Jack and Jill went up Lohagad Hill – The First Trek
Can trekking be a laborious task or can it be a walk in the park? The curiosity to answer this question got us thinking. If one can survive the concrete jungle of the city, the actual flora and fauna shouldn’t be much of a challenge, right?? In the beginning, stories of people going on treks on two feet and returning crawling on four had left quite a lasting impression on us. A walk in the mall still seemed a better option. But taking up the challenge, our adventure began.
For a start we picked Lohagad or Iron Fort in nearby Lonavala, more accurately Malavali, which is 12km by road from the Hill Station. Lohagad rises to an elevation of 3,389 ft above sea level.
There are 3 options to get to the top.
- Climb up the 240 steps to the Bhaja Caves and then descend to the tar road via dense foilage. It’s a bit of a jungle adventure.
- Giving the caves a miss, continue on the tar road from the village and climb the undulating winding road from Baja village to Lohagadwadi which would take approximately 1.5 hours.
- For the less adventurous you could drive up the 4 km road to the steps at the base of the Fort.
We opted for the climb to the marvelous Bhaja caves which is a beautiful rock splendor, carved by the Buddhist monks, which dates back to the 2nd century. Whilst on the way up, we were treated to picturesque views of landscaped fields & bulls hard at work, seemed a peaceful easy setting, a much-needed feast for the eyes and a reward for the strenuous activity we were doing.
The cluster of 22 caves are well maintained & under the care of the ASI (Archaeological Survey of India). One could not ignore the enhanced acoustics & the artfully crafted walls, pillars, beams. It not only reveals the laborious hours it took to hand chisel the rock but the expert & patient craftmanship it took to carve them from the ceiling to the floor.
The descent from the caves through the jungle path was steep & treacherous. Shoes familiar only to tar and secure ground, showed their true colours in this challenging terrain. Once through the mud and sludge, the opening to the tar road was a much welcome sight.
Now enroute Lohagadwadi, at a crossroad, we were rewarded with our first glimpse of the majestic Lohagad Fort on the right and the humongous Visapur Fort on the left.
Once atop, through the Maha Darwaja (Main Gate), the fort’s most famous spot is “Vinchu Kata” which resembles a scorpion (Vinchu) sting (Kata). This is a 1500 m long & 30m wide fortified ridge on the western side of Lohagad, which is separated from the main part of the fort. Venturing onto that ridge is a thrill in its own rights. This section was to keep a watch on the surrounding region, and any activity of the enemy in its vicinity could be tackled.
These historical forts take you back in time where the fort had changed hands from the Bahmani kingdom to the Mughal Nizamshahi in 1489, thereafter in the safe custody of Shivaji & his fearless Maratha warriors. We embarked not only on an adventurous trek but also basking in a bit of history as well.
Truth be told, with the advancement in technology, jungle themed parks with all the fibre re-enforced plastic, attempt to replicate nature and draw in huge crowds with their exorbitant prices. You can actually experience all this for as little as Rs 30 – 50 entry fee & experience the actual beauty of nature.
So, there it was finally the 350-year-old fort, where several dynasties had occupied this grand fortress, Nizams, Mughals, Marathas and now bravely conquered by a Fernandes. It marked the beginning of the many adventures to come.
Ways to Reach.
Reach by Rail : Alight at Malavali station. There are share a ricks/jeep to take you to either Bhaje Village or right to the base of the Fort/Village (Lohagadwadi). If you chose to walk from Malavali Station towards the base of stairs of the Bhaje Caves and then to the base village Lohgadwadi. This would take about 2.5 to 3 hrs for a fit person.
By Road: From Mumbai or Pune: Taking the Mumbai Pune Expressway you can either exit at Khandala or Lonavala & join the Old Mumbai Pune Highway known as NH4. From Varsoli Toll Naka it’s 4.4 km to the Malavali Turnoff on the right , the left turn takes you to Karla Buddha Caves. Once on the right, follow the road upto Malavali Station which will take your through a railway crossing leading to Bhaje Village which is the start of the trek.
