Lohagad Fort Lonavala Entry Fee
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Lohagad Fort Lonavala Address: Lohagad Trek Rd, Maharashtra, 410406, India
Perched atop a hillock, Lohagad Fort is one of the most visited forts in the region. It’s an ideal destination for trekking, and you can visit it on a day trip. The place is a trekker’s delight.
The name of the fort means Iron Fort, and because of this, it goes by the name Lonavala Iron Fort as well. Lohagad Fort Lonavala served as a crucial military base for many kingdoms, including the Mughal and the Maratha empires. It’s considered among the strongest hill forts.
While major fortifications in Lohagad Fort seem to have been done during the medieval period, it’s believed that the initial construction started over 2000 years ago.
Whether you visit Lohagad Fort for its lush green beauty, adventurous trekking experience or admirable history, it’s worth the time spent. It also offers panoramic views of the region.
Where is Lohagad Fort?
Lohagad is a beautiful hilltop fort, 14 km away from Lonavala. It’s considered one of the oldest forts in the region, and it has witnessed numerous wars over the course of time. Today, it has been declared as a protected monument. The lush green surroundings and an easy trekking trail make it a favourite among the trekkers and tourists alike.
History of Lohagad Fort
Inscriptions on the caves near Lohagad Fort suggest that this region was inhabited in the 1st to 2nd century BC. It leads to speculation that the foundation of the fort and the construction of some structures might be around 2000 years old.
The construction of the majority of the fort has been done only in the last few centuries. It has been under the control of several dynasties, including Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas and Marathas. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj kept Lohagad Fort under Maratha control for a long time. He used it to keep his treasury. It was also used as a residence by Maratha Peshwa Nana Phadnavis.
When the British arrived in the region, they captured the fort from the Marathas. After India gained independence, the fort came under the protection of the Indian government.
Architecture of Lohagad Fort
Lonavala Lohagad Fort is built of granite stones cut from the same hill. Limestone has been used for bonding the stones. You can see a strong stonemason work here, with glimpses of ancient Indian architecture.
Mughals made much of the fort into what it is today. Several structures were also added by Marathas and Peshwas.
The most intriguing structure in the fort of Lohagad is Vinchu Kada (meaning scorpion’s sting). As the name suggests, it’s a narrow, fortified region at one side of the fort that resembles the tale of a scorpion.
It has four strong entrances, named Ganesh Darwaja, Narayan Darwaja, Hanuman Darwaja and Maha Darwaja. And all the gates are still intact. They are built of iron, following the Mughal architectural style. Maha Darwaja is the main Lohagad Fort gate. Some exquisite sculpting is still visible on it.
Things to do at Lohagad Fort Lonavala
1. Trekking to the fort complex – Lohagad Fort is an ideal trekking destination because of its ease of trek. The Lohagad Fort trek is a short trek that includes walking up 200+ steps. It’s quite popular during the rain. When you visit the fort in the monsoon season, you can witness the lush green surroundings, with numerous beautiful spots along the way. It’s a scenic trek amidst chirping birds and refreshing mountain air.
2. Admiring the architecture – The fort has four entry gates made of iron. Among these gates, Maha Darwaja has the most exquisite sculptures and carvings on it. Another gate with beautiful sculptures around it is called Ganesh Darwaja. Inside it, there is a broken statue of Ganapati welcoming you. The other two gates in Lohagad Fort are Narayan Darwaja, with a statue of Goddess Parvati inside, and Hanuman Darwaja, with a broken, stone-carved statue of Lord Hanuman. Hanuman Darwaja is said to be the oldest gate of the fort.
3. Checking out the places inside – One of the most popular spots in Lohagad Fort Lonavala is Vinchu Kada (meaning scorpion’s sting). It’s a narrow trekking trail, at the edge of which you can see a bird’s-eye-view of the surrounding region. From Vinchu Kada, you can also see Karla Caves, Bhaja Caves and Pawna Lake. The Lohagad Fort dargah is another must-visit landmark here. Apart from these, the complex has several water reservoirs and a step-well.
4. Visiting rock-cut caves – During your Lohagad Fort trek, you can also see a series of rock-cut caves close to the entrance. While these caves might have been used for shelter in their early days, later, they were used by the Maratha kings to keep their treasury safe. It’s also said that Shivaji used to keep his loot from Surat at Lohagad Fort.
5. Visiting other places near the fort – When you visit Lohagad Fort in Lonavala, you can also take a detour from your trek, and explore Visapur Fort and Bhaja Caves nearby. The Reverse Waterfall is also near the fort, falling on the Lohagad Fort trek route.
Lohagad Fort Trek Details
Lohagad Fort is considered easy and suitable for visitors of all ages. You can drive to the base village and start ascending the steps to the fort. If you want to take a longer route, you can start from Bhaja village. When trekking via the longer route, you can also visit Visapur Fort and Bhaja Caves on the way.
- Lohagad Fort trek difficulty level: Easy to Moderate
- Lohagad Fort trek height: 3389 ft
- Lohagad Fort trek distance: 2-3 km
- Lohagad Fort trek duration: 1-2 hours
- Lohagad Fort base village: Lohagadwadi village
Lohagad Fort Timings and Entry Fee
Lohagad Fort entry timings are from 6 AM to 6 PM. It’s open throughout the year, and you can visit it anytime during the day.
There are no entry fees for Lohagad Fort.
Best time to visit Lohagad Fort
It’s best to do a Lohagad Fort Lonavala trip in the winter season, from November to February. The weather in Lonavala is the most comfortable during this time. Plan your visit in the morning to explore this historical wonder properly.
You can visit Lohagad Fort in the monsoon, too. It’s in July-August when the surrounding area is entirely covered in greenery. The slippery trail and moss-covered rocks, though, make trekking difficult in this season.
Time to explore Lohagad Fort Lonavala
If you’re starting your trek from Lohagadwadi village, you need 2-3 hours to visit Lohagad Fort. However, you should have half a day to complete the trek and explore the complex properly. Climbing the 200+ steps itself takes about 30-45 minutes.
Things to keep in mind while visiting Lohagad Fort
- Wear comfortable trekking shoes.
- Carry plenty of water.
- Keep an umbrella/raincoat.
- People with health problems should avoid the trek.
- Lohagad Fort has 200+ stairs to the entrance.
How to reach Lohagad Fort from Lonavala?
Lonavala to Lohagad Fort distance is 15 km. The nearest bus stop to Lohagad Fort is Lonavala bus stand, which is 13 km away. The nearest Lonavala railway station is 15 km away. The major railway stations close to Lohagad Fort are in Pune (65 km away) and Mumbai (100 km away). The nearest airport to Lohagad Fort Lonavala is Pune airport, which is 70 km away.
And here are the different ways to visit Lohagad Fort –
By bike – You can enjoy a bike trip to Lohagad Fort from Lonavala easily. Rent one and take it to the trekking base in Lohagadwadi village. From there, it’s a 2 km walk to the fort.
By cab/taxi – You can go to Lohagad Fort by car, too. You can book a cab from the top car rental companies in Lonavala conveniently. The road allows an easy drive to the base village, Lohagadwadi, from where you can walk up the steps on foot. Having a cab also enables you to explore all other places to visit near Lohagad Fort.
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