Our group of four was in mid-way through the monsoon season in 2019. For the past 2 weeks, we took part in two different treks of this. The first was the 400ft Calder Falls trek and the second was the Kondana Cave trek.
On the fourth weekend, we were drenched in an unknown waterfall and chose to take on our Kothaligad Trek / Peth Fort Trek on Sunday. We planned to continue our treks in the monsoons close to Karjat. The 3100ft Kothaligad trek or Pesu Fort trekking is an absolute must for any Sahyadri lover since it is constantly cloud-free during monsoons and features numerous waterfalls.
Furthermore, Kothaligad has a great past, featuring intricately constructed caves, rock-hewn water tanks, rock-hewn steps as well as restored and aged cannons. The directions are to Mumbai as well as Pune from Pune and Mumbai to Kothaligad.
How can I Reach Kothaligad via Mumbai as well as Pune?
The closest stations for trains to the railway stations are Karjat as well as Nerul. From Karjat There is a direct bus to Jambrung/Jamrukh that can be arranged at Karjat Railway station (at 8:30). You can take it to Ambivali. (Shared Rickshaws that run from Shree Ram Pur and Ambivali can also be arranged.) The return buses that go that run from Ambivali to Karjat begin between 15:30, and 17:30. Don’t miss it. To Neral the shared rickshaw/team is available for Kashere.
From Cachelet use a shuttle taxi that is shared to Jambrun. It is possible to ride them and then get off at Ambivali. Private vehicle Take a drive towards Karjat and then turn left at the Shree Ram Pull/bridge to Ambivali Phata.
Turn right to arrive at Ambivali. Ambivali is listed in Google Maps with the name Hotel Kothaligad, Pallas. From there you can pinpoint your exact location with the Google Maps position above.
From Ambivali From Ambivali Peth, you must walk approximately 4 kilometers along the road that is semi-paved and bumpy. It is even more challenging when it rains because the water streams wash away all the soft soil and leave only stones in various dimensions.
The vehicle is not able to continue or the vehicle will suffer severe damage. The vehicle can travel about 10 minutes further than Ambivali in the area where roads are accessible however the road becomes rough.
Continue walking approximately 4 kilometers (90-120 minutes) until Peth which is where a lot of villagers operate hotels. When you purchase meals, you may stay in the hotel for free (more on this later). After that, the real trek begins and takes around 60 minutes. Just a few minutes will take you to the fortress, which is the primary attraction of the hike.
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Things to do at Peth Fort Trek
The main attractions of the Kothaligad hike include the unique structure of the fort’s thumb as well as the fort’s well-preserved cannon, which was in its prime, and the panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.
A raging waterfall is frequently blown over by powerful winds coming from the valley. Beautifully carved pillars of the cave temple. Many forts can be spotted along the Kothaligad trek, however, we were unable to see much because of the heavy clouds. If you are in clear weather, you can be able to see Bhimashankar, Padalagad, Siddhagad, and occasionally Karnala.
Occasionally clouds broke and we could catch an eerie view of the vast area of green. It is easy. There are a few stalls where you can take lunch orders uphill and also take a bite downhill.
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The difficulty level of the Kothaligad Trek
The entire Kothaligad Trek is this difficult. But trekkers must prepare and be ready for every eventuality.
There are a few things that are as important as:
1. Landslides (monsoon particular) The area that runs from Ambiburi up to Peth Gaon is very prone to landslides. This can also lead to many instances of trees falling and blocking the trails during the monsoon season.
2. Rock Site: After descending the spiral staircase that was carved into the fortress, you will come to an intersection where the road abruptly turns to the left. The exposed curves are overlooked by drops of up to 50 feet. Be cautious when walking through this area as it can be extremely slippery during monsoons.
3. Paths discovered: Kothaligad Fortress is a small wonder in the thinking and vision which went into its construction. Stairs that were carved from inside, tiny entrances to the top level, multiple-level fortifications, as well as escape routes.
The last treacherous, exposed pathways around the fort have recently caused worry. There have been several reports of instances of injuries sustained by people who have attempted to trek along these routes.
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A few facts about Kothaligad Trek
After the fort’s tour then it was time to visit the most important attraction. A pathway that starts to the left of the fort will lead to the cave as well as the entry point to the summit.
This was the largest cave in Fort Kothaligad/Fort Pth. It was adorned with exquisitely carved doors and pillars. It is hard to imagine the ingenuity of creating this feat with a basic set of tools thousands of years ago. This cave might have been properly maintained however it now a stench of bats. It is possible to accommodate 50 people in this cave. Groups are also known to cook in this cave. Near this massive cavern is an ancient temple as well as an underground staircase.
The staircase is designed as an arc-shaped staircase that rises to the highest point. At times, when I opened the windows at the top of the stairs I could see gorgeous cloud formations and greenery. It was beautiful.
The final climb of the Kothaligad trek is an entry point for the balcony at the top. From there, the 360-degree views provided by this fortress were utilized to protect the Maval region.