Last weekend, me and my five college buddies decided to escape Mumbai’s chaos and head to Lonavala. We booked ourselves into Sterling Stolen Heaven, this amazing resort that sits right between the famous Karla and Bhaja caves. The place felt like paradise – our stay had this incredible balcony overlooking the misty mountains, and honestly, we thought it would be just another chill weekend.

Boy, were we wrong.

The Dare That Changed Everything

It was our second evening there. We’d spent the day lounging by the pool, stuffing ourselves at Vann restaurant, and generally having a blast. The monsoon had been crazy that week – rain would come and go like it had a mind of its own. Around 4 PM, while we were chilling with some coffee, Vikram brought up the local legends.

“Dude, the hotel staff told me some wild stories about these caves during monsoon,” he said. “Apparently, people hear voices, see figures… some British soldiers died here during the freedom struggle and never left.”

Priya rolled her eyes. “Come on, that’s just tourist nonsense.”

But Arjun was already getting excited. “What if we check it out today before 5 PM as it get shut after that? I mean, when else are we gonna get a chance like this?”

The rain had stopped, and the mist was rolling in thick. Something about that moment – maybe it was the way the lightning kept flashing behind the caves – made us all agree. Stupidest decision ever.

Into the Heart of Darkness

We grabbed our phones and headed out around evening. The 5-acre resort felt so peaceful and safe, but the moment we stepped beyond its boundaries, everything changed. The path to Karla caves was muddy and slippery, and the mist was so thick we could barely see each other.

As we climbed higher, weird things started happening. Neha’s phone died first, then mine. The temperature kept dropping, which made no sense because it was July. And then we heard it, this low humming sound, like people chanting in a language none of us recognized. Also the crowd on that day was almost zero.

“Guys, maybe we should head back,” Shreya whispered, but we were already at the cave entrance.

The moment we stepped inside, I swear the air changed. It felt heavy, like something was pressing down on us. Our voices echoed in ways that didn’t make sense – sometimes loud, sometimes completely muffled. Vikram was trying to crack jokes to lighten the mood, but even he sounded scared.

That’s when we saw something (Don’t know what but something).

It moved across the wall independently, like someone walking past, but there was no one there. We all saw it. Then Arjun screamed – something had touched his shoulder, but I guess that was a creepy act done by my friend just to scare him.

The Chase of Our Lives

What happened next still gives me nightmares. The chanting got louder, coming from deeper inside the caves where no living person should be. Then we heard footsteps (maybe someone real) not echoes of our own, but distinct sounds of someone else walking toward us (enough to scare us that too in the evening).

We ran like our lives depended on it. Through the mud, down those treacherous stone steps, past the ancient Buddhist carvings that seemed to turn and watch us flee. The rain started again, harder than before, and we could hear something following us – not footsteps, but a sound like heavy breathing right behind our ears.

Priya fell twice, and each time we pulled her up, she swore she could feel hands grabbing at her ankles. Shreya was crying, Arjun was praying loudly in three different languages, and Vikram had gone completely silent.

We didn’t stop running until we reached the resort gates.

Safe in Sterling’s Embrace

Back in our stay, shaking and soaked to the bone, we tried to process what had just happened. The warm lights of Sterling Stolen Heaven felt like a protective shield against whatever was out there in the darkness. The resort staff brought us hot tea.

We spent the night huddled together in the living area, too scared to sleep alone. Every time the wind howled outside, we’d jump. But inside those walls, surrounded by the resort’s peaceful atmosphere, we slowly started feeling human again.

The next morning brought sunshine and bird songs from the mountains. Over breakfast, we debated whether it was real or just our imagination running wild. But when we were checking out, the manager smiled knowingly and said, “First time exploring the caves during monsoon season? You’re not the first guests to have… interesting experiences.”

Some say the monsoon awakens spirits that rest during dry months. Others believe the mist and rain create illusions that play with travelers’ minds. We never figured out the

truth, but one thing’s certain – those ancient caves hold secrets that only the bravest dare to uncover.

Would we go back? Ask us when the next monsoon hits Lonavala.

Planning your own spooky adventure? The mountains around Lonavala offer the perfect mix of natural beauty and mysterious legends. Just make sure you have a safe, comfortable retreat waiting for your return.

In the hills where the monsoon weeps, and ancient caves hold secrets deep, Lonavala calls with a shadowed thrill, Dare the drive, if you’ve got the will.

Your story begins where the mist won’t part.