There will be hardly any trekker who has not heard about the mighty Kokankada at Harishchandragad, Ahmednagar. It’s one of the most peaceful and beautiful places in Maharashtra. The sunset view from the Kokankada is stunning. You can’t fully imagine the beauty until you visit this heavenly place on earth.
Harishchandragad is in Ahmednagar district and it is accessible from Thane, Pune and Ahmednagar. There are many more historical points on the Harishchandragad such as Harishchandreshwar Temple, Saptatirtha Pushkarni and many caves including Kedareshwar Cave.
Most of the trekkers prefer to spend a night on the fort because there are so many worth-seeing places and how can one lose the opportunity to see the beautiful sunrise from the Taramati Peak and blissful sunset from the Kokankada.
Isn’t it enough to convince you for the Harishchandragad trek?
Gotcha! Let’s see some quick facts before you go on the trek to Harishchandragad and Kokankada.
Contents:
- Harishchandragad & Kokankada trek under a minute
- Best time for the Harishchandragad trek
- When should you start the trek to Harishchandragad?
- Harishchandragad trek map
- How do you get to Harishchandragad?
- How can you reach Harishchandragad?
- Harishchandragad History
- Different places to see on the fort
- What to carry on the Harishchandragad trek?
- Precautions to take during the Harishchandragad trek
- What to do after doing the Harishchandragad trek?
Harishchandragad & Kokankada trek – a blissful trek at the 1422m elevation
Difficulty Level: Hard
Type of a trek: Two days trek
Best time to visit Harishchandragad & Kokankada: Winter Season, November to February
Distance from Igatpuri: 81 km
Base villages: Paachnai, Khireshwar and Walhivare (Belpada)
The time needed to climb Harishchandragad: 5 hours (from Khireshwar)
Best time for the Harishchandragad trek
Best time to visit Harishchandragad is post-monsoon. After the rainy season, you can explore almost all the worth seeing places on the fort.
Many trekkers go in the monsoon time to see the waterfalls. But In the monsoon period, you can’t really get the beautiful view from the Kokankada as there is going to be cloud everywhere.
The best time to visit the fort will be November and December when there will be greenery everywhere. You can get an amazing view from the Kokankada. And also you can camp under the open sky.
Harishchandragad is a popular trekking destination in Maharashtra. So avoid going on weekends because there will be a huge crowd.
To see every iconic point on the fort you should spend a night on the fort. You can carry your own tents or you can rent a tent from the locals at a very affordable price.
Locals also arrange your food so accommodation is not gonna be a problem.
When should you start the trek to Harishchandragad?
As I earlier said, if you want to enjoy each point on the fort then you should spend a night on the fort. So plan for the 2-day trek.
You can start your trek in the morning after breakfast. Enjoy the beautiful trails from the open paddy fields and then through the dense forest.
You will reach on the top of the fort before the afternoon. The sun will be harsh in the afternoon so plan accordingly.
After reaching the top of the fort you can take rest for a while. After lunch, you can explore different caves and visit temples on the fort.
Remember you need to reach the Kokankada to see the beautiful sunset. There will be a rush to take the photographs. You can sit there and enjoy the blissful moment.
Carry enough warm clothes because the temperature is very low at night. And I am telling you, it’s gonna be freezing cold up there on the fort.
Wake up early in the morning and head towards the Taramati Peak from where you can see the sun rising and shining its light on the mighty Sahyadri Mountains. The backwater of Pimpalgaon Joga Dam is also visible from here.
After breakfast, you can again explore the fort. Make sure if you have visited Harishchandreshwar temple, Kedareshwar Cave, Saptatirtha Pushkarni and Ganesh Temple.
Harishchandragad trek map
Following is the map of Harishchandragad trek showing all the possible routes:
How do you get to Harishchandragad?
There are many routes to this fort and you can choose either one as per your plan. The 3 main and popular routes to Harishchandragad are as follows:
Paachnai Village (Easy Route):
This route is the easiest one compared to other routes. It will take around 2-3 hours to climb the fort. It’s a straight forward route and there are markings available on the trail.
If you have kids on the trek then I will recommend you this path. Also if you want to cover the fort in a day then you should go through this route.
In the trails, you will get a huge rock on the side and walking beside it will be the real pleasure.
Khireshwar village (Moderate Route):
This trek starts from the Khireshwar base village. It’s a moderate level route still you need to pass through dense forest and walk on the rock inclined at 60-degree angle.
There are poles available for the support. Although the path is a little difficult, you will not need any trekking gears like ropes and all.
As Harishchandragad is a popular trek, you will get parking facility at the base village. You can hire a guide from the base village. He will definitely tell you more interesting facts and will show you hidden spots on the trail.
This route goes through the Tolar Khind. At the end of the Khind, you will see a stone carving of a lion (व्याघ्रशिल्प), symbolising that it is protecting the pass.
After passing the point you will reach the two paths. Going straight will take you to the base of the Balekilla. This path has a pretty dense forest area. If you take right from the junction then you will go to the temple passing total of 7 hills.
There is a lot to explore on the fort and even if you pick any route, the thrill will be the same.
Walhivare (also known as Belpada) Nalichi vaat (Hard Route):
This path makes Harishchandragad one of the toughest treks in Maharashtra. This is a hard route and also time-consuming.
You will need rock climbing skills and I will recommend you to go with an experienced trekker or with Organizers.
Harishchandragad through Nalichi vaat is a complete adventure package which includes rock climbing, rappelling and difficult trail.
This path will take around 9-10 hours to reach the top of the fort.
