Kothaligad Fort Trek is easy difficulty trek covering 6.5 km route suitable for beginners. Its located in Karjat, 138km from Mumbai and is one of the best trek near Mumbai. This trek is safe for groups, Girls, and Solo travelers. Popular treks for Winter season are Harischandragad, Kalsubai, Harihar, Kalu Waterfall, Kalmandavi.
This trek, organized by Mischief Treks, offers the chance to experience the historic Kothaligad Fort, also known as the 'Pinnacle Fort,' in its full glory during the blooming season. Nestled in the Sahyadri Mountains, Kothaligad becomes is one of the best trek for October - February. As you ascend, you'll come across ancient stone steps and rugged terrain, with the fort's historical significance becoming more apparent at each turn. The fort features a cave and temple from the 13th century, and locals often recount tales of how Kothaligad served as a watchtower rather than a full-fledged fort. Known popularly as Peth Fort, it also has a small temple, caves, and a tunnel. A unique feature is the staircase carved inside the pinnacle, leading to the top where you can enjoy stunning panoramic views.
Other recommend One-Day Treks and Tours from Mumbai are as follows:
- Kalsubai Trek
- Ratangad Fort Trek
- Rann of Kutch
- Statue of Unity Tour
- Hampi Tour
- Dholavira Rann of Kutch Tour
Did you know ?
At Mischief Treks, our treks are exclusive. We don’t buy bookings from cheaper entities, not do we sell your booking to cheaper organisers. Every participant is genuinely part of Mischief Treks. This ensures having a group of like-minded people in every batch, which in turn makes the experience much better for everyone. Yes, we do filter out unwanted people during enquiry phase itself.
Height / Altitude | 2165 ft (660 m) |
---|---|
Base Village | Peth / Pinglas |
Best time to Visit | November-February |
Difficulty Level | Easy Grade |
Eligibility | Click Here |
Trek Distance | 6.5 KM |
Duration | 5 Hours |
Fees | INR 750 Onwards |
Organised by | Mischief Treks |
- View the early morning bliss from the top of Kothaligad
- Early morning trek
- Cannons on top of the fort
- Rock-cut water storage tanks
- Visiting Ancient Caves and Temple
- Thrilling elements including rocky terrains, ladders, and caves.
- Unique pinnacle-shaped rock formation atop the fort.
- Ascend ancient stone steps for an adventurous experience.
- Breathtaking panoramic views of Sahyadri Mountains.
Kothaligad Fort Trek
Photo Album Link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/YbZgNT2ZHRBhZ35L6
Charges and travel options
- With Pickup: ₹ 1100
(Jeep pickup and drop from Neral will be provided) - Without Pickup: ₹ 750
(Participants need to reach the base village in their own vehicle)
⚠️ Eligibility condition
1. If you wish to apply for being part of our group, you need to "Read" and "Understand" the details such as About-us, Important Note section, FAQ's etc... and be "Aware".
2. Each participant needs to be mentally fit to participate. Do not book this event if the details mentioned on this page are not agreeable to you. Mischief Treks does not accept ignorant people.
3. If you are from Delhi, or social media influencer, or Celebrity, or you have short attention span, kindly avoid joining our group.
Meeting Point: Neral local train station
Three hours prior to the event date and time, we will be creating a WhatsApp group for coordination purposes.
Catch the Karjat Fast Local train from the station nearest to you
CSMT : 05:46 am
Byculla: 05:53 am
Dadar: 05:59 am
Kurla: 06:06 am
Ghatkopar: 06:10 am
Thane: 06:25 am
Dombivali: 06:41 am
Kalyan: 06:50 am
Neral: 07:27 am
Schedule for the Day:
- The train would be reaching Neral Station by 07:27 am. Once the Train reaches the station Our event Leader will meet you at the station and the group will move out and take the transport vehicle by 07:45 am.
- Once we reach the ''Ambivali" base of Kothaligad fort by 09:00 am we shall have breakfast, a short safety and introduction round and start the trek by 09:30 am.
- We will start our trek toward the pinnacle and reach the pinnacle by 12:30 pm
- We will then explore the fort which offers the best vantage point to view the breathtaking views
- We will rest at the peak for a while and enjoy the surroundings and start descending by 01:30 pm
- We will reach second base i.e. Pethwadi and have Lunch by 02:00 pm. Post lunch we continue walking down to base village Ambivali.
- The group is expected to reach back to Ambivali by 04:00 pm.
