Adventures in India

A highly popular trekking destination in the Western Ghats, or Sahyadri mountains, of the Maharashtra region of India is the wonderful Rajmachi Fort. This is considered an ideal hike for a beginning or intermediate trekker, and is easily enjoyed by anyone wishing to explore the history of the two citadels, or Bale killa, that make up Rajmachi Fort.

Originally established during the seventeenth century to guard an ancient trade route known as Borghat, Rajmachi offers visitors the remains of the twin fortresses or Shrivardhan and Manoranjan to explore. The entire location is popular with photographers, particularly during the monsoon season as it presents brilliant green fields and hillsides dotted with ancient and somewhat mysterious ruins. The seasonal mists only emphasize the remarkable beauty of the two sights at this time.

The site was originally selected because of its wide plateau lying between the two high hilltop fort sites, and which offers a great view from both of these citadels. The structures that remain on the sites are worth a trek of far greater length. Still standing are several gateways and temples, water tanks and cisterns, idols, carved columns and secret passages and exits.

One of the most remarkable of the remaining structures is the Kal Bhairav temple located between the two forts and still used by some local inhabitants of the region today.

The ruins of some of the marvelous homes of the many political and military officers remain in the fort area as well and it is in the same area that several interesting items can be seen. The first is the reservoir built in the early 1800s that still holds a tremendous amount of water today, and right up against this structure is an ancient Shiva temple, built in the Hemdpanti style. It is located on the western side of the water reservoir, and has been exposed to an enormous amount of silt that has washed away out of the reservoir. Local residents are undertaking a safe excavation of the Shiva temple in the hopes of successfully reclaiming and preserving it. To date they have unearthed a fountain in the shape of a cow’s head as well as a water tank in the front of this temple which has encouraged them to continue work, and which has also given the group a bit of support in their efforts.

The site is near Lonavala and Tungarli Lake in the Maharashtra region, where many visitors take in the surrounding forests and waterfalls.