Gavilgad Fort

Gavilgad Fort is near Chikhaldara hill station in Amravati district, Maharashtra. It is believed that the fort is 300 years old. Some beautifully carved idols, which is believed to carve during the period of the Nizams, when Elichpur was their capital are worth to see.

Elephants, bulls, tigers, lions and Hindi, Urdu and Arabic scripts comprise the carvings on the walls of the fort. Idols of Lord Hanuman and Lord Shankar are also seen in the fort. 10 cannons made of iron; copper and brass are also there inside the fort.

Gavlis, who were rulers of the shepherd community in the 12th /13th century built the fort. Then came on the hands of Gond community till the time they were defeated by the Mughals. The fort is at present under the Melghat Tiger Project. Nagpur is the nearest airport, 230 km away, while Amravati is the nearest railway station, 100 km away. Chikhaldara is well connected by road.

Harishchandragad Fort

Harishchandragad Fort is famous for its height, its toughness and the famous 'Konkan Kada'. Harishchandra Temple is known to be the pride of the fort. Sant Changdev stayed here for some time and completed his manuscript - 'Tatwasaar'. The Nandi and Shivling in the temple are breathtaking. A cave nearby is always full of very cold water. Harishchandragad Fort is situated in Junnar region near Malshej Ghat.

The fort is very popular to trekkers and nature lovers as it is one of the best forts to trek. Konkan Kada is a challenge for trekkers as it is at a height of 3,500 feet. Rohidas, Taramati and Harishchandra are the three peaks in Harishchandragad. Taramati peak is the highest one in the fort. Many peaks, fort and other beautiful places such as Malshej Ghat, Jivdhan, Nane Ghat, Ratangad, Kalsubai, etc. can also be seen from here.

Lucky tourists can sometimes see like tigers, cheetah, snakes, swallow and flamingos, etc. Harishchandragad is must to visit to enjoy the beauty of forest, especially for the Konkan Kada. Nearest airport is in Mumbai (154 km), while nearest railway station is Kalyan. Hotels are available at Mumbai and Pune.

Kandhar Fort

Kandhar Fort is at Kandhar town in Nanded district of Maharashtra. The fort is encircled with a ditch full of water. It is believed that Rashtrakuta King Krishna III of Malkhed who styled himself as Kandharpuradhi Swar constructed the fort. The ruins of this majestic and historic fort are located at a distance of 50 km from the Ranthambhore National Park.

Old Idgah is at some distance from the fort. Ranthambhore National Park is also so near from the fort. One can catch buses from Nanded to Kandhar, accommodation is available at the hotels in Nanded.

Lohagad and Visapur Forts

Lohagad and Visapur Forts are situated atop an impressive hill near Malavali, 52 km away from Pune. These forts were built in the 18th century. A 1 km long ridge separates the two forts. These forts are regarded to be ideal for trekking and can be toured in a day from Pune.

Lohagad, which is 3,400 feet high, is a very wide spread fort. Ganesh Darwaja, Narayan Darwaja, Hanuman Darwaja and Maha Darwaja are the four doors to Lohagad from the nearby village. A few sculptures are still visible on Maha Darwaja.

Visapur fort, which is 3,500 feet in height, is situated between Lohagad and Bedse Caves. A huge cannon of 10 feet in length feet is the main attraction of Visapur, as it has an impression of royal crown.

Vinchu Kata is the famous spot of Lohagad - which is a range of hills that looks like Capricorn. Pawana Dam can be viewed from the backside of Lohagad. Sinhagad fort, Tung fort and Tikona fort can be clearly seen from the Visapur fort. These two forts are historically very crucial and must be visited by trek lovers and history lovers.

Nearest airport and railway station is at Pune. Regular buses and locals are available from Shivajinagar and Pune Station to Kamshet and Malavali. Hotels are available in Pune.

Mumbai Fort

An old British fort was located at north of Colaba, so the area north of Colaba is known as Mumbai Fort. There are a lot of imposing buildings from Mumbai's golden period here.

Among many, the St. Johns Church is a striking building in the fort area, which is worth to visit. The church has been dedicated to the warriors who laid down their lives in the Sindh campaign of 1838 and the first Afghan war of 1843.

This area has now been established as a commercial centre of Mumbai. So the area is jam-packed with commuters, street stalls and the grand facades of 19th century British institutions and trading houses.

Mumbai is well connected by air, rail and road with all the important places within and beyond the state. City buses, local trains, and taxis are available for local transportation. Hotels are available in Mumbai.

Murud - Janjira

Murud-Janjira is located 60 km away from Alibaug, Maharashtra. This small village is on the top of a hillock. It is believed that the rulers of Ahmednagar constructed the fort in the 15th century. Despite the ravages of wind and tide, the fort is almost entirely intact. This 300-year old fort is famous for its fine architecture.

Since its construction by the Ahmadnagar rulers under the supervision of their regent Malik Ambar in the 15th century, any enemy never conquered the fort for over 300 years. Murud-Janjira is probably the only of its kind on the 720 km Maharashtra coastline.

Murud is popular for its appealing beach, murmuring casuarinas, coconut and betel palms and an ancient fort. The shrine of Lord Dattatreya is near the fort on a hillock. The palace of the Nawab and the Janjira caves are also worth visiting. The beaches of Kashid and Nandgaon are in a few kilometers away from the fort.

Nearest airport is at Mumbai (165 km), while nearest railway station is at Roha. Regular ferry services are available from Ferry Wharf up to Rewas (23 km). One needs to take a bus via Alibag and Chaul after Rewas. There are also regular catamarans from the Gateway of India in Mumbai going up to Mandwa.