If you’ve ever wondered which city in India is often referred to as the “Italy of India,” the answer is Lavasa, a thoughtfully planned hill-city in Maharashtra. Nestled roughly 60 kilometers from Pune in the Western Ghats, Lavasa is unlike many Indian hill towns that grew up over centuries. From the very beginning it was designed with a vision — to evoke the charm and ambience of the Italian coastal village Portofino.
What gives Lavasa this distinctive Italian-inspired flair isn’t just chance. The town’s planners consciously chose a Mediterranean style in architecture, layout, and colour palette. As you stroll along the waterfront promenade by Dasve Lake, you’ll find pastel-toned buildings — mustard, terracotta, peach, olive green, brick red — narrow lanes, charming terraces, and lakeside cafés that reflect that European feel. The arcades, tiled roofs, and balconies all resemble what you’d expect in a European coastal village rather than a typical Indian hill station.
Beyond buildings and colours, the layout itself fosters a relaxed, open, pedestrian-friendly vibe: gentle slopes, walking paths, and public spaces where people can gather and enjoy the landscape. The lake acts as a sort of inland “harbour,” giving a calming water-side ambiance similar to that of a seaside town — yet set in the hills of the Sahyadris.
Because of all this — its architecture inspired by Italian coastal resorts, its pastel-coloured facades, its waterfront lanes and relaxed, European-style ambience — Lavasa has earned the nickname “Italy of India.” Visiting it feels like getting a slice of Mediterranean Europe without leaving Indian soil.
