Lohagad Fort & Visapur Fort Trek

Type: Fort Lohagad Fort: 3500 ft Visapur Fort: 3400 ft Grade: Easy Base Village: Malvli Duration : 2 to 3 hours History With a 2000 year old history, Lohagad one of the Majestic forts in the region. The climb to the fort takes you to Panoramic vantage points, huge balconies, doors and reminds you how Important this place was which was used to defend freedom. Surrounded by lakes on all side the views from the fort are breathtaking especially from Vinchu Kata (Scorpion's tail). It belongs to the period of Chattrapati Shivaji's reign and was used for keeping prisoners in the year 1564. In 1670, Shivaji Maharaj won this fort and in the year 1751, Gaikwad and Dabhade family were incarcerated in this fort. The entrance to this fort is impressive and is aptly called 'Delhi Gate'.

The history of the place dates around 2000 years back. At that time, Lohagad was one of the major forts of the Satwaahan dynasty. The fort owes its name to the sage Lomesh who was meditating on Lohagad. It was mainly built to keep Nana Maval , Andhra Maval and Korbaarse Maval in check. But after the collapse of the Bahamani kingdom , the fort Lohagad in Pune was captured by Nizamshahi in 1489. Thereafter, the fort passed into different hands. The seventh brother of the Nizam who ruled from1590 to 1594 was imprisoned here. In 1630, the fort was captured by Adilshah, and Shivaji Maharaj took it under his control in 1648

In the year 1665, the fort was successively attacked by Mirza Raja Jaysingh who invaded Purandhar and by Kutubuddin , who looted the villages surrounding the fort Lohagad in Pune. Shivaji Maharaj captured it again in 1670, Aurangzeb , in 1700 and Balaji Vishwanath in 1720. Bajirao II ruled the fort in 1802 until it went finally to the British hands under Colonel Prother in 1818.

The other fort near Lohagad is Visapur. It is 3500 feet high and situated between Lohagad and Bedse Caves. A huge cannon (almost 10 feet long) on Visapur is very vital as it has an impression of royal crown. One can see Purandar on south-east. Sinhagad as well as Tung and Tikona can also be clearly seen. Both these forts are of Satwahan Era and of great importance in Shivaji's period as to keep watch on Konkan and Bor Ghat. These two forts are historically very crucial and must be visited by trek lovers and history lovers.
The Bhaja caves , situated in Bhaja village, are nearby and it is a 4 kilometer walk from Lohagad to these caves and so also from Lohagad to the main road