finish on the drive home.
Hard-boiled sweets & toffees
Old-school candies that have been sold here for generations — a hit with kids.
Gift packs
Most shops pack chikki and fudge into neat boxes — perfect office and family gifts.
Real meals
Thali, misal and the local table
Beyond the sweets, Lonavla serves proper Maharashtrian food. A thali — rice, dal, vegetables, curry, papad and more on one steel plate — is the classic filling lunch. Misal pav, a spicy sprouted-bean curry with bread, is the breakfast of champions.
- Thali: the best-value sit-down meal in town
- Misal pav: fiery, tangy, topped with farsan — try it once
- Vada pav & bhajji: quick roadside snacks, especially at viewpoints
- Chai: the misty evenings demand a cutting chai
The farm stop
Mapro Garden
Mapro Garden, on the way towards Mahabaleshwar, is a beloved family stop: strawberry farms, a garden café, and a shop stacked with jams, squashes, sauces and their famous strawberry shakes and ice cream. It's a pleasant detour that fits neatly into a 2-day plan.
- Distance: ~15 km from Lonavla market
- Best time: strawberry season is roughly November–March
- Don't miss: strawberry shake, fresh jam, garden seating
- Tip: busy on weekends; go mid-morning
Quick food tips
Eat like a local
- Chikki prices are lowest in the market — buy there, not at highway stalls.
- Ask for a taste before buying; shops are happy to oblige.
- Check the pack date — fresh chikki is crisp, not chewy.
- Fudge keeps better in cooler months; skip it in peak summer for long drives.
- Roadside corn (bhutta) at the viewpoints is a monsoon classic.