- Once we reach base, we head to Karjat station to and back to Mumbai.
What is included in the tour
- Pickup and drop
( If opted for ) - Breakfast and Tea
- Veg Lunch
- Govt / Local Body Charges as applicable
- Trek expertise charges
- Basic First Aid
What is NOT included in the tour
- Bottled water.
- Any other expenses that are not mentioned above in inclusion section.
- Identity Proof (must)
- Torch with extra battery (Must)
- A bottle of water (atleast 2 Ltrs)
- Warm Clothes coz nights are pretty cold in this region.
- Some ready to eat food. Plum cakes, Biscuits etc.
- Optional- Extra Mats/Sleeping Bag or Blanket to add on to comfort level in tent.
- Medicine that you require usually (We do have a basic first aid kit)
- Please avoid wearing Gold and other ornaments or carry precious items.
- Anything that you might need for comfort like pillows cushions etc ..
Please do not apply to join our group if the terms and details mentioned on this page are not agreeable to you.
Fitness:
Please make sure you are Physically and Mentally Fit to complete the event and BEFORE Booking you have gone through all the details, FAQ, Points to note, About Us, and Disclaimer.
Food:
The food during the event is home cooked food provided by local villagers living in tribal (Aadivasi) region. If you are choosy, cranky and grumpy about food, please avoid joining this event.
Transport:
Mischief treks does not own busses, Jeeps, Trains, or Flight. The transport options are hired by us just like people hire Ola/Uber/Auto/Taxi/Train. Any issues regarding the transport vehicles need to be addressed to concerned transport service provider. Pickup-and-Drop for the event is arranged only as "help" towards common means to travel together, Mischief Treks does not provide transport services or takes any liability regarding the same. Our role and responsibility starts from base village where the trek conducted by us begins.
Trekking Shoes:
Wear reliable shoes with good grip, the sole of the shoe gets ripped off if the shoe is not in good condition.
About us:
Don't forget to check the About-Us page if you are new to trekking in Maharashtra.
Punctuality:
In any adventure or sport event punctuality and discipline is utmost important. If you are late in catching the train/bus/cab, you will miss-out the pickup and will be considered dropout. If you are travelling in your vehicle, you may miss joining the group you are late. This is a group event and will not be personalized as per your timing.
Discounts:
To be honest, Discounts and coupon codes are just a marketing trick to fool people. No one offers something below the pre-decided rate slab. The charges on website haven't yet been adjusted (inflated) to provide for discounts. Mentioned amount is the lowest actual charges and hence discounts are currently not possible. Each organiser charges a certain amount based on his understanding regarding 'Worth' of his own event.
Batch Size:
Mischief Treks does not conduct trek with 100-150 people in the group. This is against our safety protocols and causes over-crowing too. Hence our batch size is limited and we prefer to have a Non-Crowded group.
KYC Form:
Once you have paid for the event you will receive a KYC form on WhatsApp as soon as your payment is verified by system. You need to submit this form within 3 hours of receiving the form. If you have booked for your friends too, you need to ask each of your friend to get this done. If you are booking just 1 day prior to event, the form needs to be submitted immediately to avoid any inconvenience (Refer FAQ section below)
CAUTION:
Please be aware that even the easiest trek is fundamentally a "Trek," not a Tour, Hike, or Picnic. It's crucial to understand that an unfit individual might struggle to complete even half of an easy trek. Based on our prior experiences, an unfit person might perceive an easy-grade trek as the most difficult trek. Prior to making a booking for the event, ensure that you are in good physical and mental condition for trekking.
To understand What is Trek (click here)
How to Reach Kothaligad Fort
- By Car: You can drive from Mumbai to Kothaligad Fort, which is around 100 kilometers away. The journey takes about 2.5 to 3 hours via the NH61 (Mumbai-Nashik Highway). You'll pass through Murbad and reach the base village, Ambivali, where the trek begins.
- By Bus: State transport buses and private buses are available from Mumbai to Karjat. From Karjat, you can take a local bus or hire a shared rickshaw to reach Ambivali village, which is the starting point for the Kothaligad trek.
- By Train: The nearest railway station is Karjat, well connected by suburban trains from Mumbai. From Karjat station, you can take a local bus, shared rickshaw, or a taxi to reach Ambivali village, which is about 30 kilometers away.
- Trekking experts recommend that the best way to reach is to opt for Travel option provided by Mischief Treks.
