Sinhgad is a very famous fort near Pune city. It is approximately 30-35 Kms from Pune. Due to the movie Tanhaji, the fort has become more famous and attracts lot of tourists. Earlier it was called as Kondana fort but during capturing the fort, Tanaji Malusare the great Maratha Warrior had to sacrifice his life. As a tribute to him Shivaji Maharaj renamed the fort has Sinhgad since he fought like a lion before sacrificing his life which helped them to capture the fort.
There are two options to reach the fort- a trek or a vehicle. Trek is a bit moderate and an amateur trekker will take around 3-3.5 hours to climb. There are lot of trekking enthusiasts who come there regularly. There are small hutments and n the trekking path to provide water, juice, salad items etc. It is advisable to carry own water.
Alternatively there is one road to the left from where one can take their own vehicle Upto the entrance of the fort. There are local jeeps also which will drop you to the top. You should try to reach as early as possible since the parking space is limited and then it becomes huge chaos on the road. Once in the top, the fort is all yours.
The atmosphere on the top is amazing and exiting. You can roam freely over the fort and click pictures and selfies with the beautiful nature. The landscapic view is amazing from the top of the fort. Although the fort is not much maintained but due to presence of natural beauty all around refreshes the mood. There are old structures which are still there but their condition is deteriorating. There are 2-3 temples and memorial of Tanaji Malusare and Udaybhan Rathore. Local villagers have made arrangements for kanda bhajji and zunka, pithla bhakar Chutni/thecha which is traditional food. They also provide mats so that you can sit and relax and enjoy the food. The curd they offer in small clay cup is really nice. There are not much stay options nearby and one has to come near Pune city for stay. One negative point is that there is only one washroom at the top and that too is in pathetic condition.
The place is a good option for any season. In summers the crowd is less while the place is heavily crowded in rains and in winter. In rainy season there are huge traffic jams at the base of fort during weekends. One can spend a nice time with family or friends. Happy Travelling!!!
