Rajmachi Fort is located in Maharashtra, between Pune and Mumbai, near Lonavla. We set out from Pune to Lonavla by local train at 8 AM for trekking to Rajmachi fort. The 65-kilometer distance from Pune to Lonavla is covered in about an hour by train.
Being in the Western Ghats, the entire rail route is very scenic. After reaching Lonavla, we took an auto rickshaw to the starting point of the Rajmachi Fort trek. It was the month of August, and since the monsoon was at its peak, the rain was pouring heavily.
We started our trek from Lonavla to Rajmachi Fort at 11 AM. We had to cover a 17-kilometer trek and reach the base village, Udhewadi, also known as Rajmachi Village, by evening. Despite the heavy rain, we began our journey. After passing through some towns, the picturesque mountainous area began.
The entire route was filled with forests, waterfalls, cloud-covered hills, and beautiful scenery. After completing about half the distance, we stopped at a spot where we found Maggi and tea being served. We took a break there, enjoying the hot Maggi and tea while soaking in the rain and admiring the views.
From there, we could see the mountain where Rajmachi Fort is located. After taking some photographs, we continued our journey. A cute dog, probably from a nearby village, joined us. It felt as if this dog, like the one that led Dharmaraj Yudhishthir to his final destination, was guiding us to our destination, Rajmachi Fort.
Walking through the beautiful lap of nature, we reached the base village, Udhewadi, at 6 PM. We had arrangements to stay overnight in this village. The village was small but very picturesque. There was a beautiful temple of Lord Ganesha in the village, which is a common sight in most villages of Maharashtra.
In the village, other groups of trekkers were also staying. We were very tired and extremely hungry after walking all day. We reached the house where we were supposed to stay, changed out of our wet clothes, and put on dry ones.
We then sat on the floor and ate our fill of the traditional Maharashtrian dish ‘Jhunka,’ a delicious gram flour-based vegetable, and ‘Bhakri,’ a roti made from millet or sorghum. It was truly enjoyable. After dinner, we went to sleep in a large hall. The sound of the rain was like music to our ears. We played cards under the lantern light for a long time. Due to the exhaustion, we didn’t realize when we fell asleep.
We woke up at 6 AM to get ready for the climb to Rajmachi Fort. After climbing a few steps, we came across a small, beautiful temple. From there, paths lead to the two separate hills of Rajmachi Fort, known as ‘Shrivardhan’ and ‘Manranjan’. Both forts of Rajmachi are stunning.
They were built by the Satavahana rulers and later came under Maratha rule. Rajmachi is a defense fort that was constructed to monitor the trade route between Mumbai and Pune in ancient times. The view of the Sahyadri mountains from here is incredibly captivating.
After returning to Udhewadi village after trekking to Rajmachi Fort, we had lunch. Now we were ready to trek back to Lonavla. The rain continued incessantly. During the return journey, we rested by a hillside river for a long time. It was a beautiful river that cascaded down from the mountains ahead in the form of waterfalls. This relaxed us and relieved our fatigue.
Upon reaching Lonavla, we changed into dry clothes and waited for the local train to Pune. The trek to Rajmachi Fort is filled with natural beauty. The greenery all around soothes the eyes. You must definitely go trekking here during the monsoon season.
**************************
➝ Difficulty Level: Easy.
➝ Endurance: Moderate.
➝ Trekking Duration: Approximately 6-7 hours.
➝ How to reach Rajmachi Fort trek: Easily reachable by car from Mumbai (99 km) and Pune (80 km). Local trains are also available from Mumbai and Pune to Lonavla.
➝ Best time to go on Rajmachi Fort trek: July to October (during monsoon for rain and lush greenery).
➝ Time required for Rajmachi Fort trek: 2 days. Spend the night at Udhewadi village.
➝ Essential items to carry for Rajmachi Fort trek: Trekking shoes, extra dry clothes, towel, water bottle with glucose, camera, plastic cover to protect mobile from getting wet, pain relief spray, snacks, photo ID.
Information Source: Authentic information sources available on internet, Various Articles and books on the subject & Interaction with local public.
For more information & feedback write email at : ikanchan2024@gmail.com