Lohagad Fort Trek: A weekend adventure to an off-beat destination (March 2020)

Although I had the desire to go to trekking from a very young age, I got the first opportunity in 2015. Then I was a PGDM first-year student of KJSIMSR, Mumbai. Our Sports committee used to organize treks for students. The first trek of that year was to Lohagad. You can go there in the morning and come back in the afternoon. It is an ancient fort on the Sahyadri range in the Lonavala region near Pune. This fort was used by the Marathas to keep their soldiers and treasury. The height of the fort is 1030 meters. There are three ways to reach the fort -> 1) By four wheelers one can reach the entrance of the fort. However, you will not enjoy the trek. 2) Take a train or bus ride from Mumbai. From there by train go to Malavli (one station). Start trekking from there.. 3) Reach Malavli by bus. Walk along the bushes near the waterfall. Bus can not go up because the road is suitable for small cars only. We took the third route.

There are some artificial water bodies and temples on the top of the fort. On top of the fort, some water reservoirs and the Visapur fort can be seen at distance. In 1818, when the Marathas were defeated in the battle with the British, the fort came in possession of the British and the inner part was damaged. Although the main entrance is still intact. The ideal time to go here is August to

September. It is a very easy trek, however, one must be careful while going towards the ‘Scorpion’s tail’ portion of the fort. You will have to cross some small but tricky rock patches to reach the end of ‘Bichhu Kanta’.

Lohagad Fort Trek