Treks near Pune: Ultimate Guide to trekking near Pune

This is an ultimate guide to trekking near Pune and Mumbai. From this list of treks near Pune, you can learn all about trekking distance, height and difficulty as well as how to reach, what to carry and some important facts on their history.

Trekking in the Sahyadri

The mountain ranges of Western Ghats of India – called ‘Sahyadri’, span from the state of Gujarat all the way to Kerala, in India. The tropical mountains provide for the most amazing views and some easy as well as some challenging treks.

When it comes to trekking, majority of the mountains near Pune and Mumbai, have historic forts on the top. This adds little stories of the Maratha king Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to your adventures. Almost all the forts near Pune will have an orange triangular shaped flag called Bhagva at the top. And if you ask the locals you will get the entire bundle of the old stories of the Marathas.

Trekking places near Pune and Mumbai

So here is the list of treks near Pune. The list is not exhaustive, and there are many more fantastic locations available. Here, I have just listed out the top places for trekking near Pune and Mumbai.

Sinhagad Fort

Sinhagad Fort or Sinhagad killa is one of the best trekking places near Pune. It is the nearest Fort in Pune city. The trek starts at Sinhagad paytha or Sinhagad Base village – Atakarwadi village. Alternatively, there is a motor road all the way to the top. The Kaundinyeshwar temple at the top has carvings which are more than 2000 years old. The fort has two impressive arched doors called – Pune Darwaza and Kalyan Darwaza.

Delicious food options and the famous Sinhagad Dahi (organic yoghurt) is served at the fort. This makes the trip totally worth it for the foodies. Pictured below is that earthen pot of Dahi with a backdrop of Kalyan Darwaza.

If you are coming from Pune, then just take a bus from Swargate or Appa Balwant Chowk in Pune to Sinhagad Fort Paytha. If you are coming from Mumbai take a train to Sinhagad or a bus via Pune. Alternatively, you can take your own vehicle to the top.

Trek distance: 2.7 km oneway | Trek time: 2-3 hours | Level: Easy | Height: 1312 m | Pune to Sinhagad: 35 km | Food: Local food stalls atop

Lohagad Fort

This is the most popular fort near Pune. Lohagad literally means ‘Iron Fort.’ It is a small pleasant trek near Lonavala. The location provides best views into the valleys below and up to the hills of Lonavala and Khandala. Most of the fort is in ruins, but the outer wall, ancient windows and arches are still present. In the monsoon, the surrounding waterfalls make the area worth a visit. Moreover, the Vinchu Kada meaning Scorpion’s path is a popular viewing point here. You can take a train to the nearby train station – Malavli. From there walk or take a shared cab to Lohagadwadi village, which is the base village from where the trek starts.

Trek distance: 5 km oneway | Trek time: 1 hour | Level: Easy | Height: 1033 m | Pune to Lohagad: 64 km | Food: Hotels at the base and local food stalls atop

Visapur Fort

Just adjacent to Lohagad Fort is Visapur Fort. Both of them are considered as best forts near Pune for trekking. Visapur Fort trek starts from the Visapur village which is at the foot of the Fort. Most of the crowds go here in the monsoon to witness the staircase waterfalls. You can see the ancient ruins of the fort and witness the old secret passageways and caves. Moreover, you can feast your eyes on the views of surrounding landscapes, all the way from Kamshet to Lonavala.

Trek time: 2-4 hours | Level: Easy | Height: 1084 m | Pune to Visapur: 65 km | Food: Local food stalls atop.

Rajgad Fort

Rajgad is a fort near Pune, which was historically the main base of Maratha king – Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. This fort is one of the best trekking places near Pune. There are two ways to reach the top one via Pali village and another via Gunjawane village. The later is a bit difficult. The highest point of Rajgad is Balekilla, which is a fort atop the mountain. There is a small lake on Padmavati Machi called – Chandra Kor Lake. In the monsoon, the area has the most surreal scenery. Moreover, camping is allowed on the top. And locals living there serve the most delicious traditional Maratha food. Another popular trek is from Rajgad Fort to Torna Fort. It is 12 km long and will take an entire day.

Trek distance: via Pali: 2.5 km oneway, via Gunjawane: 8 km oneway| Trek time: via Pali: 2-3 hours, via Gunjawane: 3-5 hours | Level: Moderate | Height: 1376 m | Pune to Rajgad: 65 km | Food: Local food stalls atop.

