Forts in Kolad
- 01
Avchitgad Fort
A forested hill fort of about 300 m near Roha, with a large dodecagonal cistern, six smaller cisterns and a small temple. Three trails reach the top.
- Time needed
- 3-4 hours including the climb
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- October to February, in the morning
- Tickets
- No ticketing is mentioned in sources opened. Check access locally. Wikipedia lists base villages Medha and Padam-Kharapti; nearest stations are Roha and Nidi.
- 02
Birwadi Fort
A small ruined hill fort near Birwadi, south-west of Roha, with four corner bastions, a surviving main gate and rock-cut cisterns. The climb takes about 45 minutes.
- Time needed
- 2-3 hours including the approach
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- October to February
- Tickets
- The fort is government-owned and open to the public per Wikipedia; no fee is published. Villagers may let you stay at the school or temple, but check locally.
- 03
Ghangad Fort
A small hill fort above Ekole village, about 30 km from Lonavala, reached by a short forest path past the Garjai Devi temple. An iron ladder leads to the upper fort, which looks over Tail Baila, Korigad, Sudhagad and the Mulshi lake.
- Time needed
- Half day: about an hour up, an hour on the fort, then the descent
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- September to February; the ladder and rock are slippery in heavy rain
- Tickets
- No official ticket is published. Villagers in Ekole offer meals and simple overnight arrangements; agree the price first. Maharashtra districts often issue prohibitory orders (now under Section 163 of the BNSS, formerly Section 144) that close or restrict forts, waterfalls and dams during the monsoon, especially after accidents. Confirm current access with the local police, forest office or a registered trek organiser before you set out.
- 04
Ghosalgad Fort
A small hill fort about 8 km south of Roha on the road to Murud, reached by a walk of roughly 15 minutes from the temple at its base.
- Time needed
- 1.5-2 hours
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- October to February, morning
- Tickets
- Wikipedia lists the fort as government-owned and open to the public. Ticketing is not mentioned; check locally. Overnight stays on the fort are not possible.
- 05
Lingana Fort
A linga-shaped rock pinnacle on the main Sahyadri line between Raigad and Torna, with only traces of its grain store and cisterns left. It is a technical climb, not a casual visit.
- Time needed
- Full day or overnight with an organised group
- Walking
- Demanding
- Best time
- November to February
- Tickets
- No ticket is published. Access is on foot only and is best arranged with a local guide or an experienced trekking group; no facilities exist on the route.
- 06
Mangad Fort
A small ruined hill fort behind Mashidwadi in Mangaon taluka, with rock cisterns, a grain cave and a temple to the goddess Vinzai at its base. A short walk, not a showpiece.
- Time needed
- 2-3 hours including the approach
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Winter, or green post-monsoon weeks
- Tickets
- The fort is government-owned and open to the public per Wikipedia; no fee is published. Carry your own water and ask villagers for the trail.
- 07
Mangalgad (Kangori Fort)
A ruined fort on a steep treeless Sahyadri spur east of Mahad, once a Raigad sub-fort and prison, with a Kangori Devi temple and rock-cut cisterns at the top.
- Time needed
- Most of a day
- Walking
- Demanding
- Best time
- November to February
- Tickets
- No fee is published. Access is on foot from a base village; confirm the trailhead (Dudhanewadi is cited) with locals, and carry food and water.
- 08
Sarasgad Fort
A hill fort above Pali village with a carved southern stair of 111 steps, rock-cut water tanks, caves and a Shiva temple on top. It is the twin of Sudhagad across the valley.
- Time needed
- Half a day including the drive from Kolad
- Walking
- Demanding
- Best time
- October to February; start early
- Tickets
- Wikipedia lists no ticket for the fort and no fee is published; confirm access locally at Pali. Carry your own water and food, as the fort has no facilities.
- 09
Sudhagad Fort
A large hill fort on the Lonavala range east of Pali, with a broad summit plateau, ruined temples, lakes and three main gates. Shivaji considered it for his capital.
- Time needed
- Most of a day including the drive and climb
- Walking
- Demanding
- Best time
- October to February; start early
- Tickets
- Wikipedia lists the fort as open to the public. No fees are stated in sources opened; check locally. Overnight stays are possible at the Pantsachiv wada or Bhorai temple, but check current rules.
- 10
Talagad Fort
A narrow-ridge hill fort about 18 km south of Roha, with a short climb of around 45 minutes, rock-cut cisterns and views across to Ghosalgad.
- Time needed
- 2-3 hours including the climb
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- October to February, in the morning
- Tickets
- Wikipedia lists the fort as government-owned and open to the public. No ticketing is mentioned in sources opened; check locally. Overnight stays on the fort are not possible.
Landmarks in Kolad
- 11
Bhira dam and hydro project
Tata Power's Bhira hydroelectric complex, completed in 1927, whose releases feed the Kundalika and shape Kolad's rafting. A quiet stop on the way to Devkund and Tamhini.
- Time needed
- 30-60 minutes if access is open
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Post-monsoon, when the surrounding hills are green and roads are safer
- Tickets
- This is an operating hydro complex run by Tata Power. Public access, viewpoints and any boating have varied; confirm what is open locally rather than assuming.
- 12
Devkund Waterfall, Bhira
A plunge waterfall near Bhira in Roha taluka, said to mark the start of the Kundalika. Reached only on foot, with access closed during the monsoon in recent years.
- Time needed
- Most of a day including the drive and trek
- Walking
- Demanding
- Best time
- September (after closure ends) to mid-November, when flow is strong but safer; confirm current rules
- Tickets
- Authorities have restricted access after accidents: Wikipedia records closure to the public in 2017, a ban from 12 July to 12 September in 2018, and a monsoon closure from June to 30 September in 2025. Check current orders locally and hire a guide.
- 13
Tamhini Ghat
A roughly 15 km mountain pass on the Western Ghats crest above Kolad, linking the Konkan coast to Mulshi and Pune. Best known for green slopes, waterfalls and low cloud.
- Time needed
- 2-3 hours for the drive and viewpoint stops
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Post-monsoon (October to December) for clear views; monsoon for waterfalls but with heavy rain and low visibility
- Tickets
- It is a public road; there is no entry fee. Facilities at stops are informal. Check road and weather conditions before setting out.
Experiences in Kolad
- 14
Andharban Trek
A long, mostly downhill forest walk of about 13 km from Pimpri on the Tamhini plateau to the Bhira dam backwaters, through dense forest, grassland and Hirdi village, with views over the Kundalika valley. Entry is by advance online booking only, with a mandatory Forest Department guide.
- Time needed
- Full day: 4 to 7 hours of walking plus transport between the two ends
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- July to September for waterfalls and mist; October to December for drier paths. Closed in heavy rain
- Tickets
- Book in advance on the official Andharban portal; no spot entry. Bring the printed receipt and a matching government photo ID. Minimum age 16; a Forest Department guide is compulsory. Confirm fees, timings and closures on the portal. Monsoon prohibitory orders (Section 163 BNSS, formerly Section 144) and weather closures are common; check before you go.
Culture in Kolad
- 15
Kuda Caves
A set of small rock-cut Buddhist caves near Mandad on the Raigad coast, carved from around the first century BCE with Buddha reliefs and donor inscriptions.
- Time needed
- 1-1.5 hours
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- October to February, morning
- Tickets
- Entry rules and fees are not stated in the sources opened. Check locally before travelling and avoid the midday sun.
Close enough to combine