Visapur Trek

Visapur Fort is larger and at a higher elevation than its twin fort- Lohagad.  This place is located near Lonavala which is near Pune in Maharashtra.

ENROUTE TO BHAJA, LONAVALA

In the dripping wet Mumbai monsoon, it was hard to travel between places. After around 140 kms travel from Mumbai, we reached Malavli. Just 3 kms from the Malavli station, you can reach the base village of  Bhaja,  where ample parking is available. There is a waterfall at the base, which is used for bathing as well as washing clothes. The greenery coupled with the waterfall makes it a picnic spot.

THE TREK

The trek begins from  Bhaja village.  Climbing to the top of the fort, from the base village takes around 2 to 2.5 hours. The walk towards Bhaja Caves is a short climb on a properly laid stairs.

The stairs and the path to the top of the fort get slippery during the monsoons, so one needs to be careful  while climbing. Before reaching the cave area, turn to the left . The route is a little adventurous with a steep walk.

The journey from the base village to the top of the fort is also scenic and is worth visiting for all nature lovers. Its beauty enhances during the monsoon season.

Enroute we rested at a village house. They prepared tea for us.

It was slightly raining and waterfalls were flowing all over. The path was very slippery and we managed to walk through the rocks and the waterfalls.

There are enough sign boards to guide you.

Enroute we spotted small caves curtaining waterfalls.

Heavy rain welcomed us when we reached close to the final lap of the trek.  Walking through the rocky patches during heavy rain is a lifetime experience. Water flowing on the rocks make it more soapy and unsafe.

Rolling hills covered by fog and a series of waterfalls lend a surreal feel to the breathtaking scenery. It was mesmerizing to see water plunging from atop the mountain to the forests.

We were almost near to the top area. Rest part of the trek goes through well laid stairs. You will also find waterfalls enroute to the fort.

We passed by Lord Hanuman’s temple known as Chapetdan Maruti. It takes its name  because of Lord Hanuman's pose to slap the devil that is at his feet. There are small caves and sources for drinking water.

Then we explored fortification on the fort. You can admire ruined stone-built house known as Peshwa’s palace, old grinder, water tanks (known as Taake in Marathi), fort’s wall, secret entrance and carving of Hunuman (Lord Maruti) idol, which is considered as the deity of Visapur fort.

Set at an altitude of 3556 ft Feet above MSL, the fort area is too vast and it takes around two hours to see the places on the top of the fort. Majority of the walls is still intact. From this fort, you can see other forts such as Lohagad, Tikona and Tung.

Escape route or secret route, Visapur Fort

The ruins of a large stone-built house are known as the Peshwa’s palace . We were walking in clouds and unable to see any natural beauty around the fort.  Walking with greenery and fresh wind makes life easier here.

Then we started descending.  It was a beautiful walk and a memorable one too. During monsoons the trail to the top is an amazing experience with heavy fog, rain and wind all around.