This is a great place to go for a one day trip from either Mumbai or Pune due to the following reasons
- The Location: A plateau with unhindered views on all sides with a view of many other forts and dams
- Drive to the location: Cross all of Lonavala’s famous view points and get to the fort through some wonderful roads OR do some adventurous driving and go through remote backroads from Mulshi
- The Trek: An easy trek of around an hour. It took us a little more with two 3 yr old kids, drink breaks and lot of photo breaks. The trek has it all – open path, an optional shortcut through a dense jungle and a flight of stairs at the end
- The Fort: Though nothing much remains of the fort, the walls of the fort are intact and you can walk on the wall for the entire circumference of around 2 km (we didn’t, though)
How to go to Korigad fort (also known as Koraigad fort) from Pune: Korigad fort is right next to the Aamby valley city and very close to Tung Fort. You have to cross Lonavala and then keep driving towards Aamby valley. The base village for this fort is Peth-Shahpur. If you start early, you can stopover at the various Lonavala points like Bushi Dam, Lions Point and the shivling peak. Lonavala traffic is very bad , at least on the one main road. So, better to go into Lonavala pretty early in the day. See at the bottom of this post for an alternative route/round trip
Once you drive down the ghat section after the lions point and keep going for another 15-20 minutes, the hill of korigad fort should appear on your left. There is nothing else this tall in this area, so you shouldn’t miss it. There is an open area just below the hill for parking. It is just another open area, but there are touts there who demand money (and give receipts too!) saying that it is the official parking for Korigad fort. They charge Rs.20 for a bike and Rs.50 for a car. I probably could park on the middle of M.G.Road for a cheaper amount!/p>
If you want to save few hundred metres off the trek, then drive on the road to the left (just before the hill) and park near a temple (not sure abt the parking place). A path from this temple directly joins the trail. Along the normal route, you start from the parking lot, go towards the tower and then continue on. The initial path can become very slippery in case of rain and it is the path through the water flows and is very muddy. But, not something to worry about.
The path goes around the back of the hill and then your start climbing. So, the trail is not visible from the road or the parking lot. Once you cross the initial stretch, the path turns a sharp right and you start to go towards the back of the hill parallel to the bottom. After some distance, you start to see small lamp posts. These have been erected by the Sahara group to aid trekkers , as Korigad is a popular night trekking destination. When you see the first such lamp post to your right. you have two options. You can continue straight on which will take you amidst few bungalows and then take a u-turn to go up or you can just start climbing the hill right at the base of the lamp posts. It looks steep, but is not. This short-cut is an enjoyabale 10 min climb through some dense lush growth – almost resembling a rain forest.
Then come the stairs. Initially, they start off pretty ok, but the last stretch is a bit steep. But the last stretch is not too long. Also, there is a viewpoint with a big resting area. Once you cross the stairs and pass through the main darawaza, you are on top of the hill. Once you are on the stairs, you get a good view of the development in Aaamby valley city.
The main darwaza covered in moss (during monsoons) is a great sight.There were also lot of monkeys around this point.
Once on top of the plateau, if you have the interest, you can spend hours enjoying the view on all sides. The fort walls are intact and you can walk all along the wall. The top also has two fresh water ponds (another blogger said that they are good for swimming, though we didn’t try) and couple of temples. There are also many intact cannons on top.
The way down (same as the way going up) was fast and easy and took less than an hour. It also rained when we were coming down and it was fun trying to fit all of us and two kids into the 2 kids umbrellas we carried with us! All of us enjoyed the trek including the kids, as can be seen in this photo (from a photo session) taken after the trek.
There is another route to reach Korigad from Pune. You can either go through this route or make it a round trip by returning on this. But this route is remote and not advisable late into the evening. If you have been to Mulshi or Tamhini Ghat , you would have come to a fork before Mulshi and you would have taken the left. The road on the right goes to Ghusalkhamb, which is actually the base village for Tung fort. If you go to Korigad from Lonavala, you will pass this village before you reach Peth-Shahpur. But, i have read on many forums that the road condition is 50-50, whatever that means! A third route exists, that from beyond Mulshi. After crossing Mulshi and towards Tamhini, there is a road sign to the right marked as Lonavala. This goes through lot of interior roads and reaches Korigad fort and then onto lonavala. I have seen this road being mentioned only on biker forums and the reviews says this unspoilt road is amazing during the monsoons. Drop in a comment if you have been on any of these routes.