Harishchandragad Trek

There are 4-5 ways to reach the top of Harishchandragad. The most scenic one is via Khireshwar village, the hardest one is via Belpada village and the easiest one via Pachnai route. The most enduring and technical trek is from Walhiware base village called as – Nalichi Vaat.

If you come to Pachnai in monsoon, you can see 5 waterfalls from the base. The scenic route via Khireshwar passes through seven hills. While trekking via Belpada village you have to climb straight rocks. Grips are provided here. Camping atop the mountain is banned now but you can stay at the base villages in local homestays.

The Konkan Kada with the valley full of creamy clouds, the cold water Lake called Saptatirtha Pushkarni and Kedareshwar Cave with massive ShivaLinga immersed in water are some popular places to visit at Harishchandragad. There are three peaks at Harishchandragad – Taramati Peak, Rohidas and Balekilla. The highest point is Taramanchi or the Taramati peak. Leopards are found beyond this point.

Trek distance: 3 km oneway via Pachnai, 19 km oneway via Belpada | Trek time: 2-3 hours via Khireshwar | Level: Moderate | Height: 1429 m | Pune to Harishchandragad: 166 km | Food: Local food stalls atop.

Raigad Fort

Raigad Fort is situated in Mahad, Raigad district of Maharashtra. There are approximately 1737 steps to reach the top. Alternatively, you can go to the top in 10 minutes via the ropeway. There are various points of interest like – Takmak Tok, Maha Darwaza, Samadhi of Jijabai, Samadhi of Shivaji Maharaj and his loyal dog named Waghya, Jagdishwar Mandir, Bhavani Mandir, Ganga Sagar Lake and Hirkani Buruj.

The wooden pillars of the fort are still present. Rest of the parts are ruins. There are ruins of a market which was accessible by horses. The four arched doors are very interesting – Maha Darwaza, Mena Darwaza, Palkhi Darwaza and Nagarkhana Darwaza. The fort was built by Maratha King Shivaji Maharaj. The British had named it Gibraltar of the East. There is also an old story of a woman named Hirkani who astonishingly climbed down the steep sides of the mountain to go back to her young child in the dead of the night.

Trek distance: 1737 steps oneway | Trek time: 1-3 hours | Level: Easy | Height: 1356 m | Pune to Raigad: 132 km | Food: Hotels at base.

Devkund Waterfall Trek

Devkund is a perfect example of how a place can go viral on Instagram. A few years ago not many people knew about it. Now thanks to Instagram, the waterfalls get hordes of tourists, especially during the monsoon. Devkund waterfall is located inside a jungle near Bhira village in Maharashtra, India. It is regarded as one of the most beautiful waterfalls in India. The waterfall flows at full capacity only in the monsoon (June to Sept). The trek to Devkund waterfall gets a bit dangerous in the monsoon. There are various streams on the way. The waterfalls themselves are a combination of 3 streams. And it is known to be the starting point of the Kundalika river.

The Devkund waterfall is totally worthy of all the hype though! The water plunges into the valley and the pond below it is extremely attractive. You can bath in the waters. Sometimes the water levels increase suddenly, especially in the monsoon. It is advisable to go along with a trekking guide to this amazing location.

In recent times, Devkund waterfall has been closed on some occasions due to reasons like – deaths of some trekkers, or increase in the level of water, excessive monsoon. Please check the present status before going.

Trek distance: 6.5 km oneway | Trek time: 1-2 hours | Level: Moderate | Waterfalls Height: 24 m | Pune to Devkund: 99 km | Food: Restaurants at the start of the trek.

Bhimashankar Jungle Trek

Bhimashankar is a spiritual destination as well as a protected Wildlife Sanctuary near Pune. There is a temple of Shankara or Lord Shiva here is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines. The Shiva lingam is very rare as the structure is inverted. Many devotees come here just to pay their respects. Moreover, in the forest is a point where River Bhima originates. Hence, the name Bhima-Shankar. The Bhimashankar temple, Hanuman Lake and Gupt Bhimashankar are some places to visit in Bhimashankar.

