Kannad itinerary

Plan 01

1 day in Kannad

1. 01

   Day 1: Forest and caves

   Fill the tank and pack water, then drive into the Satmala hills for the Pitalkhora caves in the morning, taking the steps down beside the waterfall. Continue through the Gautala sanctuary roads at a slow pace, watching for langurs, peafowl and birds. If time and energy remain, end at the Patnadevi temple, otherwise return to Kannad before dark.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Pitalkhora Caves	1 to 1.5 hours	Moderate	October to February; the waterfall runs after the monsoon, which is lovely but makes steps slippery

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Pitalkhora Caves: A steep flight of concrete stairs leads down to the caves and the climb back is tiring. There is a waterfall alongside the path, which can be slippery. Older travellers can pause on the way and may prefer to view only the upper caves.

Plan 02

2 days in Kannad

1. 01

   Day 1: Antur Fort

   Leave early for Nagapur and the base of Antur Fort. Allow about four hours on site, carrying your own water, and keep clear of steep edges. Rest in the afternoon.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Antur Fort	About 4 hours to see the fort properly, plus the drive	Demanding	October to February, early morning; the monsoon turns the hills green but the last stretch of road becomes difficult

   Pace: Antur Fort involves a lot of walking or steps — do it early, and keep the rest of the day light.

   With parents at Antur Fort: Not recommended for travellers with knee or balance problems: paths are uneven, there is loose stone and several ramparts and trenches have steep drops. Forest-department shelters on site lack water and other facilities, so there is nowhere comfortable to rest.

2. 02

   Day 2: Pitalkhora and Gautala

   Visit Pitalkhora caves first thing, then drive the Gautala sanctuary roads, and finish at the Patnadevi temple near Chalisgaon if the schedule allows.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Pitalkhora Caves	1 to 1.5 hours	Moderate	October to February; the waterfall runs after the monsoon, which is lovely but makes steps slippery

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Pitalkhora Caves: A steep flight of concrete stairs leads down to the caves and the climb back is tiring. There is a waterfall alongside the path, which can be slippery. Older travellers can pause on the way and may prefer to view only the upper caves.

Plan 03

3 days in Kannad

1. 01

   Day 1: Antur Fort

   Start early at Nagapur and spend the morning walking the fort. Use the afternoon to rest.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Antur Fort	About 4 hours to see the fort properly, plus the drive	Demanding	October to February, early morning; the monsoon turns the hills green but the last stretch of road becomes difficult

   Pace: Antur Fort involves a lot of walking or steps — do it early, and keep the rest of the day light.

   With parents at Antur Fort: Not recommended for travellers with knee or balance problems: paths are uneven, there is loose stone and several ramparts and trenches have steep drops. Forest-department shelters on site lack water and other facilities, so there is nowhere comfortable to rest.

2. 02

   Day 2: Pitalkhora, Gautala and Patnadevi

   See Pitalkhora, drive through the sanctuary and pay respects at Patnadevi.

3. 03

   Day 3: Ellora

   Make the day trip to Ellora, beginning with the Kailasa temple in the early morning and choosing a few Buddhist and Jain caves before the heat builds.

Read before you go

Guides for the stops on these routes

Pacing

Pacing a Kannad trip for parents and children

• Choose Ellora and Patnadevi over Antur Fort if stamina or balance is a concern.
• Take a car with good ground clearance and a driver familiar with the Nagapur road.
• Fill the tank and carry water; fuel and shops are scarce in the hills.
• Visit in the cooler months, and start before 8 am.
• Pitalkhora has a steep stair down; pace yourself or view the upper caves only.
• Keep medicines and a basic first-aid kit; the nearest large hospital is likely in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.

Kannad with elderly parents: the full guide →