Wondering where to head next in the monsoon for trekking? Rajgad Fort is the answer! This majestic fort is a testament of ancient battles and legendary Maratha warriors.
This adventure isn’t just about a climb; it’s a journey back in time to the heart of Maratha pride. So, lace up your shoes, grab your thirst-quenching water bottle, and get ready for breathtaking views, historic landmarks, and a trek that will leave you feeling like a true explorer!
In this blog, I will explain a comprehensive guide of exploring Rajgad and a few tips if you wish to camp there overnight! I will also share my personal experience of climbing this fort and exploring the history. Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
History of Rajgad Fort
Rajgad, as the name suggests, was the Capital of Maratha Kingdom for 26 years before moving it to Raigad. It was originally called as Murumbdev and Ch. Shivaji Maharaj captured in in 1647.
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This fort has witnessed major events such as birth of Shivaji Maharaj’s son- Rajaram, death of Shivaji Maharaj’s wife- Saibai, and the king’s return from Agra! The fort served as a base for military operations and a refuge during times of war.
Even during the Purandar Treaty, when Shivaji Maharaj gave many forts back to Mughals, he held his hand on Rajgad. The fort was a gem because of its tsrategic location.
How to Reach Rajgad Fort
There are two routes for this trek- 1. Pali (easier) 2. Gunjawane
The nearest airport ir the railway station in Pune.
Distance between Pune to Rajgad: 62 kms
How to reach Rajgad from Mumbai
You can reach Pune first by road, flight or train. Pune is very well connected to Mumbai and other parts of India. Once you reach Pune, you can hire a bike or a car to reach the base village, depending on your preference- Pali or Gunjawane.
Also, there aare many buses available to reach the base village from Swargate. It could take a bit more time.
Gunjanve village route: This is the most popular route, starting from the Gunjanve village. It’s a moderate trek that takes around 2-3 hours to complete. The trail goes through Chor Darwaza (thieves’ gate), offering stunning views of the surrounding valley.
Pali village route: This route is considered to be easier than the Gunjanve route, but it’s also longer. It takes around 3-4 hours to complete and starts from the Pali village. The trail goes through Pali Darwaza (main gate).
General Information About Rajgad Fort
Entry Fee- No Entry Fee
Opening Hours- 24 hours
Rajgad Fort Height- 1,395 meters (4,577 feet)
Rajgad Fort Trek Distance- Depending on the route you choose- 5-7 kms.
Difficulty Level- easy to moderate
Duration of Rajgad Fort Trek– Depending on the route you choose- around 4 hours
8 Places to Visit at Rajgad Fort
Sanjivani Machi: This is the highest plateau within the fort and was the location of Shivaji Maharaj’s palace complex. Here, you’ll find remnants of the queen’s quarters, a water cistern, and an open platform. This machi is the best spot for spotting a serene sunset.
Padmavati Temple: Dedicated to Goddess Padmavati, this temple is located on Padmavati Machi, another plateau within the fort. The temple is believed to have been built by Shivaji Maharaj’s mother and offers scenic views. Many people who wants to stay here overnight, stay in the premises of Padmavati temple.
Rameshwar Temple: This small temple, located near the Gunjanve gate, is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Saibai’s Tomb: The tomb of Saibai, Shivaji’s first wife, is a simple structure located on the way to Sanjivani Machi.
Sutara Buruj (Broken Bastion): This bastion offers panoramic views of the surrounding valley. It’s said that the bastion was deliberately broken by Shivaji Maharaj to make it appear less formidable to enemies.
Pali Darwaza (Main Gate): This is the main entrance gate to the fort if you take the Pali village route.
Chor Darwaza (Thieves’ Gate): This is a smaller gate located on the Gunjanve route. Legend has it that Shivaji Maharaj used this gate to launch surprise attacks on enemies.
Suvela Machi: This machi is in the east side and offers stunning sunrise views.
Food Availability at Rajgad Fort
Food is available at the base village not on the fort. You will need to carry your food and water along with you. You might spot vendors selling lemon juice all along the route but nothing more. Probably you will see someone selling fruits or cucumber, etc. If you are planning to stay on the fort, ensure you are carrying enough water and carrying packed food from the base.