Even this is a difficult route, still, you should go from this way at least once (you are gonna be addicted to this route if you experience it once).
This trail starts from the Walhivare village, also known as Belpada. You will walk parallel to Kokankada and at the end, you need to pass from the Gorge. Then there is a vertical wall almost at 90-degree angle. And after crossing that there is a trail which will take you to the Kokankada.
Remember, only go with the experienced trekker’s group or with the trek organizers if you want to climb through this route.
How can you reach Harishchandragad?
If you are coming from Igatpuri then you can start the trek from Paachnai. People coming from Kasara and Nashik can pick the same path. There are hotels and parking facility available at the Paachnai village. Also, you can hire a local guide and rent a tent from the locals at a very affordable price.
If you are coming from Pune or Mumbai then Khireshwar route will be best for you. The base village is 5 km away from the main road.
You can also visit ancient Nageshwar Temple by this road.
Harishchandragad History
There are many references of Harishchandragad in various Puranas such as Matsyapurana, Agnipurana and Skandapurana which indicates that the fort is ancient.
The history of Harishchandragad goes back in the 6th century during the rule of Kalachuri dynasty.
Different carvings on the Harishchandreshwar temple, Kedareshwar cave and Nageshwar temple in the Khireshwar village show that this fort was built in the early medieval period (from the 6th to the 13th century).
There are many caves on the fort which have been carved during the 11th to 14th century. Great sage and creator of epic Tatvasaar, Changdev used to meditate on the fort in the 14th century. You will see many idols of Vishnu, Shiva Linga and Lord Ganesha on the fort.
The fort was under the control of Mahadev Koli tribe. Later, Mughals were controlling the fort. In 1747, Harishchandragad came under the Maratha Empire.
This fort was an important asset to guard and keep control of the surrounding region of Malshej Ghat.
Different places to see on the fort
Kokankada
Harishchandragad is famous for the Kokankada. This cliff faces towards the west side of Maharashtra that is Kokan, hence the name.
The cliff is not only vertical but an overhung. Sometimes you can see the circular rainbow from here if there is enough mist in the valley.
There is another phenomenon called a vertical cloud burst which can be seen here.
The Kokankada has a concave shape so the wind hit the cliff and rise above. That’s why if you through your hat in the cliff then sometimes it can fall return on the plateau. Although it’s not advisable, it’s just for your knowledge.
There is a flat area on the extreme north side of the Kokankada. If you want to see the real beauty of the Kokankada then go to this area from where you can get a complete panoramic view of the region. If you visit the Kokankada in monsoon days, then you can see a waterfall falling from the other side and the view of it is simply amazing.
Kokankada is on the west side of the Harishchandragad and in the evening all the feet turn towards this point to see the beautiful sunset. In the evening, if you see a rush of the photographers in the particular area then you are at the correct spot.
Temple of Harishchandreshwar
The temple of Harishchandreshwar is a piece of art. Carved in a stone, this temple is a very good example of the skillsets of ancient Indian sculptures. There are many tombs, caves and water tanks around this temple. On the main entrance, there are sculptures of faces on either side.
Caves on Harishchandragad
There are many caves on the Harishchandragad. One deep natural cave is near the Kokankada at North-West side. Many of caves are still undiscovered so good luck with your adventurous discovery.
Taramati Peak
Taramati peak is one of the highest points on the fort. It is also known as Taramanchi. From here you can see many forts in the surrounding area. There is another cliff named Rohidas in the area.
Saptatirtha Pushkarni
As the name suggests, this is a well-built lake near the Harishchandreshwar temple. There is temple-like construction on the bank of the lake in which there were idols of Lord Vishnu. Recently these idols are shifted in the nearby caves.
Kedareshwar Cave Temple
There is Shiva Linga in this cave which is surrounded by water. It’s difficult to reach the Shiva Linga as the water is ice-cold. There are 3 broken pillars and one in good condition around the Shiva Linga. In monsoon days, the caves get filled with the water.
What to carry on the Harishchandragad trek?
There is ample amount of potable water available on the fort. You can carry a 1-litre water bottle during the trek.
Food is also available at the base village and on the fort at the hotels or the local’s house.
You can hire a guide from the base village at an affordable price. A guide will be very helpful as he will tell you about the history and many hidden secret places on the fort.
You can carry your own tent or rent a tent on the fort. Accommodation facility at the Harishchandragad fort is amazing.
There is no toilet facility available on the top of the fort. Toilets are available at the base village.
Carry enough warm clothes with you if you are going to spend a night on the fort. Carry a torch with you.
Precautions to take during the Harishchandragad trek
Wear a good pair of trekking shoes. There are many slippery patches during the trail and Chappal or Sandals are not gonna help you.
Wear full-body clothes to protect your body from the insects and thorns.
Avoid going at the edge of the cliff.
Also, explore the place in a group; avoid wandering alone on the fort.
You will get the network of almost all cellular service providers on the top of the fort.
What to do after doing the Harishchandragad trek?
Well, there are many routes available to go to the Harishchandragad. So you can always explore the next difficult path.
You have explored one of the toughest treks in Maharashtra and now its time to go to Kalsubai Peak, the highest peak in Maharashtra.
You can enjoy the beautiful views of the Malshej Ghat Waterfalls and Pimpalgaon Joga Dam in the return journey.
There are many other trekking places near Harishchandragad such as Sindola Fort, Hanumantgad Fort, Hadsar Fort, Bhairavgad Fort, Jivdhan Fort and Naneghat.
Harishchandragad Trek Images
Banner image by Nagraj Salian
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