Ratangad Fort is located in the Ahmadnagar district of Maharashtra. Situated 180 kilometers from Pune, this fort lies on the banks of Bhandardara Lake. It takes approximately 4-5 hours to reach Ratangad from Pune by road.
Ratangad Fort is renowned for several special reasons, the main one being the blooming of the purple Karvi flowers. These flowers bloom once every seven years. From Ratangad, you can see the world-famous Alang Madan Kulang mountains and Maharashtra’s highest peak, Kalsubai.
To trek to Ratangad Fort, one must go to the base village of Ratanwadi. Ratangad Fort is also known as the Jewel of Sahyadri Hills. There is a large hole in the rock at the summit of this fort, which is known as the Eye of Needle.
For the Ratangad trekking, we left Pune at around 11 PM by bus with a trekker’s group. It was a small bus with about 30-35 people. We entertained ourselves throughout the journey and reached the base village of Ratangad , Ratanwadi, at 4 AM. After resting a bit and freshening up, we had breakfast.
Since we arrived in the dark of night, we had no idea about the surroundings. But as soon as the sun rose, we found ourselves surrounded by mountains. Ratanwadi village is situated in a valley amidst the mountains.
At 6 AM, we set off for the Ratangad Fort trekking from Ratanwadi village. Passing through rice fields, we entered the forest. A large part of the trek goes through dense forests. Along the way, we saw a beautiful lake. After crossing the forest, we began to climb the mountain. Here, we also saw a waterfall. We stopped to wash our faces and drank the cool water.
Some parts of the Ratangad Trek are very steep, so iron ladders have been installed. There were also artificial tanks made at some places to collect water. We saw old ruins and remnants of Ratangad Fort where people were taking photos.
After trekking for a while, we reached the part of Ratangad Fort where Karvi flowers were in bloom. The entire valley in front of us was filled with purple flowers. It was a sight to behold. We spent a good time there and took some photos.
Besides the Karvi flowers, we also saw yellow Sonaki flowers in bloom. As we moved a little further, we could see the highest peak of Ratangad Fort. Iron ladders were installed to reach there. We started heading in that direction. The mountains and valleys all around made the view enchanting.
Now we had reached the highest point of the Ratangad Trek. Here, there was a large hole through the mountain, known as the Eye of Needle. The strong and cold gusts of wind here alleviated our fatigue. We rested for a while.
A few steps ahead, a saffron flag was fluttering. Each of us took turns to go there and take photos. It was a very narrow spot where we had to go sitting down because there were deep gorges all around. In front of us, we could see Kalsubai, the highest peak of Maharashtra. Additionally, we could also see the mountains of another famous trek, Alang Madan Kulang (AMK).
After spending some time at the summit, we started heading back towards the base village of Ratanwadi. On the way back, we also saw the famous Sandhan Valley. Enjoying the excellent and scenic views, we began descending the mountain.
The view of Bhandardara Lake from here was also quite beautiful. The last part of the Ratangad Trek was a long plateau area. The path here was easier compared to the rest of the trek. The sun was intense, so we started feeling fatigued. With strong determination, we completed the Ratangad Trek around 5 PM. Upon reaching Ratanwadi village, we had a tasty meal.
Evening had set in and the sun was about to set. We got on our bus and started heading back to our destination, Pune. On the way, we stopped to visit the nearby Amriteshwar Temple.
The wonderful experience of trekking Ratangad Fort filled our minds with magical joy. I really enjoyed this trek. The purple Karvi flowers made our day. The incredible views from this trek were soothing to the eyes.
The Ratangad Trek is a trek full of diversity. It is a beautiful confluence of forests, rivers, waterfalls, lakes, mountains, and scenic valleys. This trek should definitely be on the wish list of those who love adventurous trekking.
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➝ Difficulty Level: Medium.
➝ Endurance Level: Medium.
➝ Trekking Time: Approximately 5-6 hours.
➝ How to Reach Ratangad Trek: The base village of the Ratangad Fort Trek, Ratanwadi, is about 180 kilometers from Pune. You can easily reach here by car. Additionally, it is connected by road to Mumbai, Ahmadnagar, and Nashik.
➝ Best Time to Visit Ratangad Trek: The best time to go is from September to February, after the monsoon. Karvi flowers usually bloom in November.
➝ Duration of the Ratangad Trek: 1 day. However, you need to leave for Ratangarh from Pune at night. Trekking starts at 6 AM.
➝ Essential Items to Take on the Ratangad Trek: Trekking shoes, raincoat, extra dry clothes to wear after trekking, waterproof bag, glucose water bottle, camera, 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.
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