Malhargad Fort

type : Hill

range : bhuleshwar ghat

The Sahyadri range, to the west of Pune in Velha taluka, is bifurcated, one of which has the forts of Rajgad and Torna, while on the other range are the forts of Sinhagad, Purandar, Vajragad and Malhargad. Malhargad is the last Sonori’s fort built fort in Maharashtra and is known by many names such as Tarun Gad. The fort is also known as the fort of Sonori because of the Sonori village at the base of the malhargad.

malhargad played a role in the military campaigns of This Malhargad was constructed in 1757 to AD Done in 1760 by Bhimrao Panse, chief of the Peshwas and chief of artillery. In the year 1771-72, Madhavrao Peshwa visited the Malhargad in historical documents.The fortification consists of walls, bastions, and gates, typical of forts built during the Maratha era. It offers panoramic views of the Sahyadri mountain range and the surrounding countryside, making it a popular destination for trekkers and history enthusiasts.

If you come a little further from the well, you can go to the main gate of the Malhargad on the right, and on the left, you can go to the entrance of the Malhargad. This Malhargad main entrance and the fort’s entrance are still in good condition. After entering through the entrance of the Malhargad, we can see two temples in front. One of them is a temple of Mahadev and another is a temple of Khandoba. Perhaps this is the only place where the temples of Khandoba and Mahadev are together. When you come out of the temple with darshan, you can see the sadar and the ruins of old palaces and houses in front of that sadar.

Visitors can trek to the malhargad, which usually takes a few hours, depending on the starting point. The trek is moderately challenging, with steep ascents in some sections. Along the way, trekkers can enjoy the natural beauty of the Western Ghats and explore the fort’s ruins, including its gates, water cisterns, and remnants of structures.

Malhargad is not as heavily visited as some of the more famous forts in Maharashtra, such as Raigad or Sinhagad, which can make it a quieter and more serene destination for those seeking a historical and outdoor adventure.

Fascinating Spots :

Malhargad can be seen completely in 30-45 mins. Much of its bastions are in a dilapidated state. The main entrance of the fort and the entrance of the malhargad are still in good condition. After entering through the entrance of the malhargad, we can see two temples in front. One of them is a temple of Mahadev and another is a temple of Khandoba. Perhaps this is the only place where the temples of Khandoba and Mahadev are together.

how to reach malhargad fort

From Pune:

On the way to Saswad from Pune, after Diveghat ends, the village of Zende Wadi starts on the left. 2 km from there is Zende Wadi village. After passing that village we have to go through a ‘n’ shaped pass in the opposite mountain.There is an off-shoot route to Zendewadi village, after Dive ghat along the Pune-Sasvad route. Here many plantations of Zendu can be seen. After passing this village we have to reach a cleft, upto which Malhargad is not visible.

From Saswad :

Sonori is a village 6 km from Saswad. Malhargad is visible from this village. Although one can enter the malhargad from the top of the hill, one can reach the malhargad main entrance by going along the towerMalhargad. Daily three buses depart for Sonori from Sasvad. One can climb up the malhargad along the ridge of the hill, and moving along the side of the Tower, we reach at the entrance door of the malhargad.