Top 10 Best Treks near Pune and Mumbai

There are many forts near Pune and Mumbai. You can plan a weekend trek to these forts. It can be your go-to place on a weekend. I have listed down top 10 best treks near Pune and Mumbai to visit. These treks are open throughout the year. The best time to go on these treks is in monsoon season.

In Shorts:

Lohagad Trek

Lohagad fort trek (also know as lohgad, लोहगड) is an easy trek and accessible by bike and car. This trek can be your first choice for the Monsoon treks near Pune and Mumbai. The nearest railway station for the Lohagad trek is Malavli station. Total time required for this trek is around 2 hours from Malavli station and 30-40 min from Lohagad Wadi.

There are many food stalls at the base of lohagad. This trek is best for family and kids. There are many waterfalls near Lohagad. People from Pune and Mumbai specially visit Lohagad fort for the mesmerising Bhaje Waterfall.

Lohagad fort trek

Distance from Pune: 63 km

Distance from Mumbai: 99 km

Lohagad fort Difficulty Level: Easy

Accessible by bike and car

Visapur Fort Trek

Visapur Fort is on the way to Lohagad fort trek. You can visit both the forts in a single day. Visapur fort is larger than the Lohagad and also at a higher elevation. In the monsoon season, you must visit the Visapur fort waterfall. It’s famous for its scenery and amazing views. I will recommend this trek to beginners. Visapur fort trek is an easy trek and it will take around 1 and half hours (90 min) to climb from the Visapur base village.

Balaji Vishwanath built the Visapur fort. As compared to Lohagad, this fort is new but both the forts have a similar history.

Visapur fort trek

Distance from Pune: 63 km

Distance from Mumbai: 99 km

Visapur fort Difficulty Level: Easy

Accessible by bike and car

Tikona Fort Trek

Tikona fort is also known as Vitandgad. It’s situated near Kamshet at North-West side of Pune. Tikona fort trek is an easy trek and it will take around 1 hour to reach the top. It’s a small fort but you can get beautiful views of Pawana Lake from the top of the Tikona fort. Tung fort, Lohagad and Visapur fort are also visible from this fort.

The shape of the hilltop is pyramid-like that’s why the fort is called Tikona means triangular. There are many small hotels and food stalls at the base village, Tikona Peth. Tikona fort is famous for seven water tanks on the fort and caves form the Satvahan era.

Tikona fort trek

Distance from Pune: 52 km

Distance from Mumbai: 121 km

Tikona fort Difficulty Level: Easy

Accessible by bike and car

Sinhagad Trek – Most Popular Treks near Pune

One of the most popular treks of the people from Pune is Sinhagad Trek. It’s the best one day trek near Pune which is located at South-West side and around 30 km from the city. There are two different routes to go on the fort. You can spend your whole day at the fort as there are many worth seeing places on the Sinhagad fort.

It’s an easy trek and it will take around 2 hours to reach at the top if you start from the base village. There are many food stalls available on the fort. Zhunka bhakar and masala Tak is popular over here.

Sinhagad fort trek

Distance from Pune: 30 km

Distance from Mumbai: 180 km

Sinhagad Difficulty Level: Easy

Accessible by bike and car

Read our complete guide on Sinhagad before going to visit this fort.

Torna Fort Trek

Torna fort is also known as Prachandagad. This fort is the first fort captured by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. This is a massive fort and also highest fort in the Pune District. That is why the name Prachandgad. It means a massive fort. This is one of the hardest treks in Maharashtra. It will take 2 to 3 hours to reach the top of the fort. I will recommend you to start the trek as early as possible because it’s little difficult for new trekkers to descend down after sunset.

Torna fort trek is among the best Monsoon treks near Pune. You can get a beautiful view of the Sahyadri mountain range from the Zunzar Machi. You can also see Raigad, Rajgad, Lingana, Purnadar fort and Sinhagad from this fort.

Torna fort trek

Distance from Pune: 70 km (from Nasrapur side, recommended by BIT)

Distance from Mumbai: 213 km

Torna fort Difficulty Level: Hard

The road is available till the base village. There is the construction of a new road is done but it will not take you directly to the fort.

