A Trekker’s Paradise

Peth is not a well known name, but with its uniqueness manages to stay with you longer, and high & above than all the other more famous tourist destinations. There are many hill stations in India, but some places are truly special in many more ways than what comes to mind. And Peth is definitely one of them.

Saring peaks, thriving flora, cool and soothing mountain air in the atmosphere is what greets you in this tiny village of Peth all through the year. Peth, which means residence in English is also known as Kothaligad, and is situated in the Shahapur Taluka, approximately 21km North East of Karjat.

One of the major draws of this place is that it is just 130 km away from Mumbai. Kothaligad, built at 3,100 feet is an ideal trekking destination and is more commonly known as the fort of Peth because the village of Peth situated at its base.

This fort though small in stature has immense historical significance. This fort was a ‘defense outpost’, although it wasn’t a full-fledged fort, it was located at a vantage point, and played a significant role in logistics and transit point.

Peth was mainly used for ammunition storage and gained importance during Sambhaji’s era. This place is truly blessed by nature and is bountiful in many more ways than one, rewarding the visitor with a mix of old-country side charm, natural beauty, traditional livelihood and a great history.

“Although it is a long journey, due the spectacular sights along the way, you will enjoy your ride thoroughly. Green paddy fields and the murky brown streams crisscross the whole land. When it rains, the clouds descend from the sky to blanket the earth, the sight is truly breathtaking”, shares an ecstatic Prajakta, 21, art student, who visited this place through her field trip.

Highlights of this location:

The pinnacle of the fort is visible from the village. The view from the top resembles an
endless expanse of colourful canvas. Once there, you can also see the beautiful caves carved from huge rocks. The first one is the cave of Goddess, besides it, runs a reservoir and the last one is the Bhairoba cave.

“The specialty of these caves is a flat floor and well sculpted pillars. These caves are famous for camping and makes for a challenging trekking adventure which is yet non-perilous. However, it is advisable that an expert should accompany a trekking trip to the cave's, especially for novice trekkers” tells Dhanaji, 26, a frequent trekker.

Another highlight is that historical places like Kalwawantinicha Mahal, Nagfani, Siddhagad, Malanggad, Chanderi, Prabalgad, Manikgad, and Matheran surround the fort and are also visible from its apex. “Kothaligad is truly nature lover's paradise and is an ideal location for trekking.

This tiny village is devoid of any proper hotel accommodation or food. Therefore it is advisable that the visitors carry their camping gears, packaged drinking water and food with the,” says Shailesh Rane, a tour organiser.

In conclusion, don’t expect the luxury of a city life here. This destination is certainly for those people who want to experience nature up and close and get a vivid taste of what wilderness is all about. So, if you are a nature lover, then you should definitely mark this location on the top of your adventure holiday itinerary.

Fact File

Location: Karjat – Peth – Kothaligad (Fort)

Weather: Mild temperate weather

Best time to visit: Between monsoon and winter
season

Drinking Water Facility: There are many a cisterns
and tanks on the fort, but the one near the cave is
reliable as long as you boil it. If you are hesitant
about it then do carry packaged water as no other
drinking facility is available.

How to reach: One can board a ST bus for Ambivali
via Kashele or from Karjat railway station on
Mumbai-Pune route. The distance from Karjat to
Ambivali is about 30 Kms. You can use the roadway
to Peth from Ambivali. An extensive pathway
leads to the fort entrance from Peth. One can also
get down at Neral, another railway station on
Mumbai-Pune route and reach Kashele by local
transport and catch a bus for Ambivali.

Where to stay: The cave on the fort is the best
place to spend the night.

Time to Reach: Ambivali to Peth – 2 hours; 45 minutesfrom the base village, Peth.

Note: Make sure to carry your camping gear along
to compensate for the lack of accommodation.