On the Edge of Sahyadris: May 2015

Durgadi Janani Durg fort parallel to Varandha ghat

Durgadi fort or Janani Durg(Now Named as Mohangad) was found out by a team of archeologists from Deccan college Pune in year 2010-11

It is located parallel to Varandha ghat and Raireshwar and Kolheshwar mountains near Mahabaleshwar

It is located in very dense forests of Javali which are similar to the forests in the koyna region.Around 15 to 20 years back, tigers were seen in this region

About the history of fort

It is believed that this fort should be more than 400 to 1000 years old since it has water tanks and caves on top of it.During the period of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, this region was lead by Baji Prabhu and the construction of forts in this region was in progress(Durgadi, Kawalya ,Kangori forts) but unfortunately while fighting a battle at Pawankhind, Baji Prabhu lost his life and the building forts in this region didn’t continued hence in this region, you will find that almost all forts were in half stage of construction

It is believed that Durgadi fort was used as a watch tower to keep watch on routes in konkan like Varandha and Kamtha ghat(Kamtha ghat route is not used anymore because this route is damaged in landslide after koyna earthquake around 1957)

How to approach Durgadi fort

From Pune/Bhor take a bus to Mahad(Going through Varandha ghat) and ask for Shirgaon stop(Tell the conductor that you want to go to Durgadi and before shirgaon, there is a left turn where you have to get down)

You will be able to see backwaters of Neera Devghar dam while travelling through varandha ghat route to mahad. Look for the milestone showing Mahad 36 kms

From this place, the road starts climbing uphill and now you will not be able to see the backwaters of the dam.2 kms before Shirgaon, you will see a board pointing towards left “Janani Devi Mandir”.From this place, leave the Bhor-Mahad road and take the road going to left.

After 1 km walking, you will reach the Janani devi temple

In front this temple, there is a route going In dense forests, climb through this route.In 15 to 20 minutes, you will reach a halfway mark.From here, there are 2 routes.One route goes left and other route goes towards right side.

Follow the route towards right.From here, you will reach the top in around 45 minutes

Don’t go to the left side route because you will go deep in the forest and end with a blocked route in dense forests.We went by this route first but in 15 minutes, we found that this route is going downwards whereas we were supposed to climb the mountain but still we hoped that somewhere, we will get a route to climb up but we didn’t get it. Instead we were landed in a place where the route was blocked by big fallen trees and there was a small water pool in forest with pugmarks of wild pigs

From this place, we came back to the place where there are 2 routes and followed the route towards right and reached the top
There is nothing to be getting lost.Follow the route in forest.There is only one route which goes to the top through a narrow ridge.There is valley on both sides of ridge with dense bushes and trees coming in way.

Be careful at the top near the temple especially when you are climbing down from this point.If you slip here, you will land into the valley.There is no excuse for that

It was 3:00 pm hence we returned back fast till 4:00 pm to Durgadi village and later to Shirgaon, got bus and came to bhor around 6:00 pm

About Bus timing: From Bhor , there are buses to Durgadi approx every 2 hours and last bus is around 6:00 pm whereas there are frequent buses from Pune to Mahad going by this route.Ask for buses going by Varandha ghat only to Mahad. From Pune, there are 2 routes to Mahad(Varandha ghat and Tamhini ghat)

Also this fort can be approached from Kiye/Gothali/Pimpalwadi village(base village of Kangori Mangalgad fort) after descending Varandha ghat, from varandh village,take left to go to these villages(Buses available from Mahad)

Here are the pictures