One Day Torna Fort Trek | A Truly Marvelous Fort

Travel Date: 30th Oct 2020

Just 2 hours drive away from Pune, Torna fort is a perfect place for someone who enjoys trekking. Torna fort was the first fort captured by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and now it is  one of the most difficult treks in Maharashtra. 4,603 feet tall, it is the highest hill-fort in the district.

At 9:30 AM, I started trekking from its base village ,VELHE and it took me close to 2 hours from Pune to reach to its parking area. 

Due to the vast expanse of the fort, it used to be called as Prachandgadh, "Prachand" meaning huge. But now it is named as Torna as a variety of plant called Torna, grows in its vicinity.

The trek can be enjoyed with overall three main highlights, first part is the initial climb with several species of plants. Torna is home to 399 different varieties of plant species. If seen from distant, they look alike tea garden.

Second is the plateau area which looks amazing with the view of valley on one side and Torna dam on the other side.

Then comes the most challenging part and it includes trekking across steep hill, crossing waterfalls(in monsoon) and finally entering the fort via Bini Darwaza. Proper footwear and a little bit of knowledge about the route would ensure a safe climb up to the fort. Soon after Bini Darwaza, there is another set of  steps to Kothi Darwaja.

There are railings which can be used to climb steep hill but do not be fully dependent on those as the construction is old.

The view from the top of the fort is spectacular and on a clear sunny day, you get to see numerous forts like Raigad, Purandar, Sinhagad and Pratapgad. Torna Fort trek can be done in a day or two days. 

You need a minimum of 3-4 hours to reach to the top of this fort and  explore it. You can even go for  camping at Torna Fort. Simply bring a tent or else there is a temple which can be used to stay overnight which is enough for 15-20 people.

There are few small shops in the Velhe village and you can munch there before starting the trek, however, remember that options will be limited. There are stalls selling water and lemonade on the fort and even on the trails. Keep yourself properly hydrated throughout all the time. Since, I visited the place during Corona time, I brought all the required eatables with me. 

Best months to visit this place are September and October. During this time, the sky would be clear and you will get to witness fascinating views.

I hope this information will be helpful for you to plan your trip to Torna Fort. If you have any query, let me know in the comment section below. More than happy to help! Check out my YouTube channel and Instagram account. Click to below links👇:

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