Gorakhgad Fort Trek: One of the Best Trails to Pursue During Monsoons

Gorakhgad Fort Trek is one of the best trails in Maharashtra that can be pursued in any season. However, during monsoons, when the sky begins to pour, the Gorakhgad trek comes across as breathtakingly beautiful. Therefore, pursuing the magnificent Gorakhgad fort trek during monsoons will prove to be a good decision.

The Gorakhgad fort trek is moderate in difficulty level, and even a first-timer will be able to complete it. Pursue the trek in a group. This way, it is more fun and much safer. Before undertaking any trek, every enthusiast gauges it in terms of resources spent versus takeaways. In this regard, Gorakhgad will not disappoint you. We got it fairly tested during our extended trek session to Ahupe Ghat (Valley) and Gorakhgad Fort.

In the current blog, I will be sharing with you my recent experience of undertaking the Ahupe Ghat and Gorakhgad Fort trek. With important tips and suggestions, this blog will act as a travel guide for your trek.

A sapping and treacherous trek, Gorakhgad might leave you tired but extremely satisfied. It gives you a feeling akin to what an army cadet feels after successfully accomplishing a feat. Furthermore, the trek is absolutely beautiful, and a treat to the eyes!

Gorakhgad Fort Trek: An Overview 

Before venturing deep into the details of the Gorakhgad Fort trek, it is extremely important that you know some essential facts.

Here are a few things that you must know:

Gorakhgad Fort Trek: Nestled Amidst the Sahyadri Hill Range

Spread across the western coast from Gujarat to Tamil Nadu down south, Sahyadri hills have had political and historic importance. They served as a natural barrier to foreign aggression through the Arabian Sea route.

Having a good understanding of the terrains and using Guerrilla warfare, Charismatic King Shivaji of the Maratha Empire was able to thwart attacks from Portuguese, British and Mughal forces.

The Sahyadri hills house many famous forts such as Shivneri, Raigad, Torna, Rajgad, Purandar, etc. All these fort offers great insights into the Maratha empire. 

Although not much is known about Gorakhgad Fort, it is believed to be of importance during the reigns of Shahaji Raje. During the era of the mighty Shivaji, it served as a stopover point from Junnar via Naneghat. 

With no records of a battle being fought, this fort was significant from a surveillance point of view. It offered a good view of the passes, which were used for commercial purposes during Shivaji’s reign.

The region has everything a nature lover and trekker would want. From a wide variety of flora and fauna to marvellous forts to adrenaline-raising cliffs, and great river origins, the region has a lot to offer.

The Gorakhgad Fort trek is at its best in the monsoons. With lush greenery all around, the place looks no less than heaven. The green grass almost looks like a velvet carpet. Chilling on that grass was rather tempting, but we really had to get to the summit.

How to Reach Gorakhgad Fort?

Gorakhgad Fort is easily accessible from Mumbai and Pune. In order to pursue the Gorakhgad Fort trek, you must first reach the base village for the Trek.

Dehari village is the closest to the Gorakhgad Fort trekking point. Khopiwali Village is the closest point for the Ahupe Ghat trek. 

Since our group decided to go for both the treks we chose Kopiwali village as our base camp.

How to reach Khopiwali Village or Dehri?

We travelled from Mumbai, and therefore, all the routes are given starting from Mumbai. If you are visiting from Pune, you need to reach Kalyan station first. Thereon, follow the route given below.

In order to reach Khopiwali village or Dehari, one of the following three routes can be followed –

Make sure to reach the base village by afternoon, since limited public and private travel options (state transport buses and private vehicles) are available. 

We chose route 1 and reached Khopiwali village as we had planned to do both the treks. 

You can also choose route 2 and reach Dehari village if you wish to do only the Gorakhgad Fort trek.

Although we had private transport, going by train is equally wonderful. You’ll be treated to beautiful views like these. It’s commendable how trains continue to operate even amidst rain. However, refrain from train travel in times of really heavy rains.

Food, Water and Accommodation for the Ahupe Ghat & Gorakhgad Fort Trek 

When embarking upon both or any one of these treks make sure you keep in mind the following:

Food and Water

As far as drinking water is concerned, carry 3-4 litres of water per person. Food is available at Khopiwali as well as Dehari village at a reasonable cost of 100 INR to 150 INR per person.

The food is hygienic and typically includes rice, Jowar Roti, Zunka (Bengal gram delicacy) and Chutney.

Accommodation

Generally, an overnight stay is not required if you wish to go only to Gorakhgad. A lot of travellers start from Mumbai early morning, finish the trek and head back in the evening. 

However, if you wish to go for an early morning trek, you may choose to stay at Kalyan or Murbad or with locals at Khopiwlali or Dehari.

