Trek to Visapur Fort, Malavalli,  Pune

Visapur Fort is one of the most enjoyable treks in Maharashtra, it is located near the town of malavalli which is 3km from lonavalla and 60 km from pune, it lies just off the pune-mumbai expressway. 

There are 2 forts( visapur and lohegad) in malavalli and an ancient cave( bhaja caves).

Visapur fort is much larger, higher and less accessible compared to the Lohegad fort, this is the reason why much fewer people trek to Visapur. Visapur fort is approximately 1084 meters above sea level.

How to reach Malavalli from Pune: you can take the old Pune Mumbai highway or take a local train from Pune central to Lonavalla, you should reach in 90mins the train stops at Malavalli station. Recommended that you start early from Pune by 630am.

malavalli station
please note the date and time are wrong in this photo
correction: 26/8/12 at 7:45am

Best time to trek here: Monsoon from july to september

What you'll need:
 1.Good trekking boots, sneakers are not the best as the route is very slippery, pants                                   and a full sleeve shirt as there are thorny plants along the path, carry a small pen knife too. Trekking here alone isn't such a great idea
 2. A raincoat if you don't like to get wet

 3. 3 liters of water
 4. Snacks to eat along the way

 5. Carry your cell phone as there is reception even at the top, besides it is very easy  

     to get lost here
 6. The entire trek should cost you only a maximum of Rs250 and that includes          

      everything!

 7. Carry a camera!

 Starting the trek: start from malavalli station and head towards malavalli village you have to take the bridge across the Pune-Mumbai expressway and then take the road to the right which heads toward malavalli. It is a 3km walk to the village you also have the option of taking an auto rickshaw,If you'll have  reached the village by 815am, here you can have a nice hot breakfast, when we go trekking here we prefer to take a nice wash in the waterfall just beside the village, trust me this is truly refreshing feeling and wipes that 6 'o' clock face right off you.

Ashok kaka's hotel

the waterfall

nice hot masala chai

Breakfast at Ashok kaka's hotel where you can have a nice spicy mistle pav and hot masala chai! after bath and breakfast the endorphins are coursing through your veins and you'll be eager to begin the trek!!

sizing up our destination hidden in the clouds

one of the numerous waterfalls along the way

The routes suggested below are from our experience at Visapur, the description of the routes is very vague and i strongly recommend that you USE YOUR OWN BRAIN AND GUT INSTINCT!

 Routes to visapur: the regular route is the main dirt road leading to the valley between the visapur and Lohegad forts, to get here you'll have to follow the road for about 4kms along the route there are a plenty of waterfalls to explore but do not waste to much time here because there is a real long way to go.

despite jonathan's demeanor this was a track that got us lost for 3hours!


The road splits the left heads toward visapur, after a point the road ends at a dead end. important: keep to the main road other tracks lead to dead ends! the 1st time we came here we took off on a track and got lost for 3hrs this really annoyed us. 

the right way up! the waterfall

From our experience, you should stay on the road till you reach a tiny hut from here you have to find a waterfall behind all the overgrowth of greenery this can be quite a challenge as the bush is very thick and very high, find a good stick that you can push through the bush and can use as a snake stick just in case you run into one, believe me this part is pretty spooky! once you reach the top its an exhilarating feeling!!

the waterfall, Nathaniel(bottom) and George

The other route to the top: Walk up the stairs to Bhaja caves at a point about 3/4th the way to the caves trek off the stairs to the side of the hill and trek toward Visapur, there is no track here so initially you'll have to go with your gut, as you keep trekking you should reach a house at the top of the first hill, from here look up to the fort and head in that direction, you will start trekking downhill for a while and from a distance you should see a second house, do not head toward the house instead search for a path that winds up in the direction of the fort and follow it.

trek off the stairs from here

the bush is taller than jonathan except here!

flagstaff at the top

The path will lead you to a point where the bush grows over your head, keep to the path, it will lead you to the base of the wall of the fort, at first sight you may see a dead end but trek just a bit toward the right and you will find a rock which you can climb, once you climb the rock walk to the left you will reach the fort wall and then you will see a staircase headed down and then into the fort, this will lead you straight to the flagstaff at the top!! I have not included the amazing shots from the top, i would like you to see it for yourself!

Getting down: the best way to get down is the stairs from the Hanuman Mandir, the stairs last for a while and then become a waterfall on the rocks, keep to the water and follow it till you cannot follow it further, then trek toward the right and try to find a trail on the hill, you will be able to see the visapur village and the expressway from the where you are keeping that in mind trek across the to the adjacent hill, this is especially tricky and you may end up lost even if you've been here before, once you hit the right path it will keep winding down and you will soon see villagers with their cattle, ask your way down from there.

hanuman mandir

the stairs end, the way down

stairs leading to hanuman mandir

follow the water

take your time and do not slip!

the village can be seen from here through the fog

The trek should end at Visapur village by 530pm which includes ample time to explore the fort and for photography and also plenty of time to get lost and then find the right way!!!