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9 Thrilling Treks to Explore near Mumbai and Pune in Monsoon

The view from the top is worth all the trouble!

Rajmachi fort trekk

Since the arrival of monsoon, trekking places near Mumbai have already gathered a lot of visitors. With the onset of this season, people start searching for the best trekking spots near Mumbai almost immediately.

Apart from the glory and glitter of the city, Mumbai city also has a fair share of biosphere reserves and picnic spots nearby where you can trek. Around thousands of people engage in the sport of trekking, taking the rocky paths of the hills, engulfing the urban illumination.

So all the thrill-seekers, gather to boost your adrenaline as we go for a visual exploration of the most offbeat trekking places in or near Mumbai.

Best Trekking Spots from Mumbai in Monsoon Within 100Kms – 200kms

Location  Distance from Mumbai Difficulty Level Map
Karnala Fort 50 km Easy Route Map
Kalavantin Durg 47.4 km Difficult Route Map
Garbett Point 80 km Moderate Route Map
Mahuli fort 74.2 km Moderate to Difficult Route Map
Rajmachi fort 94.7 km Very Easy Route Map
Lohagad fort 99 km Very Easy Route Map
Tikona Fort 121 km Easy Route Map
Harishchandragad fort 201.7 km Moderate to Difficult Route Map
Chandan – Vandan 242.1 km Moderate Route Map

 


Best Trekking Places from Pune Within 100Kms – 200kms

Location  Distance from Pune Difficulty Level Map
Karnala fort 126 km Easy Route Map
Kalavantin Durg 127 km Difficult Route Map
Garbett Point 118 km Moderate Route Map
Mahuli fort 214 km Moderate to Difficult Route Map
Rajmachi fort 77 km Very Easy Route Map
Lohagad fort 75 km Very Easy Route Map
Tikona fort 57 km Easy Route Map
Harishchandragad fort 171 km Moderate to Difficult Route Map
Chandan – Vandan fort 97 km Moderate Route Map

1. Karnala Fort

Karnala fort

Surrounded by the Karnala bird sanctuary, this fort is one of the most frequented forts near the city. The fort was created before 1400 A.D, during the Devagiri Yadavs and the Tughlaq rulers. After witnessing demolition, the ruins are all left of the beautiful fort. The fort of Karnala is best known for its twin forts, one higher and the lower namely the Basalt pillar and the Pandu’s tower respectively.

How to reach: it will take an hour to reach from the bottom. Transport is also available from Panvel railway station.

Monsoon Destinations KarnalaIn addition to the fort, you can also feed your ears with the chirping of the birds from the famous sanctuary there. The fort looks extremely eye-soothing with the tower covered in vibrant green moss, and the entire area submerged in cold and creamy mist.

This makes Karnala Fort one of the Best Treks in Panvel.

  • Distance from Mumbai: 50 km |    ⇒ View Route Map
  • Distance from Pune: 126 km |    ⇒ View Route Map
  • Karnala Fort Height above sea level: 1440 feet
  • Difficulty Level: Easy Level
  • Trekking time: 1.3 hours of normal climb
  • Best time to visit: In Winter

2. Kalavantin Durg, Panvel

kalavantin-durg-fort

How to reach: transport is easily available at the Panvel railway station on harbour line. From there one has to trek to the Durg.

Apart from being a splendid location for trekking near Mumbai, this point also happens to be a very quiet getaway near Mumbai for people from all walks of life.

Kalavantin Durg View
Image Credits: Flickr User- Buddha Jyothiprasad

One of the most difficult and deadly climbs is of this Durg, standing tall at a height of 2300 feet. Situated near Prabalgad Fort, the Kalavantin Durg is a hard trekking spot with no railings and support for the climbers. The view from the top is just bewitching. This fortress was dedicated to queen Kalavantin, and is dubbed as the ‘climb to heaven’. The south of the fortress is adorned with tiny waterfalls and the bird’s eye view at the top makes it the most dangerous yet heart-pumping climb.

