LOHAGAD FORT IN PUNE – ONLY FOR TREKKERS!!
It was me, who chose this place thinking that it’s just a fort. Enthralled by the picture of moss covered rocks and landscapes led me to explore this place. It’s located at Khandala, a one and half hour drive from Pavana Lake. The road to the uphill was sparsely populated except for tiny huts in the vicinity and the absence of vehicular traffic gave an imprint of bleak emptiness.
The place could be accessed by car or bike only till the foothill of the fort. We reached Lohagad Fort almost around 12:30 PM. There are little shops selling biscuits and beverages. We looked for a hotel to have our lunch. Do not expect a star hotel! There are homemade foods available at the foot hill. A roti made out of rice flour and a little bowl of rice with curry was served in the hotel. The food didn’t go well for me.. I’ve not tasted rice flour roti before. As there are no other hotels in the nearby, the charges are high for the tiny bowl of rice. . It’s better to pack your food and water from home.
Lohagad Fort is at 1033 m from sea level. It’s also known as Iron Fort and people around say that it was a formidable battle-station of Chatrapati Shivaji. I’ve never been to trekking before but this will be a more memorable decision. It’s one of the best treks in Pune and almost to one-eighth of the trek to Everest! The remnants of fortress far from the city looks splendid as you climb up the hill.
The not-so-long steep stairways have been on dampening our spirits but we didn’t give up. A momentary lapse at every ten minutes of walk enlivens us.
A serendipitous discovery ends at the top of the hill. It’s very flattering to see the city from up there. Best glimpse of spectacular sunset will fascinate you. Chill breeze will rejuvenate you to climb down the hill. The day ends at 5:30 PM and dusk quickly dissolved into darkness. The trek to the hill took 4 hours and it’s surely a heaven for trekkers.
Lion’s Point and Tiger’s Leap at Lonavala:
By the time we arrived at Lion’s point and Tiger’s Leap at Lonavala, it was pitch dark. Without light, it’s like looking in a haystack for needle. Mumbai-Pune expressway glowed with the traffic lights of the vehicles passing through the highway.
The laneways are filled with little shops selling chikkis and it’s the fame of the city. They have it in different flavors. We bought a few in varied flavors for our friends and relatives.
We had our dinner on the way to our hotel and returned by 10 PM.
With Luv,
