A quick visit to Sinhagad Fort in Monsoon

Sinhagad Fort is a favourite weekend gateway for Punekars as it is a very scenic location and just approximately 30km from Pune.

The fort has been standing there since about 700 years and has a long history associated with Great King Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The hero behind this fort was great maratha worrier Tanaji Malusare. Sinhagad was called ‘Kondhana’ after the sage Kaundinya. The Kaundinyeshwar temple, the caves and the carvings indicate that this fort had probably been built two thousand years back. 

Sinhagad Fort has to be one of my favourite places because of the numerous reasons –scenic drive, view from the top, scrumptious authentic food, history and much more.

It was our sudden plan to visit Sinhagad fort. We(Myself,  Kiran, Snehal and Abhijit) left from Pune around 3pm on our bikes. You can go there by car or by bike. The vehicle has to pay a toll(Rs. 20 for bike and Rs 50 for Car) at the base to reach the fort.  Local buses are available every hour from Pune or you can reach by shared taxi or auto. Nowadays, every time I visit the fort, I can see groups of bikers and trekkers.

The road runs by the side of a dam which is a huge water body and looks simply amazing. At places, you can find lots of local shops selling corns and people enjoying the cool and calm water of the dam. The mountains are full of fog and whole Pune City is visible which looks amazing. Also, the water of the dam does stretches into a huge area. The picturesque road is available until the parking at the top. Due to heavy traffic and rains, the roads are in bad shape but the drive to the fort is scenic.

The road from base village to the fort is small and parking the vehicles on both the side of the road makes it narrower. Close to 1.5-2 km road from the fort is used as a parking area and people park their vehicles wherever they find space thus blocking the road and resulting in a traffic jam. If you want to avoid traffic jams and get a good parking slot then start the early morning as the place gets crowded after 10 AM.

We reached the fort around 4pm. A place full of lush green mountains, it’s a must-visit place for nature lovers and trekkers. Most of the fort is destroyed; it still has a lot to offer. Apart from its historical importance; it is also a hot stop for a lot of trekkers. It is also a part of the training for the cadets of the National Defense Academy situated very close to this place.

One can easily spend 4-5 hours or a half-day picnic with family and friends. Sinhagad Fort is usually crowded on weekends and holidays. It is so fascinating to imagine the history behind the remains. What would have been the life then!!  I am amazed every time I visit the fort.

From one side of the fort, you can see the popular Khadakwasla Dam and on the other side, you will see the beautiful landscape. You will forget about all tiredness when you see this breathtaking view.

After strolling the fort for a couple of hours, one can grab the most famous Pithla Bhakri, Thecha, Kanda Bhaji, Kulfi, and never to miss the locally produced Matka Dahi. I love the Matka Dahi with Jira powder the most. The shopkeepers are the residents from nearby villagers and carry all the stuff every day from the villages to uphill and that too on their feet. It was fun to eat raw mangoes, cucumbers, corn, berries and buttermilk sold on the way. Don’t forget to taste the tasty “Kaccha Aam”.

After having snacks we roamed around the fort for an hour and explored few places. We saw the memorial of great Maratha worrier Tanaji Malusare.  

Narveer Tanaji Malusare statue at Sinhgad

Tanaji Kada is the place from where Mavale(Maratha soldiers) climbed up the fort and attacked Mughals.

There is a house of the great freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak as he came to stay on the fort.

There are many small temples on the fort. There are a number of water tanks on the fort. But Devtaki is the most famous one. The water is cold and sweet, when you visit do taste it. Only this water tank can be used for drinking water.  

The strong wind along with mist, fog and rains at the famous ‘Hawa point’ was an experience to remember. ‘Kade lot’ is also a popular point. It is said that in olden days the prisoners were thrown off from this cliff.

Due to monsoon, the weather there was cold and was raining frequently. The fog, mist, drizzle and the blowing wind made our walk at the fort memorable. Once the fog clears, you can see Khadakwasla dam and Torna fort from the top. The breathtaking views are addictive. I can go there almost every day. The drizzle and cold breeze added to our pleasant experience. It’s a perfect location to spend a wonderful time with your family and friends.

Travelers!!

After relaxing for two hours we started to descend.

If you have not yet visited the fort please do visit in monsoon, I am sure you will like it. Also, do not forget to carry your camera to capture the beautiful pictures.