Personal experience of Trekking Rajgad Fort
I have done this trek 2 years ago, in the scorching heat of October! I was staying at my friend’s place and we had decided to climb early in the morning before the heat becomes unbearable. But due to some reason, we left the house at 12 PM. His house was around 40kms from the base village- Gunjavane. We had our brunch en route in Velhe village and by the time we reached at the base, it had already become hot.
We had decided to camp at the fort. My friend was carrying a tent which was weighing around 10-12kg and I was carrying a bag that has everything from camping accessories, food and several litres of water, almost weighing around 10 kg.
We packed our dinner at the base. We started walking through the parking which was huge and a proof that we were late and the fort is going to be very crowded. With that weight on our backs we started walking on the rocky, pebbly route with no shadow wahtsoever to be seen. The sun was exhausting us and we had to rest every 10 mins.
We were badly dehydrated; but, lemon juice came to our rescue. We saved water that we had brought with us and drank lemon juice from the sellers. We almost had 10-15 glasses of lemon juice until we reached the temple. It took 2 hours to reach to the temple. If we were not carrying bags and if it wasn’t sunny, we would have covered that road in just 45 minutes.
Around 4 PM, we reached this temple where everyone had already pitched their tents. This is almost the center point of the fort. There are two Machi on the fort in opposite direction. We decided to go to Sanjeevani Machi for sunset and we watched a sunset that was beyond anything that can describe its magnificance. Here is the timelapse-
This timelapse was captured by my friend who stayed back at the Sanjeevani Machi Balekilla. I went ahead to the point where you can see clouds pouring out. There was a group of people who enacted one of the Powads of Ch. Shivaji Maharaj. This should be counted as the best sunsets of my entire travel life.
It takes almost an hour and more to reach Sanjeevani Machi from the Balekilla. But after sunset I had to literally run back before it gets too dark, because we had forgotten to carry torches. Our initial plan was to camp at Suvela Machi which is in the east. But that area is covered in jungle and if something goes wrong, getting help would be very difficult.
A few locals suggested to stay near Balekilla due to safety concerns. But my friend was upset. After a lot of arguments we finally decided to pitch tent at the base of balekilla. I was extremely exhausted and went to sleep without having dinner. My friends- Saurabh had his dinner, went out. My sleep was broken due to cold. The scorching heat has turned into spine-chilling cold.
We woke up early in the morning around 4 am because we wanted to go to Suvela Machi to watch sunrise. When we wrapped our tent, we realised the fort was covered with dense fogg and we could not reach Suvela machi in the fogg. We decided to go to Balekilla for sunrise.
The climb was definietly challenging. The rock patch is difficult for petite people like me. The rocks are poked outside, push you backwards. The fogg had made it even slippery and dark. There are safety railings on the side but most of them were broken. Finally we reached the main entrance of the Balekilla and later it was easier to walk.
It stayed covered with fogg for several hours and we could not watch that sunrise we had planned for. We explored courtroom of the King, chambers and more on the Balekilla. After a while we started walking towards Suvela Machi. It again started getting hot and sunny and we were hungry!
But we didn’t stop. We kept walking, climbing, helping others to climb, capturing amazing landscapes. We reached the far end of the Suvela Machi. We sat there and fell asleep for an hour. The most peaceful sleep I had ever experienced in my life is in Sahyadri, Hands down!
By the time we started walking back towards Balekilla, we saw that the fort had become even more crowded, because it was Sunday. There is a Nedhe on Rajgad. But it was extremely crowded that we did climb the rocky patch but could not stay there more than 3-4 minutes. Everyone just wanted to click pictures and videos. The view here is stunning though.
Then we started descending. At this point, my legs started trembling, because, we ran out of water, I was exhausted by carrying weight on empty stomach. When we were just half an hour away from the parking, we decided to rest. Many people were sleeping on the ground in the shadows of trees. It was surreal. We slept for almost an hour.
We had to rush back because I had to come back to Mumbai. It rained a lot that evening and I ended up missing my train.
If you are ever in Pune and want to explore History and pitch your tents in the woods, Rajgad fort is the location for you!
