Location:  Can be reached via Karjat / Lonavala
Distance from Mumbai: 95 Km
Distance from Pune: 80 Km
Trekking Duration: 1 day
Trek Length: Via Lonavala: 2 hr. / Via Karjat : 2 hr
Starting Point:  Base village Udhewadi
Best Season to Visit: All round the year (Monsoon preferable)
Difficulty Level: Easy
Height: 826 mt (2710 feet) above sea level

A brief history :

It is believed that the Rajmachi fort was first established by the Satavahanas. In recent history the fort was in control of the Marathas under the leadership of Shivaji Maharaj  during the 16th century and served as a strategic fort to control the historical trade routes. Later in the 17th – century the fort was captured by the Mughals for a brief period be recaptured by the Marathas again and finally, after the downfall of the Maratha empire the ownership of the fort was taken by the British empire.

Located in the Sahyadri mountain ranges near the twin hill stations of Lonavala and Khandala is the beautiful Rajmachi fort.The Rajmachi peak offers breathtaking views of the valley and has 2 fortified structures i.e. Shrivardhan fort and Manaranjan fort. The fort offers one of the most beautiful treks near Mumbai.

Rajmachi can be reached by 2 routes i.e. via Kondivade village near Karjat, which involves a climb-up of about 2000 feet.While the other route is from Lonavala, which is easy and almost a 20 km plain trek via Udhewadi village.

The trekking route on both sides is surrounded by dense forests hence during monsoon trekkers will pass by beautiful waterfalls, streams and lush green landscapes.

What to see at the fort:

• The fortified structures of Shrivardhan and Manaranjan
• Buddist Caves
• Kal Bhairava temple and ancient monuments.
• Might walls and gateways
• Secret exit gateways
• Water storage tanks
• Residential quarters now in a state of ruin

Camping Info:

During monsoon ideally avoid camping as it can be dangerous unless you are part of a professional group of trekkers and campers. Otherwise Rajmachi fort is an ideal fort for camping. There are 2 caves within the vicinity and can accommodate a large group of campers. In case you would not like to camp in the wild you can opt for a stay at the Kalbhairavnath temple which is at the base of the fort.Trekkers will also find camping facilities at the base village of Udhivade.

How to reach:  

Trekkers from Mumbai can reach Lonavala or Karjat by bus, train or car, from there on trekkers can reach the Rajmachi fort  by the following routes.

From Lonavala they will have to reach Tungrali village and start the trek while those coming from Karjat will have to reach Kondivade village and start their trek. Both the trek routes converge at the Udhivade village which is the base village for Rajmachi Fort Trek.

For bookings for a Monsoon Trek to Rajmachi  Fort  PLEASE CLICK  HERE

Caution: The roads and trails leading to the fort are quite slippery during Monsoon so be careful while venturing on a trek.For more information read: Precautions to be taken during Monsoon trekking.