Another way is through Dudhiware Khind (Mountain Pass) can be accessed if your enroute via Pawna Lake.
Very beautiful and informative article. Thanks for the info given about the route and way to reach the fort too. It has made a lazy person like me to develop a liking towards trekking. Reading your article I feel that one has to start trekking frequently in order to enjoy the beauty of nature which in turn is great stress reliever. Nature is the ultimate healer and you both have chosen a good hobby to pursue..
I appreciate the dedication you both have put in getting to the truth. I even recognize how much time you both must have put into researching the facts. Great job.
Thanks Anjali for your kind words ,glad you liked it. Stay tuned ,there’s more to come.
Thanks Anjali for your kind words ,glad you liked it. Stay tuned ,there’s more to come.
What a wonderful initiative! There are so many who are interested but do not know how to get started. The initiative and effort to promote trekking is much appreciated.
I wish you the very best and hope people step out of the comfort of their homes and go trekking.
Thank you Ma’am for your words of appreciation and encouragement.
Passion for what you love surfaces in this article. Congratulations and miles of more success stories coming up for sure. Great work guys!! Keep at it. Surely a space to watch out for.
Thank you Ma’am for the motivation ,it means a lot. Please continue to follow and share.
Abigail, i really admire your and Nigel’s determination..
Keep it up..
Thank you Sir for your encouragement.
Good one 👍
Thanks Devansh 🙂
Wow! Very informative. Love the description and the detailing. Such a picturesque site to be made more aware, great job Jack n Jill 😊..it takes a lot of time n effort to pen these thought and very well described indeed! Kudos Nigel n Abigail 🥰
Cheer! Anukumar
Thanks Anu for your kind words of appreciation. Please continue to follow and share.
Superb initiative Abigail & Nigel👏 Amazing photography and superb information. Very in-dept information about all the places you guys have visited. It makes travelling to these places very exciting and informative. Thank you for penning it all down for everyone’s convenience. Looking forward to many more🤗🥰
Thanks Sarita for your encouraging comments, please continue to follow & share.
Great going guys. Haapy when passionate trekker shares their experience. Great that you guys have started this blog. Waiting for many more to come and I hope I will be seeing your vlogs too. Keeping my fingers crossed. Keep P running and keep your legs running. All the best.
Thanks Swapnil. watch this space for more.
Very well written and the trek beautifully described alongwith the history.
Thank you sir. please continue to follow & share.
Nice and informative👍
Really fantastic. You could have added little more historical aspects. Of course it’s my feeling. Any way congratulations..
Thank you JPC. Watch this space for more action.
So nice!! Interesting!!😁👌ealier honeymoon also you’ll did by car!! Great!!! Keep it up..
Thanks Vinay for your encouraging comments. Please continue to follow & share.
Well penned Jack and Jill. Looking forward to many more as you climb up the hill.
Thanks Veronica , hoping to see you soon on top of the hill
A wonderful eye opener, for those who wish to venture. Well done very informative and amazing pics. All gge best.
Thanks Sandra for the encouragement.
Very informative article.. hope to see more soon!
Thanks Amit , we will definitely be posting some more.
Wow adventurous journey reading through. All the best to your future treks.
Thank you Ma’am for the encouragement ,please follow and share.
Wow.. Very informative.. Best wishes
Thanks Sanjay
Fantastic read. Feel an instant urge to embark on a similar journey. Never heard of these caves earlier.
Wonderfully written. Interesting, informative, inspiring. Cheers
Thanks Savio , glad you enjoyed it.
Eloquently written and practically motivating. Kudos to you guys . Keep Rocking 👍
Thanks Chandni
Hi Nigel and Abigail, Hearty Congratulations….You conquered more than just the fort with this informative and enlightening post which is a good guide for aspiring trail blazers. Looking forward to your sharing of many more of your conquests. Cheers and Best Wishes
Thanks Alan for your appreciation and encouragement, watch this space for more.