July 30th, 2011 at 8:23 pm
nice pics…
July 31st, 2011 at 9:20 pm
i am also want to go this place. just i want to know that is it open 365 days na because i planning to go in this august thats why in raint season its open or not
August 8th, 2011 at 12:55 pm
Is trekking to Korigad Fort safe in monsoon season? I mean , the path is non-slippery or we have to be careful. Actually we are planning a trekking trip to Korigad Fort coming weekend, so i was curious to know about.
August 9th, 2011 at 11:08 am
Meenakshi, we went during the monsoon season only. In fact, it rained on the way down. The stairs part is fine during the rains. The earlier part of the walk will become slushy a bit and will involving puddle-jumping (if you dont want to get ur feet wet). Otherwise, its ok.
August 10th, 2011 at 2:45 pm
Rajaram, Thank you so much for your reply. BTW I enjoyed reading your post and you have clicked some great photographs there.
September 15th, 2011 at 5:31 pm
your pictures are really awesome, and inspire me visit this place.
They do a lot of justice to the place. Sometimes the place may not be as good, but what you have captures through your camera makes it unbelievable that such a beautiful locale is situated so nearby!
October 17th, 2011 at 7:55 pm
Hello everybody,
The place looks awesome! The nice pics have tempted us to take the this trek. We have some queries about this. Can you please help us around that?
The road from Mumbai?
Is it conducive during Nov – Dec?
Are there any eateries around or we need to carry everything? (We too have kids with us)
It would be a great help if you can guide us.
Thank you very much.
October 17th, 2011 at 10:41 pm
mumbai to lonavala to bushi dam ..same route as mentioned above ..only pune until lonaval is the difference.
yes, you can visit during the winter months, but plan to be there in late evening as it can get pretty hot in in the noons even during winter.
there are lot of those roadside shops selling pakodas/chai..but i dont remember seeing any proper hotel. Nearest proper hotel would be in lonavala.
October 27th, 2011 at 5:48 pm
Hello Mr Rajaram, I have been reading your posts. They are very well written. The directions and information is perfect. The photographs make the post more interesting.
I would like to drop a suggestion. Though many people would love to travel the way you do, it is not possible for many of us due to lack of similar minded companions. Why dont you organise an easy trek on a payment basis .. for eg korigad. I am sure, with your love for nature and your travel experience, we too will have an enjoyable experience.
Regards
October 30th, 2011 at 6:43 pm
I have been trying to find out – without any real success – about Aamby Valley BEFORE the city was developed there.
Does anyone know about it from the geographer/naturalist’s perspective?
Was it always called Aamby Valley?
December 28th, 2011 at 10:36 pm
how to reach base from lonavala station?plz reply asap……..
December 29th, 2011 at 10:33 am
it’s a long way from lonavala station. You probably have to take local transport as you have to cross the entire stretch across bushi dam, all the view points to reach Korigad.
January 8th, 2012 at 9:07 am
thaanx. hope to visit this place coming monsoons!
January 10th, 2012 at 5:16 pm
hey nice pics. . .i wanted to is lonavala the only nearest railway station or is their some other route?
January 11th, 2012 at 11:42 am
lonavala should be the nearest station. By road, you have many other options.
March 13th, 2012 at 9:53 pm
korai fort really awesome place.. n the ambey valley lookin superb from fort… i suggest u guys go atleast one time..
May 4th, 2012 at 4:10 am
Beautiful pics and very informative blog!!
May 29th, 2012 at 2:49 pm
Thanks for this information and beautiful pics. Last week, I had oppotunity to visit this Fort along with my office colleagues during our business conference at Ambay Vally. Though, we could not enjoy this beautiful nature of rainy season, we could breath a fresh air in fogs, as we did our treak in early morning between 5.30 a.m. to 6.30 a.m. Very nice and easy to do a small treak.
Regards. (29.5.12).
June 12th, 2012 at 7:38 am
Rajaram S
nice guidance, would like to know if we go to lonawala from pune by train,do we get travel facility from there. we have kids of age 8-10 years & also suggest is it worthwhile to plan within this week or wait for rains.
thanks
June 12th, 2012 at 11:33 am
If it rains heavily, then it might get difficult to trek with the kids. But, if u r used to it and enjoy it, then wait for the rains. Otherwise, the weather is good enough now to try it. Korigad is quite a distance from Lonavala. There are buses which ply towards the villages there, not sure abt the autos.
