Fort Vajragad

.
Today, the Fort Vajragad has nothing to offer except few basic ROCK-CLIMBING learning skills. The fort is very close to the Fort Purandar. Fort Vajragad is also known as "Rudramal". When Mughals, under the leadership of Mirzaraje Jaysingh, attacked the kingdom of Chatrapati Shijavji Maharaj, their army surrounded the Purandar fort along with the Fort Vajragad.

It was the Fort Vajragad which fell to Dilekhan's army and thus making it more easier for the Mughals to launch severe attack on Purandar fort. The location of both these forts i.e. Fort Purandar and Fort Vajragad is such that, if anyone of these fort fell to enemy's hand, the other fort will fell automatically.After the Treaty of Purandar, Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj handed 23 forts to Mughals. Vajragad was one of them. The main entrance i.e. Maha Darwaja of this fort is still in good condition and shows the strength of the fort.

From Vajragad Aka Rudramal

How to reach Vajragad from Purandar?
When you enter Purandar via Bini-darwaja, proceed towards the statue of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. One pathway will go towards your left hand side when you are facing the statue. Take that pathway and proceed on the same. The fort Vajragad is at your right side. The pathway do not have directions/signs to take turn towards the fort. You have to take a right turn which slightly shows a minor incline and from the bushes you have to find out the way to the main door. From the Statue of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, it will take around 30-45 mins to reach to the main door of Vajragad(if you are not lost).

How to reach?
Own Vehicle:
1. From Pune Satara Road via Katraj GhatYou can visit this fort by taking Pune Satara road. Take a left turn at KETKAVLE. Again take the road going towards the left side where the right side road will take you to the Balaji Temple. This road will take you to Narayanpur. At Narayanpur, you visit the Shri Gurudev Datta Temple and the Mahadeo temple. This Mahadeo temple was built in Yadava's dynasty.Keep going ahead of Narayanpur, you will find a road going towards your right. Take this road and this road will take you directly to the foothills of the fort.

2. From Dive GhatYou can visit this fort by taking the Dive Ghat route as well. After crossing the Dive Ghat, you will come in the SASWAD village. After crossing the ST Stand in Saswad, you will find a road going towards your right hand side. This road will take you to Narayanpur. Before Narayanpur, you will find a signboard indicating road towards Purandar. This road is at your left hand side. This is the same road decsribed above.

S.T. bus to Saswad from Pune takes us to the foothills of Purandar fort. Pune-Narayanpur bus is also available to reach up to the base village, Narayanpur.Via SaswadS.T. bus to Bhor from Saswad will drop you at the bus-stop of 'Purandar Ghat matha' in Narayanpur village. A road on the left side along the two houses situated on mountain ahead leads to Bini Darwaja of Purandar which can be reached approximately in 45 minutes.

Fort Type: Hill Fort Fort Height: 4400 ft (approx) from min-sea level Base Village: Narayanpur

Check out the imagestation album here : Fort Vajragad

Fort Tung

.
This fort is also known as "KATHINGAD. As the name suggests, we may assume that the trek ofthis fort is very difficult, but in reality this is a very easy fort to trek. Due to its unique PEAK shape, you can easily spot this fort from a long distance as well. There is no significant history available about this fort. In 1657, Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj captured this fort alognwith all other forts located in Maval region. Netaji Palkar was appointed to protect this region. In Purandar Treaty, this fort was surrendered to Aurangazeb. Marathas won the fort back in around 1670 after Aurangazeb borke the treaty.

From Tunga

Must See:
The top of the fort is very small, it takes only 1 hour to see it. Your way towards the fort goes along the temple of Hanuman. From here we can go further by steps. After few minutes we reach at yet another Hanuman Mandir. Next to this is the main entrance to the fort. At right side we see Ganesh Mandir. At the backside, we see water trench. From here we march towards citadel.We see temple of Tung Devi. Opposite to this temple we can spot a cave in the ground.

How to Reach?
All ways to the fort go from the base village Tungvadi. After 45 minutes we reach at the top. One hour is enough to see the fort.

From Pune via Chandani Chowk
Reach to Chandani Chowk. Proceed to Paud village. Take immediate right turn after Paud Bus Stand. Go along the route till you spot familier site of Tikona to your right and Tung to your left. Prior to Tikonapeth (please ask the villegers, I forgot the name of this village), take a left turn to reach Tungwadi. This route is very good after rainy season as the beauty of nature is in full swing this time.

From Lonavala
From Lonavala station catch a bus for Bhamburde or Ambavne. Get down at Ghusalkhamb. From here, after walking for 1 and 1/2 hours, we reach Tungvadi. Distance between Ghusalkhamb and Tungvadi is 8 km.

By Kamshet-Morve bus from Tikona Peth
One can also board Kamshet-Morve bus from Tikona Peth at 11 a.m. and get down at Tungvadi stop. After 45 minutes we reach Tungvadi.

From Tikona Peth
Many people plan trek of Tung & Tikona together. Trekkers preferably visit Tikona first. From Tikona Peth (village at base of Tikona) one should go towards Kale Colony. From Bramhnoli village we can reach Kevre gaon by launch. From here we reach Tungvadi within 20 minutes.

Fort Type: Hill Forts Fort Height: 3000 ft. District: Pune Base Village: Tungwadi

Check out the imagestation album here : Fort Tung