Jivdhan Fort

Jivdhan Fort is a hill fortress located in the Junnar taluka in Maharashtra’s Pune district. The fort is situated at a height of about 3,757 feet above sea level. Jivdhan is one of the forts listed under the ‘Famous Five’ trek of the Sahyadris. The other forts listed under the ‘Famous Five’ trek include Naneghat, Shivneri, Chavand and Hadsar. Trekking up Jivdhan Fort is considerably difficult, but a must-do if you are an experienced trekker or an adventure enthusiast seeking to explore your boundaries.

Jivdhan Fort dates back to the Satavahana era. It has been a significant fort throughout history due to its proximity to the historic Naneghat Fort. Jivdhan Fort acted as a protector of the important Naneghat trade route (toll collection point), which connected the sea to the mainland. Over time Jivdhan Fort was controlled by several rulers including the Bahmanis, the Nizams, the Mughals and the Marathas. In 1818, Jivdhan was captured by the British, who destroyed all approaches leading to the fort.

There are two routes to reach the top of Jivdhan Fort. You can go via the Naneghat route or else take the Ghatghar route. The Naneghat route is suitable only for experienced trekkers as it rather challenging, and there are chances of getting lost due to confusing trails through dense forests. It takes about 2 hours to reach the top via this route. Also, there are many beehives on this route, so you need to be extra careful.

Even though the Ghatghar route has many rocky patches, it is easier when compared to the Naneghat route. On this route, after a certain point, there are rock-cut steps, which lead to the fort’s Kalyan gate. Be cautious as these steps maybe slippery in monsoon. However, supportive hooks attached on the walls along the rock-cut steps makes the climb easier. No matter which route you take, make sure you hire a guide to show you the correct path leading to the top of Jivdhan Fort.

While exploring the fort, you will come across a huge storehouse or Kothi, which has remained intact over the years. This pillared storehouse is sculpted out of rocks and its beauty is enhanced by intricate carvings. It has many smaller rooms inside. Besides the storehouse, there are several interesting ruins and remnants, including a few water cisterns and a temple dedicated to Goddess Jivai.

The fort’s Northern bastion is in a pretty good condition even today. There are a few cisterns and remnants of old buildings near this bastion. From this point, enjoy the stunning views of nearby forts such as Naneghat, Harishchandragad, Nimgiri, Hadsar, Chavand and Ratangad. In addition, you will also be able to clearly see the entire Junnar plateau, the Manikdoh Dam and the full stretch of the Naneghat route.

One of Jivdhan Fort’s highlight is the breathtaking view it offers of the Vanarlingi Pinnacle. The pinnacle looks small from afar, but starts appearing bigger as you get closer to the top of the fort. Only when you reach the top of the fort, can you fully gauge the real magnitude of the approximately 430-feet-high pinnacle. It is possible for experienced and trained trekkers to climb the pinnacle. The trek involves rock-climbing and takes about 2 days. A 15-feet cave that can accommodate about 4-5 people is situated at the base of the pinnacle.