Visapur Fort

Visapur Fort is a hill fort near Maharashtra’s Visapur village, situated at a distance of about 63 km from Pune. The fort is part of the Lohagad-Visapur twin fortification. It is a favourite weekend destination of trekking enthusiasts as well as nature lovers.

Perched atop a beautiful green plateau, Visapur Fort lies at an elevation of 3,556 meters above sea level. Even though both are located on the same plateau; the magnificent fort is larger and taller than its twin fort of Lohagad, and was built much later than its counterpart. However, the histories of Visapur and Lohagad are closely linked.

The spectacular Visapur Fort was built during the period from 1717 CE to 1720 CE by Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath, the first Peshwa of the great Maratha Empire and was a symbol of wealth and power. On 4^th March 1818, Visapur Fort was invaded by the British with an enormous army of 380 European and 800 native soldiers. But the fort was so gigantic that the British had to summon two more battalions. In the end, after a tough fight, the mighty fort was overpowered and conquered by the British.

Whether you are a history buff, an adventure enthusiast or a nature lover, a trip to Visapur Fort must be on your to-do list. The trek to the top of the fort is relatively easy, but gets a little tricky during monsoons, especially if you are a beginner. However, during rainy season, the fort and its surroundings come alive with lush greenery, cascading waterfalls and misty clouds appearing everywhere you look.

There are two trekking routes to reach Visapur Fort, one from Bhaje village and another from Paltan village. The Bhaje village trek begins by following a trail leading out of the village. Start walking along the muddy trail and in a few minutes, you will reach the point where the trail splits into two routes. Take the trail on the left, the right one leads to Lohagad. This route goes through a dense thicket and has a gradual ascend. Follow the arrows marking the path until you reach a lone hut, where a stone with an orange horse motif acts as an indicator. Turn left from this point.

During monsoon, you will come across several tiny waterfalls on this amazingly green route. During summers and winter the trail looks dry and barren, but equally beautiful. Carefully climb over the rocks and slowly make your way to the top of the plateau.

The plateau is lush green when it has rained and appears to be parched in summer. While exploring the grand vista of this beautiful plateau, you will come across small rock cut water cisterns, large water tanks, remnants of various buildings, stone grinders used for construction and a well believed to have been built by the Pandavas.

Along the way, you will also see the flag, the canon, the bastion, a Hanuman temple with a giant carving of Lord Hanuman, and the fragments of an old temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Also, don’t forget to enjoy and photograph the stunning views of Lohagad, Tikona and Tung Forts, clearly visible from the plateau. After a day full of adventure, descend down the same path to reach Bhaje village.

The second route to reach Visapur is through Paltan village near Lonavla. This route is a bit tricky, but doable if you follow the stone markers along the way. It’s advisable to ask a local person to show you the precise point, from where the trail begins. On this route, walk through a small dense forest, which leads you to a dried-up waterfall during summer or a gushing waterfall during monsoon. Climb up this waterfall carefully, especially if it’s in full force due to rains. You will then reach a path split into two routes. Take the right trail and continue ascending till you reach a rocky staircase, which leads up to the entrance of the fort.

Although you may find a few eateries and food stalls serving Maharashtrian snacks, tea and coffee at Bhaje village, it is best to carry your own food and water.