5 forts near Pune that you NEED to visit

The homeland of the martial Maratha empire, Maharashtra boasts over 350 forts. Once the site of epic battles and sieges, most now lie abandoned and in various stages of disrepair. However, they are popular hiking spots, and they are great places to experience the beauty of the Western ghats. Here are 5 of my favourite fort experiences from Pune:

Rajgad at night
Rajgad(literally meaning king fort) was once the capital of the Marathas. In the clear summer nights, Rajgad is an epic place to camp out under the stars. The Milky Way rises above the imposing structure of the fort and over Balekilla – the very top of the fort. There are many hiking groups that organise this experience but you can always head out with tents and do this yourself. Still, if it is your first time I would recommend going with a group tour.

Fireflies at Rajmachi
In the pre-monsoon period (late May-June) the Western ghats come alive with the flickering lights of millions of fireflies. One of the best places to see these fireflies is around Udhewadi, the base village for the trek to Rajmachi.
To get to Udhewadi, you can walk 12 km along the unpaved and rocky road from Lonavala, or hire a jeep. There are also many trekking groups that can help you get there. I recommend you stay overnight and spend the night enjoying the light show, and climb the fort just before dawn to enjoy the sunrise on top. Though the fireflies will be gone, the monsoon is also a great time to climb this fort with several waterfalls visible from the summit.

Kalavantin Durg – for the adrenaline junkies
More a watch tower than a fort, Kalavantin Durg is a 700m tall rock outcrop seemingly jutting out of the ground. The climb gets steep at a certain point with a series of steps that lead you to the top, and the last 10m to the summit have a rope that needs to be climbed. This is organised by the locals living in the area and they charge a nominal amount to help you get up there, and the views were definitely worth it. Definitely not for those scared of heights! Also worth a mention is the Prabalgad fort right next to it, which you can check out if you have the time.

P.S. I would advise against going in the monsoon because the steps can get very slippery with algae and moss.

Torna Fort – the Sahyadris in full bloom
Speaking of monsoons, the monsoon season is the best time to see the Western Ghats in their full glory. And I think my favourite fort hike in the monsoon has been Torna.

When I went there with my friends in September, the wildflowers were in full bloom, and there was a sea of purple, yellow, and blue dotting the entire mountain. It was absolutely stunning and a very pleasant climb.

Visapur and Lohagad 
These twin forts are very popular because they are so accessible! There is a motorable road all the way to the base of both forts, and you can also reach them by train. Just take the local from Pune to Lonavala and get down at Malavali station. From there it is a 6 km march to both these forts. Lohagad also has the distinction of being one of the more well maintained forts I have seen with intact walls and proper steps. Fun fact – in its heyday it was one of the most important forts for the Marathas because it’s where Shivaji kept his treasury.