Korigad Fort Trek। Peth Shahapur। Monsoon Trek। Lonavala points | Mulshi। Pune। Pious Pravasi

District - Pune 
Base village - Peth Shahapur 
Height  - 3028 feet 
Time - 1 hour 
Trek grade - Easy 
Endurance level - Medium 
Nearest Railway Station - Lonavala 
Mumbai to Peth Shahapur - 110 km 
Pune to Peth Shahapur - 90 km 
Dated - 31 July 2022

There are several forts in the southern hill range of Lonavala at a distance of a few kilometers. One of them is a beautiful hill fort that witnessed Nizamshahi, Adilshahi, Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's Swarajya, and British Raj, whose fortification still stands today, and doing a trek to this fort during monsoons is every wanderer's dream. Such a fort is Korigad or Koraigad.

Pune to Peth Shahapur village journey (How to reach Peth Shahapur village!)

We reached Lonavala via the old Mumbai-Pune highway and proceeded to Peth Shahapur village which is a base village of Korigad, at a distance of 20 km. Public transport facility (ST buses) is available from Lonavala to Peth Shahapur village.

From Reywood Police Help Center in Lonavala, the right path leads to Nagphani hill i.e. Dukes Nose, and the left path leads to Korigad fort. Lonavala lake is just ahead.

Lonavala Lake

Crossed Bhushi village and wanted to visit some points near Kurvande village. But due to the sudden onset of rain and thick fog, we decided to visit the points on our way back, so we headed straight for Peth Shahapur. When the rain stopped, Pavna lake could be seen through the mist from a place near Kurwande village.

Pavna Lake

From Ghusalkhamb village, the left path leads to Morgiri Fort and Tung Fort, while the right path leads to Korigad fort. Reached Peth Shahapur village and Korigad fort surrounded by fog was visible in front. The fort is also known as Shahagad after the name of this village. There is a parking facility in the village.

Peth Shahapur village

Trek begins

Parked the bikes in the village and started the trek. There is no chance of missing the route as the trek route is completely identifiable. Also, the fort will be visible in front during the trek.

 

Trek route

From the north side of the fort, we slowly came east and then started heading toward the fort. We reached the base of the fort and henceforth steps will take you to the entrance of the fort.

Trekker friends

A road reaches here directly from Aamby valley city. The fort's fortifications and the main entrance (Ganesh Darwaja) could be seen from here as the fog had reduced somewhat.

Fortification and the main entrance

Proceeded to the entrance of the fort by steps route. There is a Lord Ganesha temple and a cave on the way.

Lord Ganesha temple and the Cave

Railings have been placed near the steps for safety.

Railings near steps

 

There was a water tank in a small cave on the way. Another massive rock-cut cave is nearby.

Water tank in a cave

Cave

Korigad fort

We reached the main entrance, Ganesh Darwaja.

Ganesh Darwaja

It took us an hour to reach the top of the fort from Peth Shahapur. Korigad fort top is flat and spreads south-north. 

Top of the fort

There is a Shiva temple near the entrance and some cannons are also placed there. 

Shiva temple and the cannons

There are also two lakes behind the temple.

Two lakes

From the fort, one can see a beautiful view of Ambi Valley city and the nearby Sahyadri mountain peaks and forts if the environment is clear.

Aamby Valley City

There are magnificent bastions on the north and south sides of the fort. We headed through the fortification to the northern bastion first. The main attraction here is the fortification which is intact today. It takes one and a half to two hours easily to walk around the fortification route visiting the temples, bastions, lakes, caves, and ruins of some castles on the fort, and exploring the surrounding area.

Korigad fort top

The Saffron flag has been planted on the northern bastion. Peth Shahapur village and the trek route leading to the fort can be seen here.

Northern bastion

This is the highest point of the fort. The complete fortification of the fort could be seen from here. Whenever I remember Korigad, this scene comes to my mind first.

Korigad fort

There are huge caves dug in the rocks nearby. The enormity of these caves cannot be guessed from the outside. It must have been used as a warehouse in earlier times. It is seen that provision has been made here to avoid the accumulation of excess water. 

Huge caves

Proceeded to the lakeside along the fortification. There is another temple near the lake. There is a Shivlinga and some other idols in the temple.

Temple near lake

The atmosphere was clean. Again we proceeded towards the south of the fort through the fortification. There is also a small runway in Aamby Valley.

Aamby valley runway

A big cannon was seen nearby. After some time the atmosphere cleared, and the fog started coming again.

Cannon

Stayed here for some time because the clash of mists with the fort gave a beautiful view.

Clash of mists with the fort

Korigad is also known as Koraigad Fort. It got its name from the Korai Mata temple on the fort. There is also a rock lamp on the temple premises. The idol of the Korai Mata looked very bright in the light of a small lamp in the pitch darkness.

Korai Mata temple

From the temple of Korai Mata, the path descends a little to the second entrance of the fort. The route from Ambwane village leads to this entrance.

The second entrance of the fort

There is another big cannon nearby.

Cannon

Now we headed to the southern bastion. This bastion has a double fortification. I was looking for a way down but couldn't find it.

Double fortification of the southern bastion

The southern bastion

It started raining heavily and we headed toward the main entrance of the fort. The remains can be seen at various places in the fort.

Remains on the fort

Had breakfast near Ganesh Darwaza and stopped for some time and started descending the fort.

Korigad fort to Peth Shahapur

There was a cave to be seen on the way to the steps, so we went to see it. At present, there was water accumulated.

Cave

From there, another path was hidden in the bushes. So, we looked a little further, and we saw another cave dug into a huge rock.

Another cave nearby

Within half an hour we came to Peth Shahapur village. As the atmosphere cleared, the nearby Morgiri Fort was now clearly visible.

Morgiri fort

Korigad fort from Peth Shahapur

Lonavala Points

On the return journey, we visited some points like Shivling Point, Tiger Point, Lions Point near Kurwande village. Nagfani/Dukes Nose, Moradi Pinnacle, Mrugagad Fort can be seen from Shivling Point.

Shivling point

Korigad fort, ten kilometers from Tiger Point, was also clearly visible.

Tiger point

Lions point

Return journey

Came back to Lonavala and had tea and started the return journey towards Pune via Mumbai Pune old highway. I came to Kharadi by traveling from Malvali - Kamshet - Talegaon Dabhade - Dehu Road - Khadki - Yerawada.

If you want to watch a YouTube video of this Pravas, click here at Korigad fort.

To read other blogs of the Pune district click here at Pune.

Jai Shivray

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