Written by: Atreyee Chowdhury
Ratangad
Regarded as a very ancient as well as a magnificent fort sited amidst the picturesque locale of Bhandardara, Ratangad is a must visit tourist attraction of Pune. It is also known as one of the oldest artificial catchment area. The history of the Ratangad fort can be traced back to four hundred years.
Orientation
The fort is located 4255 ft above sea level in the district of Ahmednagar. The fort lies within the mountain range called Ajoba and is surrounded by the lofty peaks of Alang, Kulang, Ajoba, Katarabai, Kalsubai and Ghanchakkar. If you keen on tracing the geographical location of Ratangad, for your information, it is sited at the banks of the Bhandardara Lake. It takes a minimum of 3 hours to reach the top of the fort.
Best times to visit
This place is a hot favorite of the inhabitants of Pune, Mumbai and Nasik and attracts lots of tourists throughout the year. However, the best time to visit the fort ranges from October to February.
Getting there / Route Information
Bus route
There are many buses which leave from the city of Mumbai, Nasik and Pune. The State Transport buses depart from Kasara. You also get buses from the Shivajinagar bus stand to a village called Rajur near Sangamner. It takes almost 5-6 hours to reach Rajur. You can also travel to the nearest station to Ratangad, known as Igatpuri and from there avail a bus to Bhandardara
Train route
The nearest station to Ratangad is Igatpuri, which is again on the Mumbai-Pune route. Local trains are available from Mumbai to Ratangad, the station being Kasara, which is also the last station on the North Mumbai suburban rail route.
Pictures of Ratangad
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Major attractions
Darwajas
The Hanuman, Ganesh and Tryambak darwazas in Ratangad forms to be the main attraction of the place and you are sure to feel lost in the rich and glorious history of India. The small temple of Ratandevi and the Ranicha Huda as well as the Queen’s palace located near the Hanuman darwaza are in the list of must visits in Ratangad.
Amruteshwara Temple
One just cannot overlook the beauty of the Amruteshwar temple situated amidst the opulent splendour of the Ratangad fort. This temple dates back to the Hemadipant era, approximately around 8th century.
Bhandardara Lake
It is another must see on the trip to Ratangad. Also known as Lake Arthur Hill, this lake sited amidst dense woods offers a spectacular view. This place also has a kind of spiritual aura prevailing around it, as the great saint Shri Agastha Rishi is believed to have been here in constant meditation stretching a period of over one year. Constructed in the year 1910, this lake also serves as a reservoir for Wilson dam.
Vital tourist information
You can trek your whole way to the fort but it is advisable to take the help of a guide, available from the village of Shendi, as there is high possibility of loosing the way. The steps in the final stage of the trek are quite dangerous and one should properly follow the instructions of the guide here. The guides also prove to be of immense help if one is predetermined to spend a night in the caves. Before trekking your way to the top you can also arrange for yourself a night halt in the Shendi village.
Hotel availability
Most of the trekkers love to put up in the caves for the night but those are devoid of that adventurous spark within them can choose to stay in the recently built private hotel constructed in Bhandarkar. The best option however, is the MTDC resort and its unbeatable location makes up for all the problems that you might face to reach the Ratangad fort.
Nice place i been there once
I recommend night trek, we did it once was awesome
tell me route from pune, nearest bus stop?