Mohangad Fort ( Durgadi cha Fort) Trek

Mohangad Fort Trek

This fort also called Durgadi's Fort. It is named after the base village 'Durgadi'. Its a simple trek. Very beautiful in monsoon. Many Hindu visit the fort in 'Navratra' the Hindu festival of Goddess to make darshan of Goddess Durga Temple on the fort.

This fort is newly discovered so not known to many people. So go with group and hire a local guide from the village.

How to Reach - About 100 km. from Pune to base village Durgadi village. It will take 3 to 3.30 hours. The Ghat road is motorable but not in good condition. Very beautiful Journey in monsoon with lots of waterfalls. There are veg/non-veg restaurants on frequent distance.  

Pune-Bhor-(State highway 70)Nigudghar-Varandha ghat-Hirdoshi-Take right turn to Shirgaon/Durgade village from main road - Durgadi is approx. 7 km. from main road.

This turn is crucial because no mark or board is there on the road. This turn is approx. 35 km from Bhor.

This turn takes you other side of backwater.  

Journey from Bhor to Durgadi village is along with Neera Devghar Dam's backwater. There is small restaurant on the turn called Hotel Mohangad, but open sometimes. In case lost ask for Durgadi village. 

Parking - Parking is free and unsupervised in Durgadi village.

Food n Stay - There are many restaurants available on Varandha Ghat. There is no restaurants in base village i.e. Durgadi, but homemade food can be made available on demand by villagers. Homely stay available at Durgadi village. Hotels for stay available to nearby cities like Bhor and Mahad.

About the Trek - 

There are two trek routes from base village. 

1. From Durga Mandir (easier) - 2:30/3 hrs. will require to reach on the top. Its a simple trek route. Better for car and bus parking. The mandir comes about 2 km after turning main road. There are few farm houses around. There are no houses around the mandir. Actual Durgadi village is further on distance of 5 km. If you dont have food, then first go to village , make arrangements then come back and start trek. This is simple trek, no more risky spots. You can see fort in front of you, follow it. 

2. From Jani Andhari Baji Mandir-Durgadi village - Its little difficult than first one. Need 2 hours to reach on the top. Take guide of you going from this route. Recoomanded only for experienced trekkers. First reach to Durgadi village, ask them about Jani Andhari Baji Temple or parking. Its a right hand turn from the village. It is very rough road with stones. Cars not recommended on this road. Also difficult for Buses. The temple is about 2 km from settlement in remote and lonely place. 

Guide is must from this route. 

Route 2: Take care where cross is made.

Need to follow proper trek route. There are many diverting routes. Keep watch on the fort and slope to select right route. Go right turn to ascend. Then go to narrow pass (Khind), then take left turn which going in ascending direction. Then there will three small plateau like spots and thick vegetation spots. After 70/80 minutes you will will be on the top and can see huge rock patch. You may confuse how to climb it to be on the top of fort. That's why guide is commanded on this route. Follow the  right side route which is taking you in dense forest. Actually its going the other side of the fort where the entrance. Th e route is thrilling through forest and slope. Keep walking straight ahead for 20/30 minutes unless you reach open space which is other side of the fort. This is spot where the other trek route confluence. A small stones are kept here to construct a small temple. Then go the other side route for 5 minutes, the route start ascend with rocky, simple patches. Then follow the rock cut raw steps. Take great care on the steps. Smooth and slippery in rainy days. After 15/20 minutes you will be on the top when you see ' Durgamata" Temple. This is almost end of trek. 

What to See - There is no fortification found on the fort. There is no water found. Durgamata Temple is the only monument on the top. There is small plateau behind the temple which is the highest point on the fort. You have great panoramic view of around area. You can have your food here. 20/30 minutes are enough to explore the top.
View from Top - Raireshwar fort, Rohida fort, Mangalgad, Kawlyagad, Raigad, Torna, Rajgad, Mahabaleshwar, Varandha ghat, Mahad, Neera Devghar Dam etc.