  • Distance from Mumbai: 47.4km |  ⇒ View Route Map
  • Distance from Pune: 127 km |   ⇒ View Route Map
  • Kalavantin Durg Height above sea level:  2300 feet
  • Difficulty Level: Hard Level
  • Trekking time: 3 hours of normal climb
  • Best time to visit: all year round

3. Garbett Point / Garbut Point (Near Matheran)

Matheran in Monsoon
Picture credits: Omkar A Kamale [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]

Less known and visited, this point is located near the beautiful hill station of Matheran. The Garbett point gives a grand view of the plateau below. One needs to take the long path to reach the point, but the view is worth the climb. During monsoon, the place becomes a bliss with streams and waterfalls. The trail will take you around 6-8 hours.

Overnight Trek to Matheran via Garbett

Matheran is generally an amazing place to spend your weekend, but the climb becomes even more enjoyable when there is a slight chill in the air. This makes it one of the best options among the most beautiful trekking places near Mumbai in winter.

How to reach: 4 hours from Bhivpuri to reach the point.

  • Distance from Mumbai: 80 km |  ⇒ View Route Map
  • Distance from Pune: 118 km |  ⇒ View Route Map
  • Difficulty Level: Medium Level
  • Garbett Point / Garbut Point, Matheran Height above sea level: 2625 feet
  • Trekking time: 3 hours 30 Mins
  • Best time to visit: all year round

4. Mahuli Fort

Mahuli Fort trekk
Image Credit: Flick User – Halla Photo Contests

A favourite among the trekkers, the Mahuli fort’s height is 2815 ft. This fort is special because of its multiple peaks namely Vazir, Vishnu etc. This Mughal fort in Thane is a breathtaking trekking experience. Surrounded by dense forest and green blanket of moss, this fort is an ideal trekking destination for all the climbers.

Mahuli Fort way
Credits: Flickr User-yatin_bhat

The Mahuli Fort near Mumbai boasts a splendid view from these various points of interest. This will probably be the reason for the large number of people going for the Mahuli Trekking during the Monsoon this year.

How to reach: One has to reach the base village through Asangaon station and start the trek from there.

  • Distance from Mumbai: 74.2 km |  ⇒ View Route Map
  • Distance from Pune: 214 km |  ⇒ View Route Map
  • Mahuli Fort’s Height above sea level: 2815 feet
  • Difficulty Level: Medium Difficulty
  • Trekking time: 3 to 4 hours
  • Best time to visit: June to December

5. Rajmachi fort

Rajmachi fort trekk

Rajmachi fort is the remains, comprising of two fortresses- Shrivardhan and Manaranjan. Also known as the ‘Bale Killa’, the fort gives an amazing view of the Konkan area, at the height of 3000 feet. Nestling among the Sahyadri mountains, the travelers and hikers are fond of this spot.

Also the place holds religious significance for the temples it has. The temples of ‘kal bhairava’ and some Buddhist temples lies in the caves of the fort. This fort is bestowed with natural exuberance and amalgamation of manly and natural formation.

Lonavala in Rainy Season
Picture Credits: Flickr User- Atanu De

This Rajmachi Trek will definitely enthral you and your gang when you are ascending to the peak. So, make sure to carry essential items when you go for this trek near Mumbai for one day.

How to reach: from Lonavala, it is 15km. will take you around 4 hours on foot to reach.

  • Distance from Mumbai: 94.7km |  ⇒ View Route Map
  • Distance from Pune: 77 km |  ⇒ View Route Map
  • Rajmachi fort Height above sea level: 3000 feet
  • Difficulty Level: Very Easy
  • Time to trek: Around 45 minutes
  • Best time to visit: June to September

6. Lohagad Fort

Lohagad Fort trekk
Image Credit: Flick User – Tintu Mathew

This historical fort is located at a height of dizzying 3400 feet. This ancient architecture lures many nature admirers every year. This 18th-century marvel is known for its panoramic views and fresh spine-freezing air at the peak. The fort was under the reign of the great Maratha Empire. The Lohagad fort radiates extreme architectural excellence and natural grace.

Even though this place is weekend trekking destination near Mumbai, you can finish it off in a single day as well.