June 24th, 2012 at 12:00 pm
Hello..
I want to know from where you started?
Ambvane or Peth Shahapur?
June 25th, 2012 at 11:04 am
Peth Shahpur. The starting point is on the main road from Lonavala
June 25th, 2012 at 6:22 pm
Hi,Rajaram
Nice pix
But tell how to go Korigad from mumbai?(dadar)
is there any resource for fooding? if i carry some non veg foodlike chiken for fry over ther is it possible to fry ther?
plz revert back to me on my mail id or cell
Also tell the other tips or guide me plz revert back before 21.06.2012
June 26th, 2012 at 11:14 pm
thanks
did you find any waterfall there?
June 27th, 2012 at 8:06 am
i didnt go there during the monsoon, so no waterfall then. But i saw lot of water trails which suggest the presence of many waterfalls along the route.
July 4th, 2012 at 12:08 am
Where can we have food?
July 4th, 2012 at 8:37 am
nearest option is the base village of lonavala or back to Paud.
July 4th, 2012 at 3:07 pm
The atmosphere is so conducive to the soul to merge it in the sombre mind and place where everybelongings could not come. It is the way a life to preempt the aura of the scientology of the development and also to find the way the chronological system of our development which takes away the very identiy of our nature. Even only seeing and feeling of it is so charming that it can lead us to the ultimate goal of peace which we all are seeking here and there in the city but it is far near and far away. Jai ho nature.
July 13th, 2012 at 2:29 pm
Hi Rajaram, i just came across this blog of yours while hunting for information on Korigad… And i couldnt resist telling you that the nature pics are awesome and full of lush green… However, one exceptional fact, which does indeed make your pics exceptional is that active and seemingly smart little girl
She really is like a beauty spot on the radiant face of nature 
July 19th, 2012 at 5:21 pm
Hi Rajaram – I went to Lonavala recently and was remembering you and your blog a lot !! All your articles are just – BEST !!!
Just that – Do add ‘Like’ button shall help us to like Akshara’s cute pics. I saw all her pics at Akshara Rajaram page and I must say she’s gonna be India’s future model !!!!
Keep it up
)
July 20th, 2012 at 10:22 pm
Its an awsome place… I had 1 of the best moments of my life over there… Thanks Man… and your site is also really nice..Nice 1 for travelling freaks,like me and many more…
August 14th, 2012 at 5:58 pm
Dear Sir,
Please let us know the food facility near by.
August 24th, 2012 at 4:40 pm
I am unfortunate to find this page today only. We visited the fort this weekend.
We were 5 adults in a Swift. I took the Dattawadi road from Mulshi (Turned right on the fork just before Mulshi). Dattawadi road is pretty good, except for a small stretch, which was unpaved due to the some reason. Here we ran the real risk of the car getting stuck in the muck. The view is very scenic, and you will not find a single soul for many km, except for some wildlife (squirrels, monkeys and some beautiful birds). If you roll down the car windows and switch off the music system, you can hear the water gushing and the birds chirping (I could hear many new types of chirps) for many km.
You should keep following the Dattawadi road, without turning anywhere – you will finally end up at the edge of Amby valley after 3 hours. Keep going straight (another 10-15 min) till you land up at a T junction where a wide and completely paved road will greet you. (There is a small roadside eatery on the left side at this junction, which serves tea, coffee, biscuits and hot bhajiyas for the tired souls). Turn left at this junction, Koraigad is 8 km from here.
Fine Print:
1. The 3 hours mentioned above includes a small lunch break and 3 short breaks for clicking pictures (Sorry, but I didn’t note the meter readings, so cannot specify the exact distance).
2. It is strongly recommended to carry your our own lunch, snacks and water if you are taking this route. If you cannot do that, there is a “Kamats” restaurant (www.vithalkamats.com) between Paud and Mulshi fork, where you can grab a bite before you begin the adventure.
3. If you feel you are lost, the best guide about the route is the ST bus driver – they do not stop for you, and once I had to block his way to ask for directions.
August 26th, 2012 at 11:22 am
thanks for the lovely description Neeraj.
This route has been on my radar for quite some time. Wanted to do the loop around mulshi.
Go through the one you have mentioned and come back on the other side of mulshi and join near Tamhini.
April 10th, 2013 at 2:10 pm
had gone to this fort several times real forest of lonavala is ahead to this n is surrounded by forts like Ghangad, Tail Bailla.