Safety -

• Don't go alone, its a lonely place. Go with experienced company. 
• It is not a popular trek, so take guide from a village.
• carry sufficient water because no water available on trek route or on the fort.
• Few portion of the route are with dense vegetation, so return before dark.
• Some spots with risky slopes, take care in rainy season.
• Take correct turn from main road towards Durgadi village because there is guiding board

 

Pandavgad Fort Trek

Pandhavgad 

Pandavgad is not well known fort for trekking ! You will hardly meet any trekker on the fort. It is one of easy trek. The fort top is a private property, how dont know. 

How to Reach :

Its about 75 km from Pune. There are two way to reach the base village  Gundewadi.

1. Pune-Bablore Highway-Shirwal-Surur-right turn to Wai- from Wai city go to Mandhardevi-at the beginning Mandhardevi ghat-Gundewadi village-park vehicle ( 95 km)

2.PuneBanlore highway-Kapurhole- right turn to Bhor - Bhor city-take left turn from Shivaji maharaj statue in Bhor city to Mandhardevi road-ride up to Mandhardevi ghat-take right turn on the top of ghat to Wai road-ride down the ghat-at the end of the ghat you will reach Gundewadi-the base village- park vehicle (75 km)

From both side roads are in good condition.

Parking : No specific parking place, but villagers have kept place for parking for trekkers in theor farms with no charge.

Food and Stay : Carry your food with you. No food and water at the base and on the fort as well. Although there are many restaurants nearby area of 5 km to the fort e.g. Mandhardevi ghat and Wai city.

About Trek :

The trek is simple. It will take around an hour to reach on the top. There is medium ascend. Start from the house near the road. Ask them in case not find a path.

 Once you get a path follow the trail which is ascending in zigzag manner. after 40 to 50 minutes you will be on the top. There is house of care taker of the owner of the fort. You need to make write your name and contact numbers in entry registration. Then Explore the fort.

What to See : 

There are not much left on the fort.  There are many water tanks (Taake) on the fort.take left after care taker's hut to proceed the Main Darwaja of the Ballekilla of the fort which tall but fallen with top ark. The Darawaja is in good condition. Further you will see wall of the ballekilla. Its called the Nana Fadavis wada. Then there is a Temple of Lord Hanuman. Nearby there is a grinder made of stone. Take a right side path which takes you to a Temple of Pandajaidevi temple.

There is one buruz at the east side from where you can see beautiful landscape of Wai Panchagani area.
The fort top is vast and plain like a plateau. From the fort we can see Panchgani, Wai, Dhom dam, Menvali village, Mahabaleshwar, Kamalgad fort, Mandherdevi temple, Rohida fort, Kenjal fort and Raireshwar fort etc.
There are cave on the other base village i.e. Dhavdi village.

Nearby Places :
Following places can be visited during you visit of Pandavgad fort - Bhor, Bhatghar dam, Neera devghar dam, Varandhaghat, Rohida fort, Raireshwar fort, Kenjal fort, Wai Lord Ganesh Temple, Shooting points of Menwali, Dhom dam, Panchgani, Mahabaleshwar, Kamalgad fort, Mandhardevi ghat and temple etc.

Our Activity :
I visited on 24th June 2018 with my team mates of Trekking Plaltan group. Trekking platan group is self motivated group of members who loves trekking and loves to forts, so we make destination clean from harmful components to  environment. In this trek following members of Trekking Paltan group participated in the campaign - Sainath Jagdale, Parhuram Bhangare, Hanumant Londhe, Sandip Jadhav, Nitin Kulkarni and Hemant Patil. We carried out cleanliness campaign on the fort. We collected plastic bottles, food rappers and carry bags etc.
We also clean the holy walls of Pandajai devi temple on which names of lovers, mobile numbers and vulgar words written on it by careless tourists.

Dr.Suresh Isave,Hemant Patil,Hanumant Londhe,Parshuram Bhangare,Sandip Jadhav,Sainath Jagdale