Harishchandragad Fort Trek
The Heaven in Maharashtra
Deepak Sharma, Inhale Trips Writer, February 11, 2023
History
The historical fort’s origin is said to have been in the 6th century, during the rule of Kalachuri dynasty. The citadel was built during this era. The various caves probably have been carved out in the 11th century. Great sage Changdev used to meditate here in the 14th century. The caves are from the same period. Later the fort was under the control of Mughals and Marathas recaptured it in 1747 AD. The various Puranas like Matsyapurana, Agnipurana and Skandapurana have many references about Harishchandragad.
Harishchandragad trek is one of the most challenging treks in the western ghats of Maharashtra. A popular trek which offers a variety of adventures to all kinds of trekkers.
Situated at a distance of 8 km from Khireshwar, 50 km form Bhandardara, 166 km from Pune and 218 km from Mumbai, Harishchandragad is a historical hill fort in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra. The height of the fort is 1,424 metres.
How to Reach Harishchandragad
Most popular way to reach here is from Khireshwar. So you need to reach Khireshwar. From Pune district, there is a daily bus from Shivajinagar St. Stand to Khireshwar village. Pune is well connected from all major cities of India with trains, buses and flights.
Best Time to Visit Harishchandragad
October to February - These months are the best to visit Harishchandragad. In this post-monsoon season, the weather will be pleasant and the region will convert into the serene lush green bed of forest. Sometimes you can witness many natural phenomenon like a circular rainbow. One phenomenon that can be observed at this place is the vertical cloud burst, in which the clouds nearing the cliff get sucked into the pitfall area below and are thrown vertically into the sky.
How Long is Harishchandragad Trek
There are three routes to reach the top of Harishchandragad. So the trek is 6-8 km long and generally takes 6 to 9 hours. As this is a very popular trek, you will see many trekkers here doing camping & hiking.
Points to Visit
1. Konkan Kada- The cliff faces west and looks down upon the Konkan. You can see the whole Konkan region from the cliff (Kada in Marathi). Hence it is also called Konkan Kada.
2. Harishchandreshwar Temple- Harishchandreshwar temple is the great example of the art of carving sculptures out of rocks 7 stones. This temple was carved from one single stone.
3. This trek has many temples. Another one of the most known temples in this trek is Kedareshwar Cave and Nageshwar temple near Khireshwar.
4. Rohidas, Taramati & Harishchandra are the three peaks in Harishchandragad.
Expert Tip :- Don't forget to wear proper trekking shoes & carry a trekking pole. These two things will be very helpful throughout the trek. In Monsoon, it is advisable not to walk on the rock face during night where one can experience heavy rainfall with thunder strikes.
This article was originally published in February 2023 and updated in February 2023.
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