All About It

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• Difficulty - Easy

Rajmachi Trek is nestled in the midst of two popular hill stations – Lonavala and Karjat. The trek can be approached either via the Lonavala side or the Karjat side and offers trekkers to climb two forts starting from the same base village of Udhewadi. 

Manaranjan Fort is at 2510 feet and west-facing fort while Shriwardhan Fort at 2710 feet faces to the east.

This trek is known for the fireflies which flock to the area in the late evenings.

If you are trekking via Lonavala, the trail is much longer but easier to trek and reach the two forts. You will be trekking through mud trails along the forest section most of the way until you reach Udhewadi. 

The Kandala route starts at the caves and waterfalls of Khondane. This has a steeper climb through a forest section and joins Udhewadi village.

These forts were built by the Satavahanas but gained fame under the rule of Shivaji Maharaj, who took over the fort in the 15th century. Shivaji Maharaj fortified and expanded the fort by adding several structures within the premises. The forts have seen battles between the Marathas and the Mughals. Later in the 19th century, it was taken over by the British. 

The fort was also a popular trade route connecting present-day Mumbai and Pune