It was a planned trip from MITL side for all staff with family on the 24th July 2010 & we choose to visit - Korigad Fort is one of the simplest trekking destinations located in and around Pune. It is a perfect start up point for newbies who have not had a trekking experience before. Just a few steps climb takes you to the very top of the fort.
Korigad was built by Shivaji Maharaj in the year 1657. One of Shivaji’s most loved forts. It is about 929 m above sea level. The closest village is Peth Shahpur.Located at a distance of about 20kms from Lonavla, Korigad is famous for its fortified structure and the view it offers from the top of the dense forest that surrounds this fort. The village located at the foothills of the fort is called Peth- Shahpur which is situated close to the Amby Valley. There are two ways to reach to the top of the fort. The first way comprises of a series of steps which take you all the way to the top of the fort. The 100 odd steps take about 45 mins to climb and take you along a Ganesh Temple and few small caves on the way to the top of the mountain.
To take the other route, you will have to get down at Ambavne which is approximately 2kms away from Peth-Shahapur. From Ambavne the climb is slightly tricky and more adventurous as compared to the first option. You will have to pass through dense jungles and bamboo trees and ascend the short steps carved on large rocks on your way to the top. But this is the shortest way to climb the fort and was used as an escape route by the Marathas in the early years.
The top of the fort is about 3049 feet above sea level and is more of a flat topography. It houses a number of small ponds and two caves, one of which houses an idol of Lord Vishnu. If you enter the fort via the Peth- Shahpur route or better known as the Ganesh Darwaja you will come across a number of old structures. There is also a temple that houses a 4 feet idol of Goddess Korai Devi and a deepmala which is located exactly in front of its entrance. The fort derives its name from this goddess.
The top also offers a marvellous view of the surrounding forts namely Tung, Tikona, Matheran, Prabalgarh, Manikgad, Nagphani and the Karnala hills.
I forgot to mention that we missed all the given details as missed the steps and reached to no man land due to heavy rains all time,but did a trekking for 45 minutes or more all down the fort.More over on our return trip, we had a break down with the travelling bus, which made us catch autos from Bulshi Dam site to reach Lonavala station, walked a bit in the heavy rains and had lunch at Hotel Rama Krishna at 4 pm. Just a memorable and remembrance trip for all to cherish life time.
