Kamalgad fort (1375 m), Mahabaleshwar
Wasole is 20 km from Wai by bus. From Wasole, the route climb steeply to the first plateau (with two resident families) and then to the fort. The to & fro trek takes 3 hour. A 25 meter deep well at the top with excellent views of the surroundings.
Fort can also be reached from Tableland of Panchgani/ Kate's point of Mahabaleshwar. Trek to Nandgaon, a road leads to Wasole via Asgaon and Chandwadi.
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Dhom lake at Wasole road head
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Kamalgad fort view from first plateau
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Steps to 25 m deep well on top of the Kamalgad fort
Pratapgad fort, Mahabaleshwar
Pratapgad fort is 25 km from Mahabaleshwar on the Poladpur road. The Fort is famous due to Shivaji's encounter with Afzal Khan. Shivaji killed Afzal Khan, the Bijapur commander, here.
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Peth fort (473 m), Karjat
Travel from Karjat to Jamrugh via Kashele and get down at Ambivili by ST. Walk to Peth village (3 km) and then to Bhairoba's cave. Rock hewn steps leads to top. To and fro trek takes 3 hour. The fort is also known as Kothilagad, because it was used as a weapon storage.
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Vasai Bassein fort, Mumbai
This huge fort was built by Bahadurshah, Sultan of Gujarat (1526 - 1537 AD). Portuguese occupied the fort from 1534 until 1739, when the Marathas captured it. Portuguese developed the place into a city with cathedral, churches, convent, asylum etc. In 1739 AD Sriman Chimaji Appa, the brother of Peshwa Bajirao I, after storming the Sam Sabastio's bastion, captured the city. In 1802 AD under the treaty of Bassein, the Marathas handed over the city to the British, who, 16 years after incorporated it in the Bombay province.
The fort has long walls and two main entrances. The fortress has arched buildings, tombs, statue of Shivaji, a High school, few huts and Nageshwar temple. The nearby area is inhabited by fisherman community. The style of their dress is noteworthy. They have a different complexion and good in health. One can also see salt making by evaporating seawater.
Reach Vasai from Churchgate, Mumbai by local train and travel to the fort by ST bus. One can take a bus to Arnala fort from the Parnaka bus stand (16 km).
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Cathedral Church
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Alibag island fort (Kulaba fort)
Alibag fort is 1.5 km into the sea from beach. At 1500 h, during the low tide, one can walk at knee deep water to the fort and at around 1600 h the water fully removed and the sea bed become visible. It is a nice experience to walk in the sea to the fort. Ganesh temple built in 1759 by Kanhoji Angre, two cannon on wheels, an isolated fortified structure are in the fort. Alibaug is 50 km from Murud.
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Saptasringi (1416 m) & Markandeya hill, Nashik
Get down at Chandakpur phata (55 km from Nashik) by Vani bus. Walk towards left to reach the base of the hill and climb the ridge to rock wall. Climb over a series of steep rock carved steps to temple at top (5 km). Inscriptions and Hanuman temple on the way near the top - Fine views of the prominent hill : Markandeya with a temple at top. There is direct Bus to Saptashringi from Nashik.
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Markandeya can be climbed by the connecting ridge - On this upper plateau, one can see a steep rising rock wall. Right route leads to the temple. Climb the steps to temple at top. One can take a parikrama around the hill, if desired. The trek takes 2 hour to climb up.
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Wild Flowers of Sahyadris
Anjaneri fort (1300 m), Trimbak
Anjaneri is a huge grass topped mountain. Get down at Anjaneri 6 km before Trimbak. A road climbs to the hill where step starts. Climb a gully to reach a higher plateau. A flat walk takes one to a temple and a small lake. A left track leads to Sita gupha - cave and a temple. The right track climbs to the upper plateau and a flat walk leads to temple. Nice views of the surrounding hill range. The to and fro trek takes 3 hour. On return one can visit the ruined temples of Anjaneri village at the base.
