Kalavantin Durg

Kalavantin Durg, is located between Matheran and Panvel at around 116 Kms. from Pune. It is at an elevation of 2,300 feet in the Western Ghats. Kalavantin Durg is believed to have been built during the time of Buddha or in or around 500 BC for a queen named Kalavantin. The fort is accessible through steps that were cut into the rock of the hill and looks quite impressive. Once reaching the top you can see Peb, Chanderi, Karnala and Ershal forts from the top. The City of Mumbai is also visible and catching a bird’s eye view of the surrounding makes one wonder how people must have built such a marvellous structure with simple tools. There’s plenty of greenery to take in along with rocky mountains. Look around for birds and animals some which are believed to be undiscovered yet!

An adventurous trek of about 3 hours is indeed a pleasure. Get ready to touch the clouds and hug the wind as you reach the peak. On every Shimga Festival of Holi locals from Machi-Prabal Village dance on top of the fort as a part of their culture and heritage.

You can also visit rivers lying in the vicinity of Kalavantin Durg such as the Ulhas River, Gadhi River and Patalganga River. You can also explore other forts around Kalavantin Durg such as Prabalgad, Karnala, Irshalgad, which have a history of their own.