The monsoon season has arrived and its now time for adventure enthusiast to have some real fun in the rains in the midst of nature.Situated in the western ghats of Maharashtra are the Sahyadri mountain ranges that are full of trekking locations and ancient forts built by famous kings of the bygone era. During monsoon these destinations provide adventure enthusiast with a number of opportunities like trekking, rock climbing, rappelling and camping.
Monsoon is the right time for trekkers to discover new locations, enjoy new adventures and have some fun in the midst of waterfalls and streams on a trekking trail and at the end, treat themselves to piping hot Khanda Bhajyas, Vada Pav and a Special Cutting Chai.
Here are the best monsoon treks to try out near Mumbai.
Raigad Fort Trek
The Raigad fort was built by Shivaji Maharaj, and was made his capital in the year 1674, when he was crowned King of the Maratha Empire.
In present times, the Raigad Fort is known for its immense beauty and waterfalls, and remains a paradise for trekkers, hikers and campers from Mumbai and Pune. This fort is strategically perched atop a wedge-shaped block of hill, split off from the Western Ghats and is inaccessible from three sides. The fort rises at 2700 feet above sea level and is located in the Sahyadri mountain range and trekking here is a great experience.
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Prabalgad Fort Trek
The Prabalgad Fort is situated between Panvel and Matheran at a height of 2300 feet in the Western Ghats. It was built on a rocky plateau and was known as Muranajan during the rule of the Bahmani Sultanate, but was renamed by the Marathas under the rule of Shivaji.
The trek begins at the base village of Thakurwadi, initially it is an easy trek, but as it progresses, it does have a few difficult climbs and can be attempted by beginners.Once at the summit you will find a huge plateau without any fort structure, but being here is an awesome feeling as you are now at the peak in the middle of a jungle.
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Sudhagad Fort Trek
The origins of the fort can be traced to the 2nd – century when it was originally called as ‘Bhorapgad’. According to historical records, during the early part of the 15th century the fort was captured by the Bahamani Sultan and later in the 16th – century it was captured by the Marathas and named ‘Sudhagad’ which means Sweet One in Marathi.
The Sudhagad fort is one of the most beautiful forts in the Sahyadri ranges and is mostly visited by trekkers for a one day trek as it has a very easy endurance level.Sudhagad is an amazing place to trek during the monsoon and seems like a stairway to heaven.The fort is surrounded by lush greenery and the weather is just beautiful.
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Mahuli Fort Trek
The creator of this fort is unknown, but the fort, traces its origins to the 15th century and has been ruled by several rulers, the prominent ones being the Marathas and the Mughals.
The Mahuli Mountain is the highest in the Thane district and is famous for its pinnacles. The trek covers 3 hills and every year experienced trekkers and rock climbers plan their expedition here.Monsoon and winter are ideal for trekking and rock climbing at Mahuli, but this trek is not advisable for beginners as the trek has several steep climbs and above all it’s a long trek that takes about 3 hours to reach the top.
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Rajmachi Fort Trek
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,and served as a strategic fort to control the historical trade routes.
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.
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Lohagad Fort Trek
Nicknamed as ‘The Iron Fort’, it was built and extensively used by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Today, it is one of the favorite destinations for trekkers especially during monsoon season and every year it attracts trekkers and tourist from Mumbai and Pune.
Usually seen as a beginners trek, the fort is a perfect blend of history and adventure. During monsoon the top of the fort is covered with mist and clouds. The surrounding hills are covered in shades of green making it a sight to behold.The fort is easily accessible as there are only steps and less amount of trekking required.
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So get ready for an amazing trek near Mumbai this monsoon as the weather plays a perfect host and will help you witness some of the most majestic forts on the Sahyadri mountain ranges.
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.
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