The monsoon season in Maharashtra is usually the best time to step out into the surrounding Sahyadris and explore treks near Pune. Though the cities often experience flooding & traffic jams, the outskirts of the city are lush green with exquisite views. This is perfect for exploring the option of trekking near Pune.  These one-day treks near Pune and Mumbai have green hills, lush forests, & breathtaking waterfalls. This unique combination makes this the most incredible trekking destination in Maharashtra. The Sahyadri range has several ancient forts, which provide not just a historic perspective, but also challenging trails.  This makes them the best monsoon weekend getaways for amazing trekking near Pune and even Mumbai. The proximity of these destinations is ideal for one-day treks or even a long weekend.

The best one day treks near Pune and Mumbai:

Following are the best one day treks near Pune and Mumbai, one must not miss out on in 2020:

• Raireshwar Trek – The Oath Taking
• Rohida Fort or Vichitragadh Trek – The Bhor watchtower
• Kenjalgad Fort – Also called the Ghera Khelanja Fort
• Torna Fort – The very first Adventure-Pulse trek.
• Lohagad Fort – Don’t forget to explore the caves.
• Visapur Fort Trek – Take the more challenging approach
• Tikona Fort – One of the most incredible approaches
• Raigad Fort – The Maratha Capital
• Irshalgad Trek – The hidden gem of the Sahyadris
• Andharban Trek – The dark magical forest
• Sinhagad Fort – The ultimate fitness challenge
• Pratapgad Fort – The Valour Fort
• Rajgad Fort – The King of Forts

Raireshwar Trek

Raireshwar has a temple of tremendous historical importance. It is located towards the south-west of Pune near Bhor. The temple is an extremely old stone structure but was reconstructed again during the 18th century. This is the same temple where Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, in 1645,  took the oath of Maratha Samrajya, at the age of 16. This is still an extremely beautiful place to visit, especially during the monsoon season. Due to its proximity, it is ideal for a one day trek near Pune. Raireshwar is beyond a doubt, one of the most serene and historic trekking destinations near Pune.

Fact Check:

• Distance from Pune- 95 km
• Distance from Mumbai- 260km
• Difficulty level- Easy
• Trekking Duration- 1 day

Rohida Fort or Vichitragad Trek

Rohida Fort or Vichitragadh is located near the town of Bhor which is 61 km from Pune. The base village of the fort is Bajarwadi, another 7 km ahead of Bhor.  One approach to trek upstarts from the hill behind the Bajarwadi High School. This is the easier safer route and wide with no trees. This trek near Pune takes only about an hour to reach the entrance gate of the fort.  Once you enter the fort, there are three gates on the main entrance. There are also options for exploring the fort with distinct rock-cut water cistern near the second gate. The locals also maintain the temple of Rohidamalla which is in good condition. This is a popular trek especially for people staying in Pune and Bhor.

Fact Check:

• Distance from Pune- 63.5 km
• Distance from Mumbai- 204.7 km
• Difficulty level- Moderate
• Trekking Duration- 1 day 

Kenjalgad Fort

Kenjalgad Fort is also known as Ghera Khelanja Fort. It is located in Wai District of Maharashtra and is 18 km north-west of Wai. This trek near Pune is situated on the Mandhardev spur and is part of the Mahadev hill range. The Kenjalgad fort can be seen from a distance, rising as a cap 30-40 ft higher on the irregular hill. The fort has a very distinct shape and can be reached by road from Wai 25 km. There are two distinct trek routes to the fort. The path starting from the ridge joining Raireshwar plateau and the Kenjalgad Fort takes approximately an hour to reach the top of the fort. The other route starts from the base village-Ghera Kenjal and takes about half an hour to reach the top of the fort.  This is one of the best treks near Pune as the trail passes through beautiful forest area and reaches the southern tip of the hill.

Fact Check:

• Distance from Pune- 50 km
• Distance from Mumbai- 195 km
• Difficulty level- Moderate
• Trekking Duration- 1 day

Torna Fort

The Torna fort is one of the most beautiful and challenging fort one day treks near Pune. Torna Fort is also known as Prachandagad and has tremendous historical significance as the first fort captured by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in 1646, at the age of 16. Once you reach the base village of Ville, the trail is a long 3 hrs climb to the top. Though there is a motorable road to Ville, the route to the top of Torna fort is quite steep and very precarious at certain parts. The Torna trek route can be divided into three parts – an initial climb up the hill above the village, a plateau and the final rock ridge to enter the Torna fort via the Bini Darwaja. The Fort has an elevation of 1,403m above sea level, with the distinction of being the highest hill-fort in the district.

Torna Fort Fact Check:

• Distance from Pune- 50 km
• Distance from Mumbai- 195 km
• Difficulty level- Moderate
• Trekking Duration- 1 day

Lohagad Fort

Located near the Lonavala hill station just off the expressway to Pune city is Lohagad Fort.  The Lohagad trek is one of the most beautiful treks near Pune with panoramic views of the landscape and Paud lake. With a broken off-road approach, Lohagad trek route is easily accessible from Malavli Railway Station. The trek can be completed within 2 to 3 hours and is recommended for beginners and novice trekkers. This is also perfect for a family hike, with easy parking facilities at the Base Village. The Lohagad fort also has caves on its south side facing Lohgadwadi, the village at its base which is fun to explore. This gives you a unique experience when compared with other treks near Pune. Interestingly, unlike other forts, the architecture is surprisingly in good condition, with a prominent stone staircase leading up to the entrance.

Fact Check:

• Distance from Pune- 72 km
• Distance from Mumbai- 118 km
• Difficulty level- Moderate
• Trekking Duration- 1 day

Visapur Fort

The Visapur Fort trek is a one day trek near Pune and Mumbai. This fort is also located near the Lonavala hill station just off the expressway to Pune city. It shares a common ridge with Lohagad and so the trail is the same an extent. It’s often referred to as the twin Fort of Lohagad, but this is not accurate. Visapur Fort is much larger and at a higher elevation. The architecture of the entrance and the walls have been destroyed not only by the ravages of time. During the British rule, the battlement was destroyed by heavy cannon to prevent its use as a fortification.

The Visapur Fort has a tougher approach to the fort and at times, may require the use of ropes during heavy rainfall to climb up the stream bed. It’s a fun adventure and is definitely rated as one of the most popular treks near Pune.

Fact Check:

• Distance from Pune- 70 km
• Distance from Mumbai- 120 km
• Difficulty level- Moderate
• Trekking Duration- 1 day

Tikona Fort

Tikona Fort is also called Vitandgad. Located within a short drive, this fort is definitely the most picturesque among the one-day treks near Pune. It is situated near Kamshet around 60 km from Pune. The closest village near the fort is called Tikona-Peth. It has a unique shape with 3500 ft high pyramidal hill thus giving it the name Tikona which literally means “triangular”. The fort has several distinct features to offer such as the large doors, the temple of ‘Trimbakeshwar Mahadev’, seven water cisterns and the Satvahan caves. The views of Pawna dam, as well as the nearby forts of Tung, Lohagad and Visapur, are breathtaking. With easy access, this is one of the most popular destinations for one-day treks near Pune and even in Mumbai.

Fact Check:

• Distance from Pune- 60 km
• Distance from Mumbai- 130 km
• Difficulty level- Moderate
• Trekking Duration- 1 day

Raigad Fort

Raigad is one of the most famous hill forts in Maharashtra located in Mahad, Raigad district.  Maharaja Shivaji made this his capital of the Maratha Kingdom, waging war against the dreaded Mughal Empire and Aurungzeb.  As a result, this is often considered the birthplace of the entire Maratha Empire.  In later years, the British Empire taking lessons from history, realizing its strategic military significance and destroyed it to prevent its use in future rebellions.

The Raigad fort is just spectacular. The fort is approximately 820 metres above the sea level with 1737 steps leading to the fort. This is one of the best treks near Pune, with an option of doing this trek even in the night. It is a fantastic chance to combine a scenic hike with a look into our incredible history, making this a fantastic adventure trek near Pune for the entire family. So, the next time you are planning a getaway from the city, head to Raigad fort.

Fact Check:

• Distance from Pune- 135 km
• Distance from Mumbai- 160 km
• Difficulty level- Easy
• Trekking Duration- 1 day

Irshalgad Fort

Irshalgad is actually more a fortress than a Fort situated between Matheran and Panvel in Maharashtra, India. It is a sister fort to Prabalgad. Situated at a height of 3700 feet above sea level, Irshalgad Fort Trek is a beautiful and remote weekend getaway. The fact that it is not as well known as Prabalgad and is equidistant, makes it one of the best treks near Pune and Mumbai.

The top of this fortress has a very characteristic shape of a crouching Lion.  The top area of the fortress is very large, at times requiring some basic rock climbing skills. There are also several water cisterns cut from the rock visible when climbing up. The initial climb is very steep before reaching the nearest village of Irshalwadi. It takes one hour trek from Irshalgad village to reach the top of the fort.  From the top, you can also see Chanderi, Karnala and Manigad from the fort.

Fact Check:

• Distance from Pune- 105 km
• Distance from Mumbai- 56 km
• Difficulty level- Moderate ( With a few difficult sections)
• Trekking Duration- 1 day

Andharban Trek

The literal translation of its name, Andharban, means a dark dense forest. This trek is one of the most unusual experiences one can have in the Sahyadri range. Starting with dense tropical jungle, the trail emerges out after a few hours to begin a steep descend down the Tamhini Ghat, right till the end. It is beyond a doubt one of the most beautiful treks near Pune with lots of things to explore. The abundance of Flora and fauna are fantastic.  During the descent, the trail often brings you to a ridge offering incredible views of the Kundalika Valley, Bhira dam and the mountain ranges of Tamhini ghat. Evergreen jungle forms a forest canopy, covering you with shade in the first few hours of the trek (6-8 km). The trek further descends down in Konkan to reach the Bhira dam (4 km).

Fact Check:

• Distance from Pune- 105 km
• Distance from Mumbai- 56 km
• Difficulty level-  Easy ( With a steep descent)
• Trekking Duration- 1 day

Sinhagad Fort Trek

Sinhagad is a hill fortress situated around 37 km southwest of the city of Pune and is the closest fort trek near Pune. Sinhagad Fort was built over 2,000 years ago and was previously called Kondhana and has been part of many historic battles, the most famous being the Battle of Sinhagad in 1670. The magnificent architecture of this fort and its proximity to the city makes it an ideal early-morning getaway for trek-lovers.  Standing tall on an isolated cliff of the Bhuleshwar range, the fort is at a height of 1,312m above mean sea level. Beyond a doubt, Sinhagad Fort offers one of the best treks near Pune. The road accessibility directly to the top of the fort, also makes it an ideal excursion for families who want to an easy hike. This way, you can easily spend more time exploring the inside structures of the fort

Fact Check:

• Distance from Pune- 37 km
• Distance from Mumbai- 182 km
• Difficulty level- Moderate ( With a steep Ascent)
• Trekking Duration- 1 day

Pratapgad Fort Trek

Pratapgad literally meaning ‘Valour Fort’ is an enormous fort trek near Pune, located in Satara district. Pratapgad fort is located 23 km west of Mahabaleshwar, a popular hill station in the area. The fort stands at a height of 1,080 meters above sea level and is built on a ridge-spur which overlooks the road between Par and Kinesvar village. There is also public road access from Kumbhrosi village up to the fort. The panoramic beauty of this trek near Pune and the landscape makes this an adventurous excursion. Whether trekking alone or with a group of family/friends, the Pratapgad Fort is one of a kind experience. If you want to go trekking near Pune, then you must shortlist the well-known Pratapgad Fort.

Fact Check:

• Distance from Pune- 141.5 km
• Distance from Mumbai- 208.5 km
• Difficulty level- Moderate to Hard
• Trekking Duration- 1 day

Rajgad Fort Trek

Rajgad fort literally means King of Fort or Ruling Fort. It is situated in the Pune district of Maharashtra, India. Previously called Murumdev, the fort was the capital of the Maratha Empire under Chhatrapati Shivaji for 25 years, before the capital was moved to the Raigad Fort. The Rajgad Fort is located around 60 km south-west of Pune, making it perfect for trekking near Pune. The fort stands at a height of 1,376m above the sea level. The fort offers several interesting structures to explore among its ruins of palaces, water cisterns, and caves. This fort was built on a hill called Murumbadevi Dongar (Mountain of the Goddess Murumba).  Due to its historical significance and its beauty, this is definitely a must-do on the list of best one treks near Pune.

Fact Check:

• Distance from Pune-  63.5 km
• Distance from Mumbai- 204.5 km
• Difficulty level- Moderate
• Trekking Duration- 1 day

Frequently Asked Questions about the best one day treks near Pune and Mumbai: