Naneghat

Naneghat is a beautiful mountain pass in the Sahyadris located near the town of Junnar in Maharashtra’s Pune district. It is located about 120 km away from Pune and about 36 km away from the equally picturesque Malshej Ghat. Also known as Nanaghat, this mountain pass, which is situated at a height of about 2,461 feet above sea-level is one of the most popular trekking destinations in Maharashtra.

Naneghat was a major trade route during the reign of the Satavahana Dynasty (200 BCE – 190 CE), connecting the Konkan coast with the Deccan plateau via Junnar. The mountain was in fact a tollbooth that collected toll from traders crossing the route. It derived its name ‘Naneghat’ from the Marathi words, ‘Nane’, which means ‘coin’ and ‘Ghat’, which means ‘Pass’.

The biggest highlight of Naneghat are the ancient rock-cut caves situated at the top. One of the larger caves has Hindu Sanskrit inscriptions in Brahmi script, which date back to the 2^nd and 1^st century BCE. These inscriptions are notable because they present the world’s oldest numeration symbols for “2,4,6,7 and 9”, which closely resemble the numerals used in the modern era. In addition, the inscriptions also make a mention of Vedic Gods such as Indra, Dharma, Surya as well as Vaishnava-Hindu Gods Vasudeva (Shri Krishna) and Samkarsana (Shri Balarama).

During monsoon, the entire landscape of Naneghat is covered in refreshing hues of green. It is an amazing experience to hike through the rugged trail and traverse over small streams of water. The Naneghat is relatively easily but the path become a little slippery due to rain. So, be extra cautious while both ascending and descending down this route. It takes about 2 hours to reach the top from the base village of Vaishakhare. The trail passes through a dense thicket and is well-marked with arrows indicating the right direction. Once you reach the top, you’ll come across ancient caves and water cisterns. One of the larger caves can accommodate up to 45 people.

The views of the Sahyadris from the top of Naneghat are absolutely spectacular. For even more brilliant views, hardcore trekkers can access the pinnacle of Naneghat called ‘Nanacha Angtha’ (Nana’s Thumb) with rock-climbing and rappelling.