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I know there are a lot of hiking fans out here in Pune, but wondering if we can get details of what nearby forts are accessible by a motorable road. Details like - distances, route, time taken, historical significance, what activities/food available there, etc. |
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Torna & Rajgarh Forts are accessible and near Pune. Approx 1 1/2 hrs from Pune. Both are good forts for climbers & trekkers alike. Probably not as accessible (and therefore not as misused) as Singhagarh Fort. One would need to take NH4 towards Satara and then take a right turn at Baneshwar and go straight in from there. The two forts are close to each other. The road from Baneshwar inwards is decent. Distance wise I would say about 80-85Kms from Pune. Don't expect to see any food stalls there. Also, these forts are not for "family climbing" unlike Singhagad which one can casually climb with family. |
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Sinhagad is the closest fort to Pune and a big attraction. Distance: About 30 km from Pune. Takes about 1 hour by Road. Take the Sinhagad Road towards Khadakwasala/Panshet. After Khadakwasla dam, there's a left turn that goes through Donje village and to the fort. The motorable road goes all the way near the top - but there's a small climb to get to the top of the fort. Quite a few eating options available on the fort - like the classic 'Zunka-Bhakri', 'Bhajis', and ofcourse 'Tak'. Historical significance and other details: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinhagad |
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Purandar. About 1.5 hrs from Pune, via Saswad. Don't have all the other details - would be great if someone can add them here. Purander isnt that great for trekking. Nice view and all though.
(16 Dec '09, 14:19)
sushrut
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Pratapgad. About 45 min from Mahabaleshwar. Take the Poladpur Ghat towards Poladpur on NH 17. There's an exit towards Pratapgad, halfway down the Ghat. The motorable road goes near the top, but a small climb is needed. More details: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pratapgad And if you're taking your kids there, don't forget to tell them the whole Afzal Khan story - it hugely improves their appreciation of the fort.
(17 Dec '09, 04:29)
Navin Kabra ♦♦
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Raigad fort is around 150 kms from Pune and you can drive all the way up there. There is quite a bit of the fort well preserved and it is really stunning in Winters or just ater monsoons. It has a sort of difficult trek / hike for the avid trekkers -- but the main attraction would be the ropeway ride which starts from the parking and goes all the way up to the fort. If you don't want to trek, this is the way to go up there. (Even if you do trek, the ropeway ride which lasts 2 mins each way is a must experience) The ropeway costs 150 bucks / head and they throw in an informational movie about Shivaji and a visit to the museum. There are also guest houses on top of the fort which we had taken. (Not the best facilities to live -- but I've seen worse). The benefit of doing an overnight trip there is that you can get up in the morning early and explore the fort at your own leisure before the touristy crowd gets there and spoils the fun :) The ropeway doesn't start till 10:30 -- so you have that much time to really enjoy yourself. We had awesome fun!
I am not sure if its still there, but I visited Raigardh in Winter of 96 and we went there from a near by fort by a ladder. Ladder connects Raigarh with nearby fort and when you are climbing through it you can see vehicles going on the road about 1200ft exactly below you! But as I said I am not sure if that ladder is still there, last I heard it was removed due to too many accidents.
(16 Dec '09, 14:18)
sushrut
When I went there a couple of years ago, there was no mention of a ladder, and I certainly did not see on anywhere.
(17 Dec '09, 04:29)
Navin Kabra ♦♦
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shivneri, near junnar is a nice fort. About 3 hours drive, and one reaches at the gates by a motorable road. Technically it is motorable till the gate, but to see the entire fort, is a 80-90 mins affair, and it is climbing :). Marvellous scenery, this birth place of shivaji is relatively well maintained amongst all the forts. Nearby attraction is naneghat, a seventh century pass from Konkan to the deccan plateau. This was a toll road of those times, the toll being a silver coin "naNe" to be deposited in a big container at the mouth of the pass. ABsolutely beautiful surroundings One has to take the pune mumbai road, then turn to bhosari and then take the route to rajgurunagar to manchar to narayangao to junnar |
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Sajjangad fort in Satara District has a motorable road going up the hill till the base of the fort. The fort is now well known for Swami Ramdas Swami's (Shivaji Maharaj's guru) Samadhi. Satara is around 120 kms from Pune and Sajjangad is around 15 kms off NH4 highway. This place is a good one day weekend option. There are small hotels on top of the fort and one can also stay in the ashram which is run by ramdas swami's followers. The remote end of the fort has some breath taking views. From here one can drive to thoseghar waterfalls, kaas lake/plateau (monsoon flowers) and chalkewadi windmills. |
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Koraigad near Sahara Lake city is a nice fort to climb. It is 25km from Lonavala (Lonavala is around 65km from Pune). Just continue on the road from Bhushi dam towards Sahara lake city. Once you reach there, You have to walk some distance to get to the point from which the steps begin. The plane surface at the top is walled from all sides. There are 2 lakes at the top. You get a nice view of the lake city from here. |
