Trekking in Maharashtra, India : 150 Forts

[Perfection]

Peb is a small hill fort adjoining Matheran, which is popular with hikers and a day long hikings in rains. From Neral station follow the road via taxi stand to main road (Hotel Divya Deep). Appraoch the base of the fort by following a cart road leading to a village near a paultry farm (3 km). Approach the transmission tower on a hill and a track climbs up to a higher plateau. Further a small track climbs gradually to a saddle. The left track on the sharp ridge takes one to a one metre high boulder fitted with a rope (easy climb). The traverse leads to two caves at the base of the fort and to an iron ladder (7 metre high, fitted). On top there is a water tank and steps. If one is adventure loving, he can follow the steep route to top via steps. The top can be reached by a 10 m easy climb with the help of an iron rope fitted permanently.

The top has Datta paduka mandir/temple and a more than 10 m long saffron flag with 'ohm' on it.Top is barren and is narrow with a water tank near by. From top, there is an easy way on the ridge towards Matheran. On the way there is a Swami ashram where is one can stay a night if desired. Swami has a domesticated dog and having other modern facilities. From Kotwal buruj (fortification with a flag near Matheran), an exposed route leads on to the railway line on Matheran under Panorama point, a water tank, a cave, another vantage points are near by.



Location : Near Matheran / Neral on Mumbai - Karjat/Pune train route. The to and fro trek takes 4.5 hour from Neral. If one is having two wheeler the base village near the poultry farm is accessible by cart road.

[Perfection]

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).



Cathedral Church

[Perfection]

Travel from Panvel/Khopoli to Vashivli by ST and get down at Vadgaon phata. Trek to Manikgad village and then to fort in 1.5 hour through forest. The fort is in ruins has a gateway, bastions and a canon which has been made of several iron pieces welded together.

[Perfection]

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.







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.

[Perfection]

[Perfection]

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.



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.

[Perfection]

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.

[Perfection]

Sajjangad fort has temples and many monuments on top. It was home of Swami Ramdas, the spiritual guru of Shivaji from 1608, when he lived in Parali and later from 1673 to 1681 on the fort. It had a small history and the Mughals controlled it from 1700 after the death of Shivaji and Swami Ramdas.

Buses ply directly to the fort from Satara ST stand (10 km). The fort has three temples (pilgrim centre), ashrams, accommodation and ruined buildings. Swami Ramdas samadhi is visited by many and is a good temple with a gopuram and an underground chamber for meditation.

[Perfection]

The Peshwa fort's construction was started and completed on a Saturday. So it is named as Shaniwarwada. The fort has five entrances, four cannons, water reservoirs, palace in ruins (foundation), good fountains, bathing tubs, Durbar hall etc and is rectangular in shape. The fort is well preserved and there is wall paintings near the main gate. Above the main gate, there is a balcony made of wood with carvings.

Balaji Bajirao (1740 -1761) the third Peshwa constructed the Diwan Khana (Main hall of audience) for celebrating Ganapati festival in 1755. Later on Nana Phadanwis, Prime minister to Sawai Madhavrao (1774 -1795), constructed a few more rooms. Captain Moor who visited Pune when Peshwa's power was at its height described the splendor of this hall. He had seen more than a hundred dancing girls in the palace at one time.







Pune has 25 forts, more than 100 rock cut caves and 125 ancient temples.

[Perfection]

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).