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Brahmagiri, Trimbakeshwar (35 km from Nashik) - It is the place of one of the main out of 12 Jyotirlingas and source of Holy river Godavari, Shiv temple, Kushavarta tirtha - holy pond, caves, Brahmagiri hill (1295 m) with rock carved steps - a narrow passage in the rock is cut 4 to 6 ft with about 300 steps : 1.5 hour by trek. In 1818 the British conquered the fort and dismantled it.
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Ajinkyatara fort (1006 m), Satara
The fort was built in 1150 by king Bhoja of Panhala. It changed hands several times and one of the important events were imprisonment of Chand Bibi, widow of Adil Shah, in 1580. The entrance of the fort has carved tiger, elephants, peacocks and other incidents. Since 1749 it was Satara's state prison and finally went to the British in 1818.
The fort has three temples, 7 water tanks, a well, TV tower, other communication antennae and a good aerial view of the city. One can night stay in the temple if desired. It has two main entrances on both sides of the fort. A flag post near the temple is in good condition. Visit the near by Jhansi Rani memorial on the way.
One can reach the fort walls by a motorable road (private vehicle). The to and fro trek takes 3 hour.
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Patta fort (1390 m), Igatpuri
Patta is one of the most interesting and towering forts with a huge plateau on top. It was also called Vishramgad ('fort for rest' as Shivaji has stayed to recover from an illness). The weather is always very pleasant here, even in summer due to breeze.
Travel from Igatpuri near Nashik to Konkanwadi phata via Taked by Sinnar bus (30 km, 1145 am). On the way one can see around 40 windmills. The road from Konkanwadi phata bifurcates (left) and climbs to Avandh (1322 m). The right road leads to Konkanwadi (7 km). The Patta hill range has a summit on the left and the range breaks at right with a separate hill. The road further goes to base of the fort via this gap.
From the road one can see a small domed temple. Follow the easy 'kachha' road to the temple, 2 caves, a cave cum water tank, a small tunnel and to the top plateau. On the extreme southern end, there is a hall - Muslim style (domed) construction in - fairly good condition. One km flat walk leads 12 water cisterns in series and two fairly large caves near the summit. The summit is having an grant view of Avandh fort, windmills and lakes. The to and fro trek from Konkanwadi phata takes 4 hour. If one is having vehicle, it is an easy fort to climb (1.5 to 2 hour trek).
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Monsoon trek : Pawna dam to Lonavla
Pawnanagar to Lonavla via Shiv Khind pass (20 km trek in 7 hour). Pawna lake is one of the largest water bodies of the area which supplies water to places beyond Pune. The road is on the banks of the Pawna dam with views of Tung fort. Dam has long walls and an electric power station nearby. The lake has boating facility - water scooter, speed boat (Rs 50 for a round trip) and motor boats.
The road zigzags on the banks of the Pawna lake to Mantru temple of Sant Gyaneshwar. The two waterfalls nearby are a good place to visit. Lonavla is on the other side of the hill range at a distance of 9 km. The road climbs gently to Shiv Khind and the pass is a narrow one cut through solid rock. Just after the Shiv Khind, a road on right side goes to the upper plateau of Lohagad fort. The road further leads to Aundhe village and then to Khusgaon. Sinhagad educational institutions are nearby. The road further goes to Lonavla via Bhangarwadi.
Tung fort can be approached from Pawna dam by launch or from Tikona by a long march (road). On the left side of the massive rock face there is a Hanuman temple is located. From there approach the rock face and a small track leads to the top. A nice trekking experience with grand views of the surrounding hills and Pawna lake.
Lohagad fort is 10 km from Lonavla by this road. Visapur fort can also be easily trekked in a day. No shops on the way and the monsoon time (July - Aug) is the best time for a visit. The route is motorable and is popular with two wheelers.
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Durga kila (1175 m), Malshej
Travel on the Mancher - Bhimashankar road to Ghodegaon (10 km). The route further goes via Dimbhe dam, Ambegaon and Ambe to Hatwij (66 km from Mancher).
Then trek to the Durga kila via Durgawadi (9 km). Durga Kila has dense forest surroundings and is an inconvenient fort.
Kuthe cha ghat, a fearsome route to Konkan, from Hatwij. It will be a great trekking experience and one can reach Sonavale near Dhasai reservoir.
