Love munching on Chikkis? Here’s the story behind it

“Ayeee, chikki le chikkiii!” You’ve probably heard this at least once while travelling by bus or on Indian Railways within Maharashtra. Chikki - a simple sweet made by mixing jaggery and peanuts is found almost everywhere, from roadside chai tapris to fancy grocery stores. But where can you find it most? The answer is simple, Lonavala. A popular hill station best known for its chikki.

This humble treat has a fascinating story to tell. Read on to discover the origins of Lonavala’s famous chikki.

The origin of Lonavala Chikki

If you’ve ever visited Lonavala, you must have seen countless shops named Maganlal Chikki, from fancy stores to small stalls, all sharing the same name. Ever wondered why?

This story dates back to pre-independence India, around 1888. Bhewarji Aggarwal decided to open a mithai shop. He named it after his son, Maganlal. They initially sold a sweet called Gud Dani, marking the beginning of an era of a Maharashtrian treat made from peanuts and jaggery.

Their shop was in a prime location, right opposite Lonavala railway station. Passengers often stopped by to grab their delicious Gud Dani. Some would even miss their trains while trying to get it. Eventually, noticing this demand, the railway authorities suggested that Maganlal start selling Gud Dani on trains. This is when Gud Dani was rebranded as ‘Chikki,’ a name derived from the Marathi word ‘Chikat,’ meaning sticky.

The original Gud Dani

The other tale

There’s another fascinating story about how Chikki helped with railroad construction in Lonavala. During the British rule, thousands of workers from Maharashtra were brought in to build the railway line connecting Bombay to Lonavala. Digging tunnels and laying tracks was physically exhausting, and the workers needed a high-energy, nutritious snack.

Seeing this need, Maganlal Sweets began supplying Gud Dani to the labourers. As the railway network expanded across India, so did chikki!

Different flavours of Chikki

Where to find the original Maganlal Chikki?

The original Maganlal Chikki store is still at the same location, outside Lonavala railway station. You can identify it by the use of blue colour in its name. The brand is still owned and managed by the same family. However, Maganlal being a common name, has led to infinite copycats in the market. That said, some of these Maganlal Chikki stores are actual outlets owned by the brand.

If you’re looking for the authentic Maganlal Chikki, visit the shop right opposite Lonavala Railway Station!

Drive time from The Hosteller Lonavala: 10 minutes

For other trusted outlets, look for "Maganlal Bhewarji Chikki", the original brand name of the company after Maganlal and his father, Bhewarji.

One among many from Maganlal Chikki | Credits: @maganalal_chikki_lonavala

To conclude

Chikki was just peanut-based, but now there are countless flavours—chocolate, dry fruits, coconut, rose, sesame, and many more that you probably can’t even imagine! So, would you like to take a trip to Lonavala just to try the varieties of chikkis? It’s worth the hype.

And if you’re looking for a cosy, comfortable, and budget-friendly stay in Lonavala, we’ve got you covered! At The Hosteller Lonavla.

Happy eating and exploring!