Written by: Bhushan
Sudhagad
Regarded as one of the oldest forts in Maharashtra, Sudhagad, or Bhorapgad as it used to be called before Shivaji conquered it, dates back to a time Before Christ. A few Puranas claim that Sage Bhrug stayed here built the temple of goddess Bhorai. It was used as a strategic vantage point by the rulers of the Bhor dynasty and was later annexed by the Bahamani Sultan in the 1400s.
Orientation
2030 ft above sea level, the fort is located at Pachchapur in Pali taluka of Raigad district. The fort is said to be an exact replica of the Raigad fort and even matches the steep cliffs, which surround the latter from most sides, making ascent difficult. Access to the foothills of the fort is remarkably good and is just eight kilometers from the National Highway 17.
Weather
Like most of the other forts in the region, the temperature is always a few degree lesser than the plains. Summers are harsh and winters and rains are the most favorable times to visit the fort. Monsoons range from June to August, while winters stretch from September to February.
Best Times to Visit
The best part about this getaway is the accessibility from the highway and it’s not too far from Mumbai either. Also the climb up is not particularly steep. The best time to visit ranges from June to February.
GETTING THERE / ROUTE INFORMATION
Sudhagad is 118 Kms from Mumbai and 123 Kms from Pune.
Bus
Lots of buses leave from both Pune and Mumbai for Pali. Alternatively you could also take a bus up to Nagothane on National Highway 17, alight there and take a local bus from the highway to Pali, which is a distance of eight kilometers.
Train
The Konkan railway route has a halt at Nagothane. A train ride from Mumbai would be ideal and wont stress you out. Reach early, de-board at Nagothane and take a bus to Pachapur in Pali taluka and start the climb. You could take the Diva – Sawantwadi passenger train, which leaves Diva station at 6 am, which would give you a whole day to trek up and return.
Road Quality
The NH-17 up to Nagothane is a well-maintained National Highway.
PICTURES OF SUDHAGAD
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MAJOR ATTRACTIONS
Bhorai devi Mandir
It is an ancient structure on the fort. Some say it is as old as the fort itself. The Bhorai devi was the deity of the rulers of the Bhor dynasty. The temple is located next to a few cisterns, which tend to hold water for most part of the year. There are also rumors that near one of the cisterns, was a secret passage, which has been lost due to the passage of time.
Darwajas
The fort is one of the few forts in the region, which still managed to retain some of the architecture of the times. The fort has several grand gates, which kept it secure from potential threats. There is the massive Maha darwaja, the Pachapur darwaja, a door, which opens up in the direction of Pachapur and the Dindi darwaja which is said is modeled on the lines of the main door at Raigad. If you are interested in fine carvings, you could go and seek out the tombs behind the Bhorai mandir, which make for fascinating viewing.
Takmak tok
This is a sheer cliff located on the right hand side of the fort. Its just beyond the remnants of a stable where elephants were tied and rested. The view from this point is spectacular as you can see the river Amba winding through a few hamlets.
VITAL TOURIST INFORMATION
Things to carry
Trekkers carry your usual fare that includes, rope, first aid kit etc. unless you are traveling in the peak summer, you need not carry potable water, because it is available on the fort in cisterns most times of the year. Please do get a pair of binoculars along. You would also need to carry some food along, although a few people do reside on the fort and can provide you with meals, its best not to bank completely on them.
Hotel Availability
There are some makeshift arrangements for accommodations that can be made on the fort in exchange for a small sum. The palace of the pant Sachiv can accommodate 50 persons. If you wish, you can even put up temporarily at the Bhorai mandir. Otherwise, there is a dearth of good hotels in the region. Nagothane, being an industrial town has good lodging facilities though. One of the most popular ones is the Kamath Residency # 9324306203. There is also the Govt. Rest House, Pali. But you need to route your reservation through the Executive Engineer, P.W. Division, whose office is located at Mahad # 02145-222167.
Taxi availability
You can hire cabs in Pali taluka or in Nagothane. Since the latter is located along a National Highway, getting hold of public transport is not a problem.
Nearest known cities
- Raigad
- Mumbai
- Pune
Contact details in case of emergency
Police
Sub divisional police officer (02194) 264720
Police control room (02141 222100)
Hospitals
VIDYA-PRABHA HOSPITAL — Raigad
Tel : ( 2192) – 263638 / 267559
Well narrated.. I had been to Sudhagad in February. It is a nice hill station, fort and a great trekking place.
To view pics of Sudhagad, click on the following link.
http://picasaweb.google.com/sudarshan.multimedia/SudhagadBhorapgad#