Lohagad fort (1040 m), Lonavla
It is a beautiful fort in good condition near Lonavla. The fort has five gates - Ganesh, Maha, Narayan, Trimbakeshwar, Hanuman darwaza - and high walls to stop any intruder. From Lonavla reach Malvali by local train. Walk to Bhaje village (One can visit the group of Buddhist caves at Bhaje, road, 2 km) and the route climbs to the col of Lohagad - Visapaur. Lohagad fort is at the right side of the col. A broad route leads to the top through strong fortifications. 1.5 h trek to the fort.
Burhan Nizam Shah II was imprisoned here in 1564. He bribed the commander of the fort, captured it and his next generation stayed here till 1578 and captured the throne of Ahmednagar from here. Then it changed hands, to Shivaji in 1648 and to Aurangzeb in 1665 and changed twice between these two forces, in 1751 Damaji Gaikwad was imprisoned here and finally on 5 March 1818, Col Deacon of the British forces captured it easily without firing a single shot.
Lohagad has domed monument - Muslim tomb, cannon & flag posts, Rajarani temple with Hanuman statue and Shivlinga, water tanks, stable, caves, Laxmi Kothi (cave with plenty of rooms - camping , a broken cannon), Darga of Hazarat Umarshah Vali Baba (Urs - 6 June), a huge water tank (16 koni talav) in dried condition, 4 water tanks near by, Buruj with a water tank. Panoramic view of Pawna dam, Tung, Tikona, Visapur forts.
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Visapur fort (1084 m), Lonavala
Reach the col of Visapur - Lohagad and follow the left track. Trek up through the forested gully. A fort with huge plateau and having long fortified walls and more than 35 water tanks. It is having a raised platform for firing cannon, a temple with a light stand, a cannon and two buildings in ruin and 2 small caves. Towards Malvali side rock cut steps leads down to a rock carved Hanuman on walls with two caves. There is no gateways remains on the fort. One can climb down to Malvali from the other side of the fort.
The two forts can be visited by a grueling 8 hour trek from Malvali. A road from Malvali reaches the base of the Lohagad fort and to the col of Lohagad - Visapur forts. If one is having a private vehicle these two forts can be easily visited in 3 hour.
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Ankai Tankai forts (961 m), Manmad
From the back side of the forts - Ankai village (8 km from Manmad) connected by road - steps leads to 8 Buddhist caves at the base of Tankai. Climb the steps further to reach a well fortified common entrance of the forts. The area has white marble like stones.
Left is Ankai, which has many things to see. Regular steps leads to a number of fortified entrances, a cave with some sculptures and finally to the top where a domed building is located. On top, one can see 5 caves, 7 water tanks, an arched enclosure at the end of the fort with a huge pond in dried condition, a dargah etc. A huge cave below the summit is now an Ashram, where one can stay a night. Good views of Tankai fort and the trek takes 3 hour.
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Hadbi Chi Shendi pinnacle is 7 km from Manmad at Katarwadi. Approach the base of the pinnacle, rest is 50 m rock climb for the professionals.
Raigad fort (862 m), Mahad
Mahad to Pachad and to the base of the fort by bus (24 km, Rs 17, 1.5 hour). Capital of Shivaji, connected by a rope way (Rs 140 return), trekking will be more enjoyable (to and fro 3 hour). Rs 5 admission fee by ASI. There are shops all the way to top, which sells Butter milk, Sarbath and Lemon juice. Plenty of space and lot of construction on top - Maha darwaza (main gateway), 7 cannons, Takmak Tok (a view point on a projecting ridge), Shivaji's samadhi, tomb of his faithful dog, Jagdishwar temple, Bara tanki (12 rock cut water tanks) market place, Shivaji's statue in sitting pose (Holicha Mal), Shirkai Devi temple, Gateway, Shivaji's thrown, palace, 8 to 10 water tanks (Ganga Sagar, the largest) etc. The MTDC resort and Deshmukh hotel provides basic accommodation and food on the fort. There is covered shelter for camping at nights too.
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The Lingana pinnacle is nearby and it provides a good challenge to the rock climbers. The Jijabhai (Shivaji's mother) Samadhi is one kilometre from Pachad at fort's base.
From Lonavla reach Mahad via Pali, Wakan, Kolad, Indapur and Mangaon. Wakan is 60 km from Lonavla and is on NH 17 (2 hour). Wakan to Mahad is 75 km (2 hour, Rs 45 by ST). Mahad is a small town around the Shivaji statue with a park, temple, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar memorial and a Hanuman temple on the nearby hill. Few caves are located near Mahad on the Mangaon highway. Few lodges provide basic accommodation.
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Arnala Island fort, Virar, Mumbai
Arnala is a small Island sea fort near Virar railwaty station. From Virar, one can visit the nearby hill - Jivdani - with a temple on top (3 km). A small fishing village nestles among its intact walls.
The fort is hidden and has three entrances. The entrance has a tiger and an elephant on it's walls. The way to the fort is through a domed gateway. It has wells, good fort walls and a Ketralite Swami lives inside the fort !.
Swami Paramnand Yogesh from Kasarkod, Kerala speaks English and Marathi fluently. If you want any help, call the Swami in his mobile : 9822 775209 or on 0250 - 6803609. So don't feel lonely when you are at Arnala.
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There are two watchtowers which are worth a visit. The watchtowers are standing far from the fort near the beach and has an entry. One has to crawl to enter the tower. A walk along the beach at Arnala island is a nice experience. There are two temples and a Dargah in the island.
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From Virar, travel to Arnala by bus (9 km) and then take a ferry to the fort. Rs 8 for launch (fibre boat fitted with engine) 1600 h to 2000 h in the evening (return fare). There are morning launch services to the fort. Night stay in the island is not permitted by the locals. Plenty of fresh water is available on the island. Inquire in advance about the ferry timings, which are not regular, specially when the sea is rough. One has to board the launch by walking around waste deep water in the sea. And the waves make the boat to move violently.
The sea at Arnala is very differrent (rough and deep) from that of Alibag. At Arnala, the fish is dried by hanging it on wooden poles. It is a small fishing harbour and the fish market is a good place to see the vareity of fishes. The Arnala - Vasai area houses has one household item in common - the swing made of wood.
Daulatabad fort, Aurangabad
This 14th century fortress is located 16 km from Aurangabad on the way to the famous Ellora caves. Its outer wall is 4.43 km in circumference. It was the capital of the Tughlaq dynasty. The fort is on a 200 m high conical hill. The Chand Minar (1445 AD) is a tower 64 m high and 21 m in circumference at the base, and was originally covered with beautiful Persian glazed tiles.
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The only means of access to the summit is by a narrow bridge, with passage for not more than two people abreast, and a long gallery, excavated in the rock, which has for the most part a very gradual upward slope. Also at the mid way, there is a cave entrance meant to confuse the enemies.
By the side of Chini Mahal, is placed a massive cannon manufactured during the period of Aurangazeb popularly known as ‘Menda Top’.
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The long ascending tunnel rises rapidly and tortuously by flights of steep steps. Opening of it at intervals are chambers for guards commanding the approach. At the head of the tunnel is an iron shutter which runs horizontally on small wheels, covering or uncovering the opening like a trap-door. A most ingenious and effective defense of this tunnel was the provision of a barrier of smoke. At a point about half-way through, where the tunnel passed near the vertical face of the rock a hold was cut through to secure drought for the fire in an iron brazier which installed in a small chamber opening into the tunnel when the fire was kindled the current of air from the hole would waft the smoke up the tunnel and render its passage impossible.
Mughals led several campaigns and captured the fort only in 1633 after a long siege of four months.
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