Alternatively, if it’s a 2-day plan covering Ahupe valley and Gorakhgad, one can either stay with the locals at Khopiwali or Dehri village, or stay at Gorakhnath temple at the base of Gorakhgad Fort.

Although our plan involved returning back on the same day, you could choose to extend your trip over 2 days. I’d most certainly recommend a morning trek, for early morning treks are a different sort of peaceful altogether. You’ll get treated to great views.

The Various Stages of My Ahupe Ghat and Gorakhgad Fort Trek

The entire length of the Ahupe Ghat and Gorakhgad Fort trek can be broken down into various stages. It can differ from person to person. 

I am enlisting all of the seven stages I undertook to embark on the trail starting at Ahupe ghat and ending at Gorakhgad.

Stage One – The Beginning

As a group, we normally go for one-day treks and that too on Saturdays. This gives the body sufficient time to recover on the next day i.e Sunday. This time, however, we decided to give a shot to an extended trek of a couple of days.

We packed our bags in the morning and started our exhilarating journey of Ahupe Ghat and Gorakhgad Fort trek. The rain had just subsided and it was lush green all along the road. En route, we had some tasty Poha (A flattened rice dish relished for breakfast in the region) and hot ginger tea which got our belly full and set up the mood for the trek.

We decided to stay overnight and go for the trek the next morning. An overnight stay at the base village (which in this case was the Khopiwalli village) has its own advantages:

So, we made sure to bunk in overnight at Khopiwali and decided to start the trek the next morning.

Stage Two – Ahupe Ghat Trek

Early morning, we started off towards the Ahupe Ghat trek. Although it tested our endurance, we had a really good time walking through the water streams, climbing through rugged terrains, clicking pictures of the beautiful landscape, and finally enjoying some good home-cooked food at the plateau.

Walking through streams of the sorts was really fun! What’s great is that this water is generally very clean and fresh, because the water is flowing. On such treks, however, remember to wear waterproof shoes. If not, you’ll have a really tough time.

It took us about 3 hours to complete the Ahupe Ghat Trek

From the top, we could see an expanse of Sahyadris, Gorakhgad, and Macchindragad. The view was magical and we felt like the hills were calling out to us. 

There are 3 hills placed alongside each other in this region –

Macchindragad and Gorakhgad are also referred to as the twin peaks and have been named after two saints – Macchindranath and Gorakhnath. Macchindranath was the disciple of Saint Goraknath.

Without wasting any time, we headed our way along the Gorakhgad Fort trek.

Considering the vastness and density of Sahyadri Hills, it is advisable that you take the help of locals to trace the path in case you find yourself going off the path. Else, you will risk getting lost in the wilderness.

On our Gorakhgad fort trek trail, a villager directed us towards a water stream. From the stream, there was a well-marked path that led to Gorakhgad. 

Stage Three – the Gorakhgad Fort Trek

The Gorakhgad fort trek has a steep muddy and slippery path all along during the monsoons. Hence I would suggest you walk carefully and wear shoes with a good grip.

It took us about 2.5 hours to reach the base of Gorakhgad Trek from Ahupe Ghat

Normally, as a group, we keep agile and fit members spread out in the formation. This balances the momentum of the team. You should try this too.

Moving further on the Gorakhgad Fort trek, we took periodic energy-conserving breaks. These are essential to avoid muscle sprains. It took us approximately 90 minutes to reach the base of Gorakhgad. The temple of Saint Gorakshnath is located here.

Stage Four – The Fort and the Caves

After having a quick snack of hot masala noodles and playing with the baby goat for a while, we headed towards the peak. It’s a reasonably easy walk of about 20-25 minutes until the start of the rocky part of the hill.

At this point, one can find a small temple and a signboard briefing about the rich history of the Gorakghad fort. Most of the forts in Maharashtra have signboards like these which highlight the history of the place.

We took a couple of pictures and moved to climb the rock patch. The initial part is steep and requires manoeuvring. Harness for the ropes is provided in case you are carrying any. Not to mention, we forgot to carry ropes and had to manage it with each other’s support. Post that there are steps itched in the rock to the entrance of the fort which is painted in bright orange. Further steps which are an easy climb, lead to the cave.

The cave in the cliff can house at least 25 people. With pillar-like structures painted in bright orange, the cave is an ideal place for penance and meditation. One team member of ours rightly named this moment as ‘earning peace of mind.’

The last part of the summit is more challenging than the rest. In this light, you should be completely prepared. Make sure you carry at least a basic first aid kit with you. It could be useful to you, or to your fellow trekkers. Better to be safe than sorry.