There are two routes for Bhimashankar Trek – one via Shidi Ghat and another via Ganesh Ghat. There is a temple of Lord Ganesha on the later. The route via Ganesh Ghat is easier than Shidi Ghat. The base village for both the routes is Khandas. The route via Shidi Ghat has several ladders and a rocky patch too. The area gets slippery in the monsoon. There are some caves on the way where you can rest. In monsoon, you will see some waterfalls and gurgling streams. The route via Ganesh Ghat is equally scenic. Alternatively, you can take your vehicle via the motor road to the Bhimashankar Temple and Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary.

Trek time: 4 hours via Shidi Ghat and via Ganesh Ghat | Level: Moderate | Height: 1036 m | Pune to Bhimashankar: 110 km | Food: Hotels near the temple.

Andharban Forest Trek

Andharban literally means ‘a dark forest’. This is a forested area near the Amby Valley in Maharashtra. The speciality of this trek is that it is completely descending trek. The trek ends near the backwaters of Bhira Dam. There are no food stalls on the route. The trail goes through a dense forest in the Kundalika Valley. In the monsoon, numerous waterfalls and gurgling streams can be found here. Although it is a sloping terrain, the trek takes some time as the route gets slippery in monsoon. You will have to wade through some streams along the way. There is an entry fee.

Trek distance: 13 km oneway | Trek time: 4-5 hours | Level: Easy | Height: 658 m | Pune to Andharban: 50 km | Food: Carry your food.

Dukes nose Trek

Dukes Nose is a mountain in Lonavala – Khandala near Pune. It is known by other names like – Nagphani or Cobra’s Hood, due to its pointed shape. There are two routes to reach the top. One route starts at Khandala railway station and another from Kurvande village. It is an easy trek and gets a bit rocky and steep near the top. You can see the beautiful hills of Lonavala and Khandala, Bombay-Pune Highway and some rail-lines from the top. The area is excellent in the monsoon, with lush greenery and waterfalls all around. There is a small temple of Lord Shiva on the top.

Trek distance: from Khandala: 6 km oneway, via Kurvande village: 2 km | Trek time: from Khandala: 3-4 hours, via Kurvande village: 1-3 hours | Level: Easy | Height: 975 m | Pune to Dukes Nose: 73 km | Food: Restaurants in Lonavala and Khandala.

Bonus: Dudhsagar Waterfall Trek

Dudhsagar Waterfall is a set of waterfalls in the state of Goa. It is near to the state of Maharashtra in India. The waterfalls are active only in the monsoon. The trekking trail starts from the train station of Kulem. From there you have to go through Braganza Ghat and a few tunnels before you reach the Dudhsagar Falls.

Trek distance: 11 km oneway | Trek time: 5-7 hours | Level: Moderate | Waterfalls Height: 320 m | Pune to Dudhsagar Falls: 446 km.

Planning for treks near Pune

Best time for Treks near Pune

As mentioned earlier, the entire terrain is tropical. That means intense hot summers and no winter snows. Needless to say, the best time to plan your treks near Pune is the Monsoon (June – Sept). During the rainy season, all the hills and mountains are wet and green. The views are amazing and waterfalls are flowing. But at some trekking spots near Pune, the rains make it a challenge for the climb.

There is nothing dangerous in the monsoon treks near Pune. Still, if you hate the wet and rains, then you should plan, trekking near Pune in Winter (Sept – Feb).

Average temperatures are as follows:

• Summer (Mar-May): 30°C to 40°C
• Monsoon (Jun-Sept): 20°C to 30°C
• Winter(Oct-Feb): 10°C to 30°C

Rough itinerary and budget

You can stay in Pune city and cover the majority of top treks near Pune in 4 to 5 days. You can plan one day trek near Pune to these forts in Pune – Sinhagad, Rajmachi, Lohagad and Visapur Forts. For more challenging treks near Pune visit – Harishchandragad, Sandhan Valley, Rajgad Fort. You can plan your itinerary as per your preference. Some treks in Pune like Visapur and Lohagad can be done in a single day if you start early.

Ideal rough budget will be around $10 or ₹700 per day. If you plan on camping outdoors and have your equipment then even less. If you decide to go with one of the trekking clubs in Pune, then it will be $20-25 or ₹ 1500-2000 per trek. Most of these trekking groups in Pune will arrange a trekking guide and food along with a proper itinerary for you.

FAQs about Trekking near Pune

Pune City Travel Guide

If you are from Pune or visiting Pune, check my Pune Travel Guide here.