Lush green valleys, flower beds and a grand fort all in one trek!
At a height of 1402 M, Torna Fort is the highest hill fort in Pune district. It is of great historical significance given that Chhatrapati Shivaji conquered this fort at the age of 16 and built the Maratha empire with Torna at its core. It was later renamed as Futulgaib by Aurangazeb after he won the battle between the Mughals and Marathas. The fort is also known as Prachandagad for its massive size and grandeur. The trek to the fort is exciting with views of flower beds, temples on the top and the Sahyadris around you. There is even a ridge that connects to Rajgad Fort!
Torna Fort is located 65 kms away from Pune and starts from Velhe village. This is a moderate level trek and demands high levels of fitness and endurance to be able to enjoy it. The trek can be completed in a day or two depending on when you start your trek.
The Torna Fort Trail
The trail starts from the village of Velhe, with Torna Fort standing tall in its background. You will find a road next to the Vehle Police Station and this is where your trail starts from. Continue on this road until you reach a small bridge and around 5-10 minutes from here you will arrive at a diversion on your left with a trail towards the fort.
At this intersection, please note that you will find a well laid road on your right which will take you all the way up to the plateau where you can park your vehicles. However, we recommend you take this route only in summers as the trail up to the plateau is beautiful with water streams and flower beds that you should not miss out on!
Take the trail on your left and from here the path is pretty straightforward. It is clearly demarcated with signs on rocks and boulders as well. The path here is muddy and covered in loose rocks, making it slippery during monsoon. It is advisable to wear proper trekking shoes and use a trekking pole to minimise your risk of injuries.
The trail is quaint and the green from the vegetation around with the monsoon clouds in the backdrop have a soothing effect. Do not miss out on the flowers here as they add a great colour contrast to the scenery.
Continue on this trail until you reach a plateau. This plateau connects to the ridge which is still a short distance away.
The trail from here gradually ascends towards the ridge. You will come across a small stream crossing. Be careful while crossing this stream and the rocks will be slippery. Upon crