Expect History, Religion, Adventure and More at Harishchandragad
Climbing, trekking, traversing, temples, exploring ancient caves, camping in the moonlight, star gazing, unbelievable landscapes, cooking in the wild… and more. If you’d like to enjoy them all, then you could head to the Harishchandragad fort near Pune. Of course, there’s a lot of history too in this fascinating fort that goes back a long time.
Harishchandragad is actually an ancient fort. In fact, there are many references of this fort even in the ancient Puranas such as Skandapurana, Agnipurana and Matsyapurana. In fact, the experts are saying that the forts origins can be dated back to the 6th century to the times of the Kalachuri dynasty. The caves were carved out from the sheer cliffs somewhere during the 11th century. Today, you will be able to see the many idols of Lord Vishnu in these caves. The caves are a must visit here.
What you should see at Harishchandragad
- Saptatirtha Pushkarni – Saptatirtha is a lake in this complex. There are temples where the idols of Lord Vishnu were located. However they have been shifted to the coves recently.
- Kedareshwar Cave – This is a huge cave. Interestingly, this cave stands on just one pillar. There were originally four pillars – three of them are broken. According to legend, the world will end when the lone standing pillar breaks. You will find a Shivlinga surrounded by water here. The water is ice-cold.
- Konkan Kada – This is a cliff that has fascinated people for years. It overlooks the Konkan coast. The view you will get is just fantastic. The structure is very interesting. This is an overhand, much like the hood of a cobra. If you are lucky, you will even be able to view the circular rainbow from here. This unique phenomenon is known as the Brocken spectre.
You should also visit Taramati peak, Nageshwar temple, and the different caves in Harishchandragad. Taramati is the second highest peak in the state.
Trekking to Harishchandragad
Harishchandragad has become a popular destination among campers and trekkers. The base village is usually Khireshwar. There is however a few other villages too like Kothale or Pachnai that often serve as the base. But do remember. It is among the more difficult fort treks in Maharashtra. It is not for everybody. You will have to cross as many as seven hills. If you want to try the climb, then it is best that you do it during the winter months or the monsoon. It should take you about seven hours to reach the top.