Rajgad Trek

Rajgad was the former capital of the Maratha Empire. The previous name of Rajgad was Murumdev. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was stayed here for the highest number of days compared to any other fort. Rajgad is a massive fort. Rajgad fort trek is a difficult trek and I will recommend you to spend a night on the fort. You can rest at the Padmavati temple.

There are 3-4 different routes available for the Rajgad trek. Considering the difficulty level it will take around 3-4 hours to climb Rajgad. There are small hotels and food stall at the base village. The sunset view from the Rajgad is absolutely stunning. You can see Sinhagad and Torna fort from Rajgad.

Rajgad fort trek

Distance from Pune: 59 km

Distance from Mumbai: 204 km

Rajgad Difficulty Level: Hard

Road is available till the base village.

Raigad Trek – one of the challenging treks near Pune

Raigad was the capital of the Maratha Empire. The difficulty of the Raigad trek is moderate. It will take 2 to 3 hours to climb the fort. There is also a ropeway available which will take you 2-3 min to reach the top of Raigad.

There are many historically important places on the Raigad and I will recommend you to take out a complete day to explore the complete Raigad. You can start your trek early in the morning. Explore the complete fort and take a ropeway to descend down. The trek to Raigad is open all year but the best time to visit the Raigad is in Monsoon period.

Raigad fort trek

Distance from Pune: 131 km

Distance from Mumbai: 160 km

Raigad Difficulty Level: Moderate

Accessible by bike and car. The ropeway is available which will take you directly on the fort.

Purandar Fort Trek

Purandar fort is at the South-East side of the Pune. You will see a military camp at the base of the fort. There is strict timing of opening and closing of the fort door. The difficulty level of the trek is moderate. It is not a tiring trek but it will take around 2-3 hours to climb Purandar fort. The best time to visit this fort is in winter or the rainy season.

Purandar Fort is the birthplace of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. There are other temples on the hilltop. This fort is one of the best one-day treks near Pune.

Purandar fort trek

Distance from Pune: 41 km

Distance from Mumbai: 194 km

Purandar fort Difficulty Level: Moderate

Accessible by bike and car.

Rohida Fort Trek

Rohida fort is also known as Vichitragad. It is at the south side of Pune near Bhor. It’s an easy trek and it will take around 1 hour to reach the top of the fort. The best time to visit Rohida fort is in Monsoon. If you start your trek early then I will recommend you to include a visit to Raireshwar temple in the plan. You can visit both the places in a single day.

Rohida fort trek

Distance from Pune: 59 km

Distance from Mumbai: 204 km

Rohida fort Difficulty Level: Easy

Accessible by bike and car.

Malhargad Trek

Malhargad trek is one of the best treks near Pune for the beginners. There is not much to explore on the fort. It will take less than an hour to climb Malhargad. It’s an easy trek and you can plan to see beautiful sunrise or sunset from this fort. If you want to do camping on the fort then start the trek late in the evening. You can visit this fort throughout the year. The best time to visit this trek is in Monsoon season.

The return journey from the Malhargad is also amazing if it’s night time. You can see entire city lights from the Dive Ghat. The scenery is stunning and I will recommend you to definitely experience it.

Malhargad fort trek

Distance from Pune: 32 km

Distance from Mumbai: 178 km

Malhargad Difficulty Level: Easy

Accessible by bike and car.

Things to carry for the one day treks near Pune & Mumbai

Take the following things with you if you are going for the day trek in the Sahyadri mountain range.

Backpack

Carry a backpack so that you can hold other essential things in it.

Appropriate clothing

Hiking is a physical task. So always wear appropriate clothes for the treks.

Hiking shoes

Hiking shoes are essential. It will give a better grip and you will feel much comfortable on a trek.

Water

You must carry 1-2 liter of water with you for any trek. Remember to refill the bottle whenever possible. It’s better to bring your water bottle from home.

Food

Carry chocolates and biscuit packets in your backpack.

First-aid kit

It’s good if you have a first-aid kit in your backpack. You will never know when you will need it. At least carry a packet of bandage.

Banner photo by Shubham Swami