Stage Five – Sinking in the Beauty of Gorakhgad Fort

Now having walked for almost 3 hours, we decided to rest our bodies before attempting the final hike to the zenith.

Sitting at the edge of the cave, I observed the grandness of the cliff. The view from here was mesmerizing. I could see the Western Ghats and Machindragad fort standing tall, covered by a dense green forest.

As the wind blew, we could not take our eyes off Machindragad which looked like a small replica of Gorakhgad.

Although there is a pass that connects both these forts – Macchindragad and Gorakhgad, due to erosion and the growth of jungle, it’s very difficult to reach Macchindragad. Hence, almost all trekkers pursue the Gorakhgad Fort trek only.

Stage Six – Meant for the Strong Willed

The journey on the Gorakhgad Fort trek further up is not meant for those suffering from acrophobia and vertigo. There is no proper route or steps here. Additionally the strong winds make it even tougher to focus on the task at hand.

An individual with a strong mind and nimble on foot should think of going to the top. During monsoons, it becomes extra slippery and difficult. Any wrong landing can cause a fall of over 1000 feet down the valley.

A couple of our team members who undoubtedly are the fittest amongst us decided to give take the challenge of the Gorakhgad Fort trek a notch up. They went from beside the cave and started with a rocky patch that had few notches to hold onto. They climbed the top from here.

Once you accomplish this part, there comes a steep rock patch with small steps which lead to the top. On reaching the top, you see a small temple with a Nandi Idol, a Shivling and a few photographs of Hindu gods.

We enjoyed the grand view of the massive Sahyadri ghat and Ahupe valley extending till Bhimashankar, Naneghat.

As we explored the place, we came across several other smaller caves. We also saw almost half a dozen water cisterns but none were filled with potable water.

We also spotted a mini rice field on the way, and their neon green colour was really eye-catching. Rice is said to be the second most important crop in Maharashtra and is a crucial part of locals’ meals here. While on this trek, we could totally see why.

Stage Seven – The Downward Descend from Gorakhgad Fort Trek

Having witnessed the slippery paths and steep rocks, we knew that the descent wouldn’t be that easy. Hence, we followed the same strategy of mixing best with the rest.

We finally reached the base of the Fort where the temple is located. On reaching the base temple, we had some herbal tea and Prasad (holy Hindu food offering) comprising of Rice, Dal ( lentils curry) and Curry. Mind you it was amazing. Who says Sattvic food (vegetarian meal) can’t be tasty?

After finishing Aarti (Hindu ritual) and offering our prayers, we headed to the base. It was already 5 pm and we needed to rush as it would get dark soon. The descent didn’t take us more than 90-100 minutes and by 6:30 pm, we were at the base of the fort.

One should exercise extreme caution before venturing into unknown waters as they might be home to reptiles and other harmful creatures. When we were satisfied and felt totally relaxed, we moved on to the village base where we had put up. We were already hungry and had requested our host to keep dinner ready. 

It was a great dinner. Being a foodie, nothing matches home-cooked food made village-style – Jowar roti with Zunka (Bengal gram delicacy) and spicy peanut chutney (Indian dip). It felt like heaven.

Bidding Adieu to Gorakhgad Fort Trek

We had brought groceries with us in case we needed to cook. Since we had such wonderful hosts who treated us with great warmth, we didn’t use much of it. We quickly handed it over to our hosts, distributed chocolates among the kids, and departed back home the next morning. We were beaming with confidence and pride at having achieved two stepping stones (Ahupe Valley and Gorakhgad). 

There is a famous saying in this region, “If you have lost your confidence, creativity, self-belief or want to accomplish something big; Just head to Sahaydris and its forts, explore it and you shall find the way to deal with the task.”

Sahaydris teach you to focus on the present task, use resources well and keep your mind steady in a difficult situation. That’s what you need to handle any problem. Isn’t it?

Advisory for First Time travellers undertaking the Gorakhgad Fort Trek

For individuals undertaking the Gorakhgad fort trek for the first time (or otherwise), it is important to keep some things and tips in mind. Here’s an experience-based advisory for your benefit –

Make sure you carry all the essential things, especially food and water. There is no arrangement for these on the trail. Although a degree of planning is required to successfully complete the trek, it’s worth it. Split up responsibilities among the group, and it’ll be fine. This reminds me of an old African proverb, ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.’

Things to Carry for Gorakhgad Fort Trek

When undertaking the Gorakhgad fort trek, here are a few things that you must carry:

The Gokarkhgad fort trek brought me a new sense of confidence and helped me learn the intricacies of nature. It will do the same to you as well. Embark on this adventure and witness nature’s true beauty amidst the lush green forests.

Happy wayfaring 🙂