Location: Kothaligad, Maharashtra
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/FZDrbZZtmeaiiAmi7
Q. I have booked/paid for the Kothaligad Trek event, is my booking confirmed for Kothaligad Trek and Camping?
Ans. No !, your booking can become invalid if you do not submit the "Most Important Details" required for emergency situations. This form needs to be submitted within 3 hours of booking Confirmation. We do not allow anyone to the campsite until we have complete and authentic details of the person. This info is crucial in case of an emergency and is a mandatory KYC parameter. The link for the "personal details form" will be sent after you complete the booking instructions mentioned on the website. Submitting incomplete/incorrect/fake details in the form or not submitting the form will make your booking invalid and no refund will be provided in such case.
Q. Can someone read out the details for me on phone?
Ans. We at Mischief Treks have a strict condition, each participant who wishes to join our group needs to be aware of all the aspects of the event. Hence we have mentioned the details with utmost clarity and transparency on this page. We will not make phone calls to read out information that is readily available this page. We strongly urge you to refer to the provided resources before requesting redundant assistance. We do not verbally provide details on phone as it usually creates a lot of "Misunderstanding" and "Miscommunication". If something mentioned on this page is confusing, you can get clarity on chat by clicking on WhatsApp icon on your screen, we shall revert with written clarification to all the queries. To discuss things that are "Not" mentioned on this page we can arrange a callback from one of our Trek Leaders.
Q. Why is submitting emergency contact details and KYC information mandatory?
Ans. Its a standard protocol and also a guideline by Govt of India. We are accountable for every "Human-Body" present at our campsite or trek is our responsibility and in case of any unfortunate event we will be asked by authorities to provide all relevant information about you. In order to comply with the authorities we have to take authentic information from you. Fake/Incomplete information or non-submission of the details will make your ticket (paid amount) invalid and no refund will be provided in such case. You will not be allowed to participate in the event.
Q: Is the event suitable for Females?
Ans. We at Mischief Treks do not consider females as lesser humans and any female/male who is physically fit can participate in our events and enjoy nature just like Men.
Q. If I have opted for "with transport", which vehicle will be provided?
Ans. For This Particular event Local transport from Karjat is Provided
Q. Does the cancellation policy/rescheduling policy apply to me if I book on event day or last day?
Ans: Yes, the policy is applicable irrespective of the booking date. The cancellation / reschedule policy is applicable to everyone with immediate effect from the date and time of booking. The refunds/rescheduling requests will be processed based on the date and time of cancellation/reschedule request sent to us and the date and time of booking the event are irrelevant.
Q. What is the basis of cancellation/reschedule policy in case of medical or personal emergency?
Ans: The cancellation policy is based on fairness towards the participant and the organizing team. In case of medical/personal emergency, the loss arising out of cancellation/reschedule will be borne by the respective person. i.e. if the organizing team faces an emergency situation and the event gets canceled, the participant will not have to suffer financial loss. Similarly, if the participant faces an emergency situation, the organizing team will not have to suffer financial loss. The cancellation policy is designed with a completely unbiased approach towards the participant and organizing team and is aimed at fairness towards both.
Q. What if my application to join is disapproved due to my behavior?
Ans. Its important to understand, if you are expelled or if you try to force yourself on us, your application will be rejected based on your unacceptable behavior. If you lie to us about qualifying the eligibility condition mentioned on this page , you will be expelled from our group. Any time during the enquiry phase or after registering or during the event your behavior is considered unacceptable, you will be expelled from the group and No refunds are provided in such case of expulsion or disapproval of joining.
Q. What if there is an issue with transport, i.e. the jeep/bus breaks down, tyre gets punctured?
Ans. Mischief Treks as a team conducts treks only. All the support functions like transport, food etc are sourced from various other vendors to help the participants have it streamlined. Equipment failure can happen any time with any piece of machinery and we can try to get a replacement/repair from the vendor. This may consume time and the trek leader may decide to continue the trek as deemed fit to get the event completed. We as well as the participants have to bare with it. There are no refunds possible in such case. The Trek leader's decision to terminate the trek or continue the trek with available resources will be final and binding.
Q. We are coming by our own vehicle for the event, where should we reach for Kothaligad Trek?
Ans. You can reach the base village directly. You will be given exact coordinates after you finish booking formalities. We will be creating a WhatsApp group for coordination, you will be provided all relevant details in the group. Please do not be late, we cannot keep other participants waiting. If you are not able to reach on time you will be considered a Drop-Out and no refund will be provided in such case.