How to reach: it takes 3-4 hours to reach the fort through Lohagadwadi village.

  • Distance from Mumbai: 99 km |  ⇒ View Route Map
  • Distance from Pune: 75 km |  ⇒ View Route Map
  • Lohagad fort Height above sea level: 3400 feet
  • Difficulty Level: Very Easy
  • Trekking time: 1 to 2 hours
  • Best time to visit: monsoon season

7. Tikona Fort

Tikona Fort trekk
Image Credit: Flick User – Vijay Ingle

As the name suggests, Tikona is a triangular fort situated 60 km from Pune. This fort is a trekking destination for a large number of trekkers. The fort is also enhanced with a lake at the base. At a height of 3500 ft, you can view the Tikona peth, the village and the Pawna dam.

You will be able to finish off this trek in 2 hours maximum and then you can wander around to discover some of the most astounding things there as this destination is an unknown place around Mumbai.

How to reach: board a train from CST and halt at Lonavala.

  • Distance from Mumbai: 121 km |   ⇒ View Route Map
  • Distance from Pune: 57 km | ⇒ View Route Map
  • Tikona Fort Height above sea level:  3500 feet
  • Difficulty Level: Easy
  • Trekking time: 1 to 2 hours
  • Best time to visit: all year round

8. Harishchandragad Fort

Harishchandragad fort trekk
Image Credit : Flick User – Somabrata Pramanik

Among one of the most challenging treks in Mumbai, Harischandragad might be physically challenging, but it is a visual treat after one reaches the zenith. There are multiple routes which takes you to the trekking spot. The fort is filled with astonishing views, including caves and multiple peak points.

The places you shouldn’t miss are namely- Saptatirtha Pushkarni, the temple to the east, with idols of Lord Vishnu, which has been recently shifted due to the littering of many trekkers.

Harishchandragad Fort
Image Credits: Flickr User-nVijay Gurav Follow

The Kedareshwar Cave- the mystical cave with a Shiva linga inside, with water surrounding it. The cave is supported by four pillars, three of them of which has broken down. People believe that when the fourth pillar demolishes, the world will come to an end.

The kokan kada- the cliff faces west and gives the panoramic view of the valley, giving the most spell-bounding experience. Other than these, the other attractions are Taramati peak, Nageshwar temple and the Temple of Harishchandreshwar.

How to reach: you can reach Khireshwar village and take the 7km path to the fort.

  • Distance from Mumbai: 201.7 km   |  ⇒ View Route Map
  • Distance from Pune: 171 km |   ⇒ View Route Map
  • Harishchandragad Fort Height above sea level: 4710 feet
  • Difficulty Level: Moderate to Difficult
  • Time to trek: 5-6 hours
  • Best time to visit: all year round

9. Chandan – Vandan Forts (Near Satara)

Chandan - Vandan near sataraLocated in Satara district, the forts are situated in the Sahyadris. The adjacent forts are an easy climb. Those people who want an ‘easy peasy, lemon squeezy climb’, this is the ideal spot for them.

Additionally, it is also a popular destination for people looking for Solo Treks near Mumbai. So, visit this spot this weekend with your group this monsoon to see the greenest patch over this terrain.

How to reach: you can reach the forts from the village of Bhuinj.

  • Distance from Mumbai: 242.1 km  |  ⇒ View Route Map
  • Distance from Pune: 97 km  | ⇒ View Route Map
  • Chandan – Vandan Forts Height above sea level: 3800 feet
  • Difficulty Level: Medium Level
  • Time to trek: 1 hour
  • Best time to visit: all year round

This was the article about the Best Trekking Destinations near Mumbai and Pune During monsoon, winter or summer! How was your experience with Travelerswiki.com? 

Hope you found this article to be useful, so the next step would be to visit and feel it yourself. We have more Places to Visit Near Mumbai in Monsoon if you wish to visit any of them. 

Written by Rhituparna Das

I believe all we can fancy are real. The only way to find out is to explore. The unnamed matters, the unpainted canvases, the undiscovered corners, are all left to hunt. Soul of a snow dog, trapped in the heinous human flesh.

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