Journey Date : 26-Dec-2019
Mode of Transport : Train
History of the fort Visapur
Visapur fort situated at 3556 feet above sea level. In the mountain of Visapur, Bhaje caves are there which was carved by Pandavas. Inside the fort, there is one ancient encryption on the water tank which is written in Bramhi font by seeing this we can come to know how old this fort is. Bramhi font is used in the ancient Satvahan era of about 1500 to 2000 years back (100 – 70 BCE)
This fort was rebuilt and made stronger by Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath of Maratha emperor in the year between 1717 to 1720. In the year 1818 British capture this fort and started bombarding on Lohagad fort as the height of Vispur fort is more than Lohagad fort and the very next day, Lohagad fort was also concurred by British. You will not see any entrance gate on Visapur fort-like other forts because the British army destroys all gates and routs coming towards the fort so that in the future Maratha army will not capture and reuse the fort again against the British army.
Travel and Trekking Experience
Our journey began at Mumbai’s CSMT Station at 6:40 AM aboard the Mumbai-Pune Intercity Express. By 9:10 AM, we arrived at Lonavala. Since we had a brief wait for the connecting Pune local, we enjoyed breakfast at Anand Restaurant (a local dhaba) just outside the station. We caught the 10:10 AM local train and deboarded at the very next stop: Malavli Station.After arriving at Malavli around 10:20 AM, we began our trek toward the majestic Visapur Fort. To start the ascent, we crossed the bridge over the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and turned left toward Patan village. We specifically chose the Patan route for its scenic beauty. Initially, we sought guidance from the local villagers to ensure we were on the right track, and they were happy to point us toward the trailhead.
The Path Through the Wilderness
The trek from Patan village offers a truly mesmerizing experience. The trail winds through dense forests and is dotted with small, sparkling waterfalls that make the atmosphere feel like heaven. As you climb, keep Patan village to your left and the towering Visapur Fort to your right. Fortunately, there are clear arrow markings on the rocks to guide trekkers along the way. You will begin to see the impressive fortifications of the fort once you have completed about half of the climb.
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| You can reach Malavli Station in 10 mins from Lonavala Station |
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| A signboard on the overhead bridge |
Reaching the Summit: Panoramic Views and the Descent from Visapur
The ascent typically takes about two hours, and we reached the summit of Visapur Fort at approximately 12:30 PM. To fully explore the expansive ruins, ancient water tanks, and fortifications, you should ideally set aside 3 to 4 hours. From the top, the panoramic views of Lohagad Fort and the shimmering Pawna Lake are truly spectacular a must-see for any photographer.
Timing the Descent
Due to our return schedule (we aimed to catch the Pune-Mumbai Intercity Express from Lonavala at 6:45 PM), we began our descent in the mid-afternoon. By 3:30 PM, we reached the scenic waterfall area near Lohagadwadi, eventually arriving at the base of the fort by 4:30 PM. We walked over to the main Lohagad route to enjoy some quick tea and snacks. We decided to save our appetite for a proper dinner in Lonavala to ensure we didn't miss our connections.
Pro-Tip: Always use the M-Indicator app to track live train timings and plan your trek schedule accordingly to avoid getting stranded.
The Return Leg
To save time, we caught a local tempo from the base and arrived at Malavli Station by 5:15 PM. We boarded the Pune-Lonavala local at 5:30 PM, reaching Lonavala Station at 5:45 PM with plenty of time to spare for our final train back to Mumbai.
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| Cannon on the fort |
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| Fortification wall |
Wrapping Up the Adventure: Returning from Lonavala to Mumbai
Once back in Lonavala, we enjoyed a satisfying lunch and spent some time exploring the local markets for a bit of shopping. We eventually boarded the Pune-Mumbai Intercity Express at 6:47 PM to begin our final leg home.
Essential Travel Tip: I highly recommend making a prior reservation for this train. Attempting to board the general compartment (unreserved bogie) can be extremely difficult and uncomfortable due to the heavy weekend crowds.
The journey was smooth, and we finally arrived back in Mumbai at Dadar Station around 9:40 PM, marking the end of a successful trekking expedition.
Places to see on the fort
Water cisterns
Lord Shiva temple
Sadar or Peshwa Wada
Fortification
Lord Hanuman carving
Canons
Places to see nearby
If you plan your journey well and you are a regular trekker then you can visit a minimum of three and a maximum of four places.
1. Bhaje Caves,
2. Visapur Fort,
3. Lohagad Fort,
4. Karla Caves / Ekvira Devi temple
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| Shivling on the fort (Shiva Temple) |
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| Dipstamb |
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| Fortification wall |
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| Fortification wall |
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| Water tank |
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