treks in pune

Monsoon and post-monsoon are identical to trekking in the Western Ghats. This is when the Western Ghats get spring into life. The forest section there comes alive. The lush green grasslands shine with tiny wildflowers. The view of rolling green hills takes one’s breath away.  

The Western Ghats are older than the Himalayas! They stretch from Gujarat to Kerala and are almost 1600 km long. A large chunk of these areas lies in Maharashtra. This means one has a place to trek to no matter what part of Maharashtra he/she is from. The presence of more than 160 forts there adds to this. As a result, it has a strong pune trekking culture too.

Pune

Pune is one of the popular districts in Maharashtra and is home to famous hill stations such as Lonavala and Malshej Ghat. This makes it one of the major tourist attractions for treks in Sahyadris. There are numerous treks available that are just a couple of hours away. 

There are treks that take one through dense forests. There are vast plateaus also to explore. There are forts present that are architectural marvels. There are waterfall trails to quench the thirst for adventure. There is a reverse waterfall phenomenon to witness at!

Lonavala Bhimashankar Trek

Lonavala to Bhimashankar is possibly the best back-country trek in the Sahyadri range. The trek begins right from Lonavala, one of the most famous hill stations in South India. The trail then passes through deep wild rainforest, head-high bushes, small rivulets, lost-and-found trails, remote tribal villages, eerie temples, green meadows, hidden waterfalls, and a plateau of flowers.

One can explore the best features of the Sahyadri range on this Lonavala Bhimashankar trek. Green gorges, countless tunnels, distant villages, and occasional waterfalls – the trek also shows the Indian countryside at its best. The Bhima river is originated from Bhimashankar hill and then passes through the deepest part of the forest. It also attracts abundant wildlife, as there is no other water source around.

The Lonavala Bhimashankar trek is also known as the Valley of Flowers of Maharashtra. 

Rajgad Trek

Rajgad trek is one of the most stunning treks in Maharashtra. As the name says, it is the king of forts. Because of the rich history and the beautiful architecture of the fort, it stands out among other forts in the Western Ghats. 

Rajgad was the capital of the Maratha emperor Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj for around 26 years and after which he shifted to Raigad. This is one of the reasons why the fort was built in a beautiful manner. Rajgad has witnessed many important events, including the birth of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s son Rajaram I to the death of his queen Saibai. 

Trek to Rajgad provides the beauty of the Sahyadris as well as the fort. The fortification of the 3 Machis namely Suvela Machi, Padmavati Machi, and Sanjivani Machi defines the architectural creativity of that time. It also provides a splendid view of other surrounding forts like Torna, Lingana, Raigad, Sinhagad, and many other forts.

Torna Fort Trek

Torna Fort is the highest hill fort situated in the Pune District. Located at an altitude of 4,603 ft from sea level, it stands out among other forts in the western Ghats of Maharashtra. Because of the massive size of the fort, this fort is also called Prachandagad. This name is derived from Marathi which means Prachandawhich literally means massive and gad – a fort.

Torna Fort has a rich history as it was captured by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj when he was 16 years old in 1646. This region is where the core of the Maratha empire was built. This place has a great history as it has gone under many rulers.

Trek to the Torna fort unfolds many other thrilling things also. One trek along the beautiful flower beds, on the top, there are temples, Balekilla, water cisterns, 2 magnificent Machis, Zunjar Machi, and Budhla Machi, and a ridge connecting to Rajgad fort.

Andharban Trek

Andharban is one of the most rejuvenating treks in the Sahyadri region.  Andharban is a compound word of Andhar meaning dark and ban meaning forest. At par with its name, the trail passes through the dense overgrowth. 

Andharban is a descending trail that is scattered throughout with numerous small streams and waterfalls. The trek starts at an elevation of approximately 2,160 feet in the Sahyadri mountains and climbs down into the valley, to reach the backwaters of the Bhira Dam. Andharban trek provides beautiful views of the Devkund waterfall, Plus Valley, and the Tamhini Ghat along the way.

Andharban trek begins from a location called Independence Point about 200 meters away from Pimpri village. Being a jungle trek, it’s a must-do for both birders and wildlife enthusiasts.

One of the significant benefits of trekking is that it improves one’s physical health immensely. Spending multiple hours on the trail, rock hopping, climbing around boulders, and ascending hills give the whole body a workout, improving strength, agility, and cardio fitness.

By Anurag Rathod

Anurag Rathod is an Editor of Appclonescript.com, who is passionate for app-based startup solutions and on-demand business ideas. He believes in spreading tech trends. He is an avid reader and loves thinking out of the box to promote new technologies.