Plan your budget trips: Trek to Ghangad Fort from Pune

Hello Dear Friends, I hope these days all are keeping healthy. Also, with the arrival of the pleasant monsoon season wish to cuddle with the beautiful nature☺ The same feel, it's been a long to had a walk through pitch greens and Hills crosses. In such a flow, the idea hampers in the mind of Ghangad Fort where I start my season's first trek.

Ghangad fort is situated in the lap of Sahyadri Hills (Western Ghats) in Pune, Maharashtra. Till 1818, the fort was under the rule of the Maratha Empires.

Trip Details:

Base Villege: Ekole (100 KM from Pune)
Trek Level: Easy (Except two small tricky patches of Rocks and Ladder)
Trek Duration: 45 to 60 Minutes (One way)
Entry Fees: No
Preferred Season: July to early October (Monsson)
Parking Place: At base village (Free of charge)
Food: No hotels at Ekole but local people can arrange a food. Just inform them before you start the trek. Not even contact details are required.
Food Menus and Price: Zhunka- Bhakar (130 Rs /-) and Roti-Sabji-Dal-Rice (150 Rs/-)
Stay: Can put own Tent (No charges)

How to Reach:

The Fort trek starts from the base village named "Ekole" which is located at 82 to 100 KM from Pune. There are two ways to reach the fort.

Pune - Pirangut - Mulshi - Ekole Villege: This route covers 82 KM. The route passes through the Tamhini ghats.

Route 1

2. Pune - Lonavala - Ambey valley - Ekole Village: This route traverse 109 KM and goes through Lonavala.

Route 2

View From Top

Trek Experience:

This was my Season's first trek, so I was very enthusiastic. We started our journey from Pune at 5 am and opted for route 1. The plan became more enthralling as my childhood friends also joined me this time. We were meeting after a decade. The route of Tamhini Ghats is always been so excited because of the lush green surroundings, Ghats and the well-maintained roads made us enjoy the early morning drive as well. On the way, there are few small hotels where we had our breakfast.

The road of around 25KM after crossing the Tamhini bridge becomes very bad towards "Nive". We didn't realize but while returning, our vehicle's tire got a puncture. But though the slow pace drives through this narrow path was offering the peaceful experience of fully covered mist with minimal visibility and dense trees, branches making the dark shadow on route, clouds covering the Hills of Kundalika valley along the side. In such catchy surroundings of nature, we couldn't stop ourselves to have long photography sessions at every short interval. Thus we reached the Ekole village at 10:30 AM.

As I mentioned earlier, after arrival in the village we first confirm the order of our food from local residents, then started trekking at around 11AM. It was drizzling, foggy and straight neck of green Ghangad fort we were able to see from the base only which was making us to feel more energetic and fresh. As we were going ahead we got to see many mesmerizing views and cliffs of Sahyadri hills. As I mentioned above, there are only two patches were we may feel some difficulty one is crossing the ladder and second one is through stiffnes of rocky patch but also there are ropes ties between the crossing points so it becomes helpful for treker, rest other was easy.

Reaching to the top was another yet happiness. It offers the remarkable view of Mulshi dam, Korigad Fort, and Tailbaila. Blowing wind, scattered clouds and drizzling rain were making the mind so pleasurable. The perfect ambiance and outdoor which we were expecting, got to see here.