Trekking in Pune allows you to spend your weekend amongst the vast lushness of the Sahyadri mountains. It's an easy escape from the chaos of urban life and it only takes a short drive to enter the amazing surroundings with scenic views. Trekking in Pune satisfies every nature lover, photographer, bird watcher and trekker.
Treks near Pune are set apart by rich green land and fortresses built by Shivaji Maharaj, presenting heaps of trekking spots. Some iconic treks near Pune include Rajmachi trek, Lohagad trek, Visapur trek, Andharban trek and many more
Rajmachi trek
This trek near Pune is a high-endurance trek that takes you into the rolling hills of the Sahyadris. The monsoon season is the best for trekking here and you'll enjoy streams, waterfalls, lush green paddy fields, misty views and plenty of small puddles. The firefly season, right before monsoon, is also a magical time to go trekking here.
Some Rajmachi trekking itineraries also include a visit to Kondane Caves, where you can experience some fun waterfall rappelling sessions. During the winter, you can add camping to your itinerary and camp 3000 feet above sea level.
Lohagad Fort trek
Lohagad trek is a fun trek near Pune that offers some of the most stunning views, especially during the monsoon season. The Western Ghats can be seen in every shade of green and are shrouded in a layer of mist. It's one of the easiest treks near Pune and can be done with families, including children.
‘Lohagad’, meaning ‘Iron Fort’, is still mostly intact to this day and one of the reasons why it's so popular is the famous Vinchu Kata, the winding rampart walls, that looks like the tail of a scorpion. From here, you'll get fantastic views of the Pawna reservoir, the forts of Tikona, Visapur, and Tung.
Andharban trek
Andharban trek leads you into a thick forest and the trek descends downwards, unlike most treks in Maharashtra. Andharban means 'dark forest' and it is named rightly so, as the vegetation is so thick, that barely any sunlight gets through. It's cool and dim even on the sunniest days. You'll trek along water-carved rock path starting from Pimpri dam and then walk downwards for the next 5-7 hours
As you trek, you’ll come across many waterfalls, streams, natural ponds and beautiful views of the Kundalika Valley and Bhira Dam. This forest also houses a variety of butterfly and bird species, making it a nature lover and a photographer's paradise. This trek near Pune is slightly challenging, especially during the monsoon. The path gets covered in moss and hence, it becomes slippery.
Visapur Fort
Visapur Fort is located close to Lohagad and is a popular trek near Lonavala for beginners. The trek to the huge ruins of Visapur Fort is easy and there are many thrilling surprises on the way. You can explore cannons, mysterious caves, small shrines, secret escape routes and many cisterns.
Rajgad Fort trek
Rajgad Fort, known as the 'King of Forts' was the initial capital of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's empire. Now, it serves as a magnificent trekking location. Situated in the green hills of the Sahyadris, 4600 feet above sea level, it's spectacularly scenic and is particularly glorious during the monsoon. It’s only 40 km away from Pune and once at the top, you can catch beautiful views of the Bhatghar Dam and forts of Sinhagad and Torna from the top.
Raigad Fort trek
The capital of Shivaji Maharaj's kingdom was shifted to Raigad Fort after he captured it in 1656. The trek to the historic Raigad is breathtaking and involves climbing up more than 1700 steps to reach the top. The monsoon covers the fort and trails in moss and it can get a little slippery but this trekking destination in Pune is suitable for first-time trekkers. There's much to explore once you reach the fort and a lot of views to take in from the top.
Tikona Fort trek
Tikona Fort takes you over a triangular mountain (hence the name, Tikona) in the Sahyadri hills. The trekking trail is relatively easy and can be taken on by beginners. It's the perfect weekend escape into the arms of nature and you'll walk across a mountain ridge with valleys on both sides. Once at the top of the fort, you can catch stunning views of the Pawna Lake and the forts of Tung, Lohagad and Visapur.
Torna Fort trek
The Torna Fort sits at an elevation of 4,603 feet, making it one of the highest hill forts in Pune. It was one of the first forts captured by Shivaji Maharaj and is also known as Prachandagad, due to its enormous size. The trek to this fort is a bit challenging with slippery, narrow trails and a few particularly tricky sections.
You can also opt to go for a moonlight trek to Torna Fort and enjoy the thrill of trekking in the dark hours of the night. As you trek to the top, you can take in the stunning views of the Sahyadri Mountains and once you reach the top, there's a lot more to discover.
Duke’s Nose trek
The Duke's Nose is a cliff named after a certain Duke's pointed nose. It is also known locally as Nagphani and the trek to this point is easy, unlike what it looks like and packed with incredible views of the Sahyadris. Once at the summit of this cliff you can engage in an exciting rappelling session.
Sinhagad Fort trek
The Sinhagad fort is steeped in rich history. It is the star of many battles and war stories from the era of Shivaji Maharaj. It is now a very popular trek near Pune and many escapes here for an ideal weekend getaway. The trek up is amazingly scenic and once atop the fort, you can get sweeping views of the Sahyadris and explore the ancient architecture of the fort.
Best season for treks near Pune
The best time to go trekking in Pune is during the monsoon season. During this season, the entire region gets showered in the rain, turning the landscape green. It feeds many waterfalls and pools around and at all the highest points of the hills, you'll find streams and rivulets gushing down.
You should carry your raincoat while trekking in this season, but you're bound to get drenched. During all treks near Pune, you'll be treated to spectacular views of the lush green Sahyadri hills with the clouds hanging low, dark and heavy with rain. You'll be caught in sudden showers that will cool you off.
Another ideal time to go to Pune for trekking is during the winter season. The hills and forts and get obscured in a layer of mist in the mornings and the weather remains cool and pleasant throughout the day. The nights can get extremely chilly so it's best to bundle up in cosy sweaters and wear thermal inners. You can also add camping to your Pune trekking adventure and enjoy warm bonfire nights.
Trekking in Pune Summary
- State: Maharashtra
- Nearest city: Pune
- Total days: 1-3 days
- Grade: Moderately easy to moderately challenging
- Max altitude: 4600 feet
- Max total trekking distance: 20 km
- Season: Monsoon and winter
- Avg temperature: 12-35 degree Celsius
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