The ancient fort of Rajmachi is located in the Karjat region of Maharashtra near Lonavala serving as a perfect weekend getaway from Mumbai or Pune. The trek to Rajmachi Fort is one of the most popular fort treks in the Sahyadri, the Western Ghats. Taking you through the hidden beauty and wilderness of Maharashtra, the Rajmachi Fort gives you stunning views of the Sahyadri mountains and the backwaters of Shirota Dam. It consists of two forts namely the Shrivardhan Fort and the Manaranjan Fort and was built by Shivaji Maharaj in the 17th century. For years this trek has attracted many nature lovers and people looking to enter the trekking world due to its location amidst dense forests and waterfalls. The region comes to life during the monsoon months and has a different setting altogether in the winter season. Admire the beauty of Kondane Caves, 16 Buddhist caves. The best time to undertake the Rajmachi Trek is in rainy season June - September and the winter months of November to March when the scenery changes significantly. Stay on this page for information on the trek - Itinerary, Facts, FAQs, Images and Reviews.
Lonavala to Rajmachi
Assemble at Lonavala Railway station at 9 AM where you will be picked up by us in vehicles and we drive to the start point of the trek. A 8 km trek takes you to the base village. Have dinner and retire for the night. Overnight in tents.
Rajmachi to Kondhavane Village via Kondane Caves. Drive to Karjat Station.
Today we wake up early to start our day. Have breakfast and visit the fort. Also explore the nearby areas and witness the vast beauty of the Sahyadris. Have lunch and start your descend to Kondane Caves, with are a set of 15 Buddhist caves. Explore the caves and make you way down to the Kondhavane village. Our vehicles will drop you to Karjat station where we bid goodbye.
Since it is a beginner’s trek, you need no special prior experience. Although one is required to have mental preparedness and stamina before he begins the trek. Running exercise is recommended.
1. Jog/Run for 3 Kms in 30 mins and
2. Hold your breath for 20 seconds
If you are not meeting these benchmarks, please use the preparation schedule to improve your fitness till you achieve the above benchmarks.
1. How to choose a right rucksack: It is essential that you choose a right rucksack for the trek since you are going to carry it all the time while trekking. Make sure you don’t make these common mistakes while buying a rucksack.
2. How to pack a rucksack: Trekking in mountains become more fun when your rucksack is well-organized. It also makes it easier for you to carry without being much load on your shoulders. Follow the guidelines on how to pack a rucksack.
The best season for Rajmachi Fort Trek are the months of June to March. Monsoon season being the best whereas the winter season shows a completely different setting.
Click here for text packing list.
The base of the trek is Lonavala Railway Station located 67 km from Pune and 83 km from Mumbai. Both are well connected to Lonavala by regular trains and buses. One can hire a private taxi to reach Lonavala as well.
Intermittent cellular network till the base of the trek following which there will be no network.
Lonavala is a famous hill station surrounded by green valleys of the Western Ghats. The Karla and Bhaja Caves are ancient Buddhists shrines carved out of a rock. The Della Adventure Park and Bhushi dam are popular attractions near Lonavala.
The minimum age limit is 9 years. However, minors aged between 9 to 17 should be accompanied with their parents or guardians. If you are above the age of 60, kindly carry a medical certificate from your doctor that deem you fit for adventure activities like trekking.
Accommodation on trek days is in tents on a twin sharing basis.
We use four-season Gipfel tents and sleeping bags. If you carry your own sleeping bag, you will get a cashback reward, provided that you inform us as soon as you have booked your trek.
Toilet tents will be provided to you on the trek.These are portable toilets tents where a deep pit will be dug. A shovel will be provided inside the tent to cover the waste after you have made your business. You can take a toilet roll inside. Make sure you dig used toilet paper along with the waste. Though water is recommended in place of toilet paper. Please refrain from using wet wipes as they are non-biodegradable. There will be no facility for bathing on the trek. Go through our blog section for tips on how to maintain personal hygiene on treks.
There will be no snow on this trek.
Vegetarian food will be served throughout the trek. The only non-vegetarian item served on our treks are eggs. Our kitchen staff follows a proper menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner which has been designed in order to fulfil the nutritional requirements of the participants. There will be milk, poha, eggs, muesli/corn flakes, bread and butter served for breakfast. Rice or simple roti sabzi will be packed for lunch. In dinner, you will have dal, egg curry or any other vegetarian dish along with rice, roti, and a dessert item. Packed lunch will be provided to you on the days you are trekking. You are requested to carry your own tiffin box and a mug to consume food. The meals consumed on journey and arrival day are not included in our cost.
You can rent the following items from us- Trekking Pole, Trekking Shoes, Fleece Jacket, Rucksack
Monsoon season will see a significant amount of rainfall with temperatures ranging from 30 to 20 degree celsius. Winter months will be much cooler with temperatures dropping down to as low as 10 degrees at night.
No, there will be no snow on this trek.
No, there is no option to offload your backpack.
A team of participant will be led by a course certified trek leader and a local guide. All participants are requested to abide by what their leader says. There will also be a team of kitchen staff and porters on the trek. We maintain 1:8 ratio of trek leader and participants. All our trek leaders and staff have a certified training in first-aid and rescue operation.
No, trekking pole is not necessary.
It is recommended that you come prepared with all the stuff. Please do not leave anything for last-minute buying.
Yes, it is absolutely safe for solo woman to travel in fix departures. Women on the trek will be sharing tent with each other. In case you are the only woman on the trek, you will be given a separate tent.
Yes, e-certificates will be given at the end of each trek provided that you completed it. It will bear your name, the trek, and the maximum altitude you achieved on the trek.
You will be picked up from Lonavala Railway Station and dropped at Karjat Station.
Expect to reach Karjat station late evening by 19:00, so plan your further travels accordingly
No mandatory documents are required for the trek.
Our community is an integral part of us and we take pride in our trekkers and climbers. When you complete at least three days on any trek or expedition with us, you become eligible for our membership and referral programs.
For us, a successful summit is not about reaching the highest point of a mountain but about making it safely back to base.
Cancellations up to 30 days prior to departure date
5% Deduction
Between 30 days to 15 days prior to departure
50%
deduction
Less than 15 days of departure
No Cash Refund
Cancellations up to 5 days prior to departure date
No Deduction
Cancellations less than 5 days prior to departure
No Refund
Sarthak Madan 21 May 2021
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Your choice of trekking shoes can make your trek a blissful or blister-full experience based on how well it fits you. A good pair of trekking shoes is the most essential piece of equipment you will use while hiking.&n
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