Q. Are there any restrictions during the trek?
Ans. During the trek none of the participants are allowed to smoke or consume alcohol. Use of loudspeaker is strictly banned by Forest department at all trek locations. If any person is found smoking or consuming alcohol, strict action will be taken against such participant. Also, this may result in sentiments of religious groups being hurt and public at large may act upon it. Hence, such acts are strictly forbidden. The law of the land must be adhered throughout the trek.
Q. How many people will be at the coming for Kothaligad Trek?
Ans. Depends on the number of people booking the event. Generally, the batch size is approximately 30 - 35 participants. Kothaligad is a Public place and we have no access to data on other organizers' bookings hence we cannot comment on the exact number of people planning to visit this place on a given date.
Q. Is Kothaligad Fort Trek safe for solo participants?
Ans. Yes Kothaligad Trek is safe and comfortable. Mostly 40% of the participants come solo and blend in with the trek leaders and the rest of the group.
Q. Is Kothaligad Fort Trek safe for girls?
Ans. Mischief Treks has a track record of making our trekking and camping events extremely safe for girls. Normally 60 – 75 % of our participants are females.
Q. What will be the age group for this event ?
Ans. Generally the age group is between 22yrs to 35 years. We also have had kids as young as 3 years old and elders above 60 years for this event.
Q. How long is the Kothaligad Trek ?
Ans. Normally it takes two hours to ascend and two hours to descend.
Q. Can we pay in cash or installment ?
Ans. Sorry we do not accept cash payments. For installment scheme you will have to pay one-time processing fee of Rs.500 per person.
Q. What is the last date of booking Kothaligad Trek?
Ans. Bookings close once tickets are sold out. Ideally you need to book atleast 2-3 days in advance.
Q. How should I book the Kothaligad Trek?
Ans. All you have to do is press the register button on this page and follow the instructions.
Q. How do we get in touch after reaching meeting point?
Ans. We will be creating a whatsapp group for coordination where you will be provided all the necessary information regarding contact person, exact point to meet etc..
Q. Will we be returning at exact time mentioned in the itinerary?
Ans. The Itinerary is for reference purpose only, it is based on average time taken during our previous events. Actual timeline for a particular date depends on Weather conditions, Traffic Conditions, Participants speed and endurance.
Q. Can I skip the Trek?
Ans. Yes the trek is not compulsory and is optional, you can skip the trek.
Q. Are kids allowed at Kothaligad Trek ?
Ans. Kids of any age are welcome if they are physically fit to complete the trek.
Q. Is drinking water provided?
Ans. Yes, normal tap water for drinking is provided free of cost to all participants.
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Aggregate Rating: 4.85 out of 5
Rating count: 2431
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Update as on Oct 22, 2024
The temperatures during the month of October is between 22°C to 28°C, and the weather is pleasant at Kothaligad. Since monsoon are almost about to end, you might encounter light showers, this keeps the surrounding green and environment pollution free. The skies are clear and good for photos, this also gives a opportunity for good view.
Beware! Low-Cost trek groups often have large batch-size, this results is over-crowded trek experience which is not at all worth, nor is such thing considered safe. Mischief Treks is renowned for conducting treks with a limited number of participants in each batch, this helps having a much better trekking experience.
- 90% will be refunded if canceled 15 days (360+ hrs) in advance.
- 75% will be refunded if canceled 10 days (240+ hrs) in advance.
- 50% will be refunded if canceled 05 days (120+ hrs) in advance.
- 0% refund if canceled in less than 05 days (120 hours) of the event date and time.
- 0% refund if the participant drops out, misses bus pickup, or does not reach the meeting point on the scheduled date and time.
If the event itself gets canceled, you will be given the option to switch to any other event or any other date, Or you can opt for 100% refund. If you need to cancel your current booking and/or reschedule your booking to any other date, it can be done free of cost if the rescheduling request is sent 120 hours prior to the trek. From 0hrs - 120 hours prior to the trek date and time free rescheduling is not permitted. It will be counted as cancellation done in less than 120hours the of event date and time. It's a humble request, please do not give medical reasons, crib, argue or try to blackmail us if you drop out or cancel/reschedule the trek in the last 5 days. The basis of the cancelation policy is to protect the participant and the organizers from undue financial losses arising out of unforeseen situations. If the event gets canceled due to the medical/personal emergency of the organising team member, the participants will not have to suffer financial loss. Similarly, if there is a medical/personal emergency at the participant's end, the organizing team will not have to suffer financial loss.