Macchindragad

The Indian state of Maharashtra is really an interesting one. There is the Arabian Sea on its west. Thanks to the Sahyadri range, there are some amazing hills and valleys. There are some beautiful nature reserves too. The state has a rich history too. Spread all over Maharashtra you will find many forts, most of which come with a lot of interesting history. These forts are located at strategic places that allowed the erstwhile rulers to keep control over the territory by keeping the enemies away. While some of the forts were built to keep vigil over mountain passes and areas that were considered vulnerable, the others were constructed for security of the populace and to rule over them. Some again were created for religious reasons. The Machindragad fort was probably constructed for this.

The fort can be entered through a doorway carved in darkish looking stone. It is located at the southern part of the fort. Macchindragad fort has a large water reservoir and few caves on its eastern end. Stone inscriptions in Brahmi script are found in many places within the fort. A seat of devotion in the form of the Samadhi of Saint Gorakhnath is located on top of the fort.

You could certainly visit this fort. A lot of people like to trek to the Machindragad fort, which is on top of a steep cliff. It can certainly be a very good adventure trip. A weekend trip for a couple of days should be sufficient.

How to reach: There are many ways to reach Pune. You can take a train or fly down to the city as well. From Pune, you can drive to the base village of the fort. The route would be Pune – Karda – Rethore – Keille Machindragad. It is a trek from here.

Most people who visit the fort are trekkers. They bring along their tents if they want to stay overnight. Or else, you can come on a day trip. You will not find any hotels near Machindragad fort, resort near Machindragad fort or cottages near Machindragad.