Things to Keep in Mind while Climbing Rajgad Fort
- The best time to visit Rajgad Fort is during the winter months (October to February) when the weather is pleasant for trekking.
- Wear comfortable shoes with good grip, as the trails can be slippery, especially during the monsoon season.
- Carry plenty of water and snacks, as there are no shops available on the way up.
- Be sure to pack sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses to protect yourself from the sun.
- There are basic amenities like toilets and changing rooms available near the starting points of the trek. However, proper restrooms are not available on the fort itself.
Paid Trekking Groups
- Rajgad Night Trek and Camping
- Rajgad Trek, Pune
- Rajgad Fort Night Trek & Camping| Pune
- Rajgad Fort Trek from Pune
Camping at Rajgad Fort
Camping at Rajgad is allowed. You can carry your own tent or can rent one from the locals. The rates are around INR 400 for a double sharing tent for one night. Most providers carry the tent for you for additional charges.
You can hardly contact anyone from the top. So, it is suggested to rent tents and buy food beforehand only.
If you don,t want to rent tents, you can simple stay at padmawati temple. You will need to carry your pillows, blankets. The nights are mostly always chilly, so it’s better to stay prepared.
You can camp on Balekilla. There is plenty of space where you can pitch tents. But remember, that area get chilly and windy at night. Ensure you have a sturdy tent that can withstand winds, cold and rain.
You can camp NEAR Suvela or Sanjeewani Machi. However, locals do not recommend camping here due to its lack of connectivity to the village. If you need help, it will take a lot of time until you can contact someone. Plus these areas are too close to forests and wild animals can be encountered.
Responsible Trekking in Sahyadri
- Be sure that you are only leaving footprints in the beautiful nature of Sahyadri.
- Do not litter garbage.
- Carry a garbage bag for your litter.
- Carry a metal water bottle rather than a plastic one.
- Carry your food in the lunch box rather than plastic bags.
- Avoid feeding wild animals.
- Do not harm plants and animals in the area.
- Do not contaminate the water bodies.
- Do not play loud music in the jungles. Enjoy nature’s peace and let everyone enjoy.
- Do not engage in activities like consuming drugs and alcohol.
- Do not write anything on the historic places such as walls.
- Sahyadri can be really unpredictable in terms of nature. Ensure you are taking every safety measure while wandering.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rajgad Fort
How difficult is the Rajgad Fort trek?
The difficulty of the trek depends on the route you choose. The Gunjanve route is considered moderate and takes 2-3 hours, while the Pali route is easier but longer (3-4 hours).
How long does it take to trek to Rajgad Fort?
As mentioned above, expect 2-3 hours for Gunjanve and 3-4 hours for Pali. This is a one-way trip, so double it for the total trek time.
The difficulty of the trek depends on the route you choose. The Gunjanve route is considered moderate and takes 2-3 hours, while the Pali route is easier but longer (3-4 hours).
What is the best time to visit Rajgad Fort?
The best time is during the winter months (October to February) when the weather is pleasant for trekking.
What are the entry fees for Rajgad Fort?
There is no official entry fee to access the fort itself.
How to get to Rajgad Fort?
Pune is the most common starting point. You can reach the base village (Gunjanve or Pali) by car, taxi, or bus.
What are the places to visit within Rajgad Fort?
Some must-see spots include Sanjivani Machi (palace complex), Padmavati Temple, Rameshwar Temple, Saibai’s Tomb, Sutara Buruj, Pali Darwaza (main gate), and Chor Darwaza (thieves’ gate).
Is camping allowed at Rajgad Fort?
Yes, camping is allowed near the Padmavati temple. You can also stay in the temple itself if you don’t have a tent (limited capacity).
Are there any shops available on the trek?
No, there are no shops on the way up. Bring plenty of water and snacks.
What facilities are available at the fort?
There are basic amenities like toilets and changing rooms near the starting points of the trek. However, proper restrooms are not available on the fort itself.
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Such a great guide for the Rajgad Fort Trek! I love how detailed and informative it is, especially the tips on the trek’s difficulty and what to carry. The history of the fort adds so much more value to the trek. How long does the trek take on average? I’m planning my visit soon and would love to know more. Thanks for sharing this!