If you are looking for a weekend gateway near Pune, Sinhagad fort has to be on top of your list. “Walking in the clouds on the top of the world” is what you experience here.
Sinhagad Fort is well known place for Punites. Hence it is needless to mention how to reach this place. Normally everyone follows the famous route vis Sinhagad Road – Kadakwasla Dam & then onwards to Sinhagad fort. However I follow a different route which is completely scenic & through jungles.
The route – Drive on Satara Highway for 6 KM from Chandani Chowk –> Then Turn Right towards Khed Shivapur Kondanpur Road –> After 1.7 KM turn right onto Sinhagad Ghat Road and then you reach Sinhagad Fort parking place. Total distance from house in Kothrud is 36 KM. Once you turn onto Khed – Shivapur – Kondanpur road, you are all the time accompanied by lush green fields, green cladded hills and clouds touching the hill top. Complete Road is full of scenic beauty. Some of the photographs clicked on the way are posted below.
Once you park your vehicle in the parking lot, many hoteliers will chase you for food order. But you get all the items even on the top of the fort. Hence no need to order anything here. Before you start the climb, look for the valley seen from the parking level. Beautiful view of lush green hills is visible. You can click some pictures & then proceed to climb.
Then you start the little climb on to the top of the fort. It is just a walk uphil & not really trekking. There are nice steps to climb. First you encounter Pune Darwaza 1 You can enjoy hot Bhutta or roasted corn here. This is favorite photo stop for all the visitors. If you are visiting on Sunday or on a public holiday then you encounter a traffic jam here like Mount Everest. See the pics below.
Once you reach plateau, you experience the low visibility due to clouds at low level. It is really exciting to walk in the clouds. Here you can spend some time walking across the ends. The end of plateau you see deep valley once again green hills. It’s a treat to eyes to watch different shades of green and yellow. Once again a photo stop here and then you can walk towards the Kalyan Darwaza. The walk is once again through the clouds surrounded by beautiful architecture of the fort.
Once you are back from Kalyan Darwaza and all other places of interest on the fort, you can enjoy delicious Kanda bhaji and Hot Pithala Bhakari. It is amazing experience to enjoy your hot meal sitting in the fog and watching the rain showers.
While returning home you can go via Khadakwasla dam and enjoy the view there.
Historical background of Sinhagad – Sinhagad is a hill fortress located at around 35 km southwest of the city of Pune, India. Some of the information available at this fort suggests that the fort could have been built 2000 years ago. The caves and the carvings in the Kaundinyeshwar temple stand as proofs for the same. Wikipedia.
