Swayamjeet201 · Lohagad Fort, A view from Top.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Lohagad Fort
A 1,033-metre hill fort that held Shivaji’s treasury, with four intact gates.
Lohagad Fort
Lohagad rises to 1,033 metres above Malavli and is one of the most complete of the Maharashtra hill forts, which is why it is climbed more than almost any other. Shivaji took it in 1648 and lost it to the Mughals in 1665 under the Treaty of Purandar; he recaptured it in 1670 and used it to keep his treasury, and it remained in Maratha hands until March 1818. Its four large gates are still standing and reasonably intact, which is unusual — most forts on this escarpment are reduced to their walls. From the summit the hill runs north-west into a narrow fortified spur called Vinchu Kata, the scorpion’s tail, for the shape it makes against the plateau. In the monsoon the whole thing disappears into cloud and reappears, which is when most people walk it.
Explore Lohagad Fort on the map
City locations, drawn from our published destination data. Attractions, hotels and restaurants are not mapped yet.
What to see
Four gates in sequence, then a plateau and a spur.
The ascent
- The four large gates, still standing and reasonably intact, taken in order on the way up.
- The stepped path from Lohagadwadi, which is the usual approach.
On top
- The summit plateau at 1,033 m, with the Pavana valley on one side.
- Vinchu Kata — the scorpion’s tail — the fortified spur running north-west.
- The cisterns and the remains of the fort buildings across the top.
Getting there
From Malavli station, on foot for the last part.
Arriving
- Malavli, on the Mumbai–Pune railway, is the station; the fort is reached from there via Lohagadwadi.
- By road it is a short drive from Lonavala to the base village, then a climb.
- The fort is 52 km north-west of Pune.
Best time
The monsoon is the famous season and the hardest one.
When to go
- June to September, when the escarpment is green and cloud moves across the plateau — and the rock is wet.
- October to February is the easier climb, with clear long views from Vinchu Kata.
- Start early in any season; the ascent is exposed.
Visitor intelligence
A walk, not a drive, and a busy one at weekends.
Practical
- The last approach is on foot and stepped; there is no road to the top.
- Carry water — there is little reliable shade on the ascent.
- Weekends in the monsoon bring very large numbers of walkers onto a narrow path.
- Vinchu Kata is a narrow spur with drops on both sides; it is not a place to be careless in wet weather.
Nearby
The caves below and the town beyond.
Frequently asked
Plan your journey
Our travel designers turn knowledge and inspiration into a journey crafted entirely around you.
Plan My Journey →