Awesomely scripted, very informative. keep at it guys. Wish you all the best.
Thanks Lisbert Barboza for the encouraging comment. Please continue to follow & share.
Thank you Lisbert
Well written.
Thanks Sanjiv for your appreciative comment. Please continue to follow & share.
Thank you Sanjiv
Lovely article.. Very informative.
If we plan to go trekking you ll have already guided us well😊
All the best.
Thank Priya for your encouraging comment. Please continue to follow & share.
Very informative. Well described. All the best to many more treks.
Thanks Iola. Please continue to follow & share.
Excellent read. Not heard of this place before. Thanks for sharing this. Best wishes always Nigel and Abigail.
Thank you Joan.
Very informative post. Not heard of this place before. Thanks for sharing this adventurous treck. Best wishescto both of you.
Fantastic all the best.
Thanks Clyde
Wowww wowww that was beautifully penned… Feeling so nostalgic after reading this. Brought back memories of my trekking days… The Bhaja caves, Lohagadh and Visapur fort trek, was our to do trek during the monsoons. Keep trudging on both of you and keep blogging 😀🙏😍😍😍👌
Thanks Kerman , nice to know you’ve been there , Visapur fort too with its unique approach & huge expanse at the top makes for a delightful trek.
Great initiative by Abigail and Nigel and your c9nquest of the historic forts with your trek followed by your pen is admirable.
Keep going and doing what you love.
Best Wishes and Regards.
Thank you A.Noronha for your appreciation and encouragement.
Very informative post . All the best!!!
Thanks Augusto
Very informative post and all the best!!!
Got to know more than I knew about these historical places through you guys.👍
Keep it up!
Thanks Angelo , glad this was of help to you .
Wow Nigel and Abigail,
Super stuff and extremely well documented.
Just reading the detailed experience felt like I was taking that ‘walk in the park’ myself 👌👌
Now I’ve gotta sit and sip my glucose 🙂
Thanks Ryan , delighted you could walk with us. Please continue to travel with us 🙂
Very nicely narrated. Potential travel bloggers that’s what I can say about you two . Best wishes and keep writing about the fascinating historical possibly forgotten historical monuments. Regards
Thank you Rajesh. Yes there are many gems like this waiting to be explored especially in our rich history of Maharashtra.
Very well written article. Your passion for trekking and admiring the beauty of nature and the intricate beauty of the caves is vividly portrayed. It made me a couch potato want to put it on my bucket list
I loved the penultimate para about ‘actual beauty of nature’. We have experienced it during our passion for travel over several decades – though we find it little difficult to do now in spite of our undying desire.
Well done and well written.
Awesome post Jack and Jill . There’s many a hill you still have to climb, and you have set out in the right direction. Nature is so therapeutic. Even interacting with the villagers while going uphill is an experience. Thank you for taking me through your journey. Felt really nostalgic and I for one share your enthusiasm. So keep it going and blogging your treks.
Looking forward to more from you dear Nigel and Abigail..
All the best!!!
Great initiative. Very informative for trekking enthusiasts. The writing style is fun and engaging.
V well explained.
V interesting reading.
Congrats.
Enjoy such more adventures.
Luv and God Bless
Wow congratulations, Nigel & Abigail on venture for adventure.
Appreciate the detailing and the efforts that has gone to pen this.
Hope this inspires all the young at heart to get to trekking.
Keep it up Jack & Jill 😊
Dear Nigel.and Abigail, I am not a very adventurous person and look for comfort during my travels.
But your blog has got me thinking .
Trekking seems fun. A return to nature, and good stimulation physical and mental.
Just awesome Nigel and Abigail. Reminds me of my annual climb to Ekveera Devi temple Karla, Lonavla. It’s a 500 steps climb and during the monsoon it’s just mind blowing. Wishing you both many more breathtaking experiences to share with fellow travelers like us. I thank you immensely for not only sharing your experience but advising us how to travel. Would love it if you also pen down the don’ts that you went through so that one can avoid them. God bless all your journeys.
Well written.
All the best for your future treks and blogs.
Best wishes.
K. Subramani
Nigel and Abigail
I am particularly exhilarated being fond of treks and ping trailwalks
Your narration reminds me of visiting this place albeit long back but bringing some vivid and faint memories of it
It also makes me rethink to visit and trek again and explore the forests 😊
Well narrated
Looking for more
Best wishes
Love the initiative dear Nigel and Abigail. Congratulations. Reading your beautifully written blog had motivated me to start trekking. Look forward to hearing about your future adventures. Take care and God Bless.
Great! Interesting and informative. In my list of places to be explored.
Great. Appreciate. Very good initiative.
Very good initiative taken by you both so that people are encouraged to go on treks which are good for physical and mental health. All the best to you both. Waiting for more blogs from you.
Hearty Congratulations Nigel & Abigail on this well written & descriptive post about Lohagad Fort. This will surely many trekkers in easily locating this Fort. All the best for your future blogs.
Congratulations on your website Jack and Jill. Well penned. An opportunity to learn and explore our rich heritage and an encouragement to spend time outdoors in nature enjoying serenity and gaining fitness for all.
Congratulations on your website Jack and Jill. Well penned. An opportunity to learn and explore our rich heritage and an encouragement to spend time outdoors in nature enjoying serenity and gaining fitness for all.
Very well written and very informative. Thank you so much.
Beautifully written Nigel and Co.
A potential Holiday guide!
Very well written and is informative for new trekkers. I hope it will encourage more n more people to connect with nature. Eager to see new posts.
The easy style in which the piece is written gives us the feeling that we are walking with you on this trek. Try to include some stories from history or current times to humanise the experience. Also describe a few things which no visitor should miss. You may also mention what can be improved by authorities to enhance the joy for the visitors. All the best for more treks.
Beautifully described!
The passion, emotions, pride in our culture and history can be felt in this beautiful narrative.
Look forward to enjoy many such adventures Nigelabigail!
OMG Jack and Jill I didn’t know you were into trekking. What a challenge you guys took. The information you provided will be very helpful to others who want to visit these places. Very well explained. Kudos to you both.
My God. Amazing Abigail for both of you to have been so adventurous. Very inspiring. Keep up the spirit.
Enjoy.
Makes for a good read and guide to those venturesome people looking for their next trip. Looking forward to many more such insights. Congratulations and all the very best. Keep it going. Cheers🥂
Have done this trek a few times but never from Bhaja caves … nice read..never would have put this down more eloquently ….all the best for more adventures
Very good, best wishes.
Hi Nigel and Abigail.
I have been to this fort three times. I feel I trudged like a horse with blinkers. Right from the picturesque scene to the enlightening history, I was taken on a journey once again, reliving the beautiful memories of the time spent with family and friends at that marvellous piece of history.
Your next assignment, a trip to the historical churches. You could start with Our Lady of health Versova. 1634
Congratulations, Nigel and Abigail. God bless you both.
Fr Abel
Really informative and detailed article. Great initiative.
Good work 👍
Hi Abigail n Nigel,
Cheers to You.
You walked up and down the hill much better than J&J..( no mumbling tumbling)
3Es to you both.
Energetic
Excellent
Enthusiastic
Brings about the 4thE..
Experience.
Way to go..
Takes me back to the times we went trekking during the boarding school days at Don Bosco Lonavla..
Wishing you both all the very best in your adventures..
Looking forward to you have the 5thE. An Exhilarating experience.
Cheers once again..
Take care
God Bless
I liked the description giving detailed account of your trek. Felt like I also traveled with you. Interestingly, not only the trek description you have also covered the history of the fort making it really an interesting read. Keep it up. Waiting for more
Describing everything in detail
Perfect way of writing it down
Ally the best for many more adventures an articles ✍️
Wowo
thanks