Karnala fort is one of simple trek so popular near Mumbai and Pune. There is a bird sanctuary at the base of the fort. So it is good for family picnic spot. Total 7 seven hours are sufficient to ascend, to explore, to meal and to descend.
How to Reach : About 130km from Pune and 3 hours journey. Pune-Mumbai highway-Lonavla-Khandala-Panvel-Turn Left from highway traffic police station, Panvel to Highway 66 Panvel to Goa highway- after about 12 km you will reach to Karnala Bird Sanctuary and Fort base.
You see the fort on the left side of the road as shown in the photo below.
Parking and Food : The trek starts from Karnala Bird Sanctuary, so you need to enter in the sanctuary. There is paid parking for bird sanctuary. Park here and take a entry ticket from the gate which was Rs. 40 per head and parking extra when I visited in 2019. There are many restaurants in the sanctuary where you can place your order and take in after the trek or carry with you.
Contact No for Food
Bird Sanctuary Entry : You can see birds in the cage there. Some restaurants here, you can have breakfast or food here.
Plastic deposit collection table
Information about Bird Sanctuary
Follow No.4 Trail.
About the Trek : Total 1 and half hour are required to reach on the Top. Total 5 hours sufficient including ascending, exploring, food and descending.
There is no food and water on the trek or the fort. so carry enough water and food with you. Since climate is hot and humid here, carry more water than usual.
Simple trek suitable for all ages. Little risk in the rainy days since land becomes slippery. Follow the the display boards from the sanctuary to find the trek route. follow the most used trail otherwise you may lost in the jungle. There is dense forest around the fort. So just be careful and go with the biggest trail.
First 40/50 minutes a hike from a dense forest up to Nagesh point. Take left side to for the Karnala fort.
In 20/30 minute straight walk there from grass. Then you will see the fort. The fort is not so big. 30 minutes are enough the explore the fort.
To visualize the trek, see the photos below which are arranged in the sequence of ascend.
Trek Route - It is from Karnala Bird sanctuary
My Trekking Paltan Pune Group - from left to right - Raviraj Thorat, Myself Dr. Suresh Isave, Sainath Jagdale, Khandu Dayal, Sherya Gaikwad, Dr. Milind Gaikwad, Shivam Gaikwad, Kumar Khunte and Lalit Bagal
We met other trekking group there.
Way to Karnala Fort 
Take right after the Nagesh point
Karnai devi Temple
Visitors do not climb the chimney like structure, they just take a round of it. Climbing equipment, experts and permission is required to climb that portion.
Myself
Steps in narrow passage
On the Fort
Other side of the Fort Karnala
Lunch break
As per our mission We Trekking Paltan Group always collected plastic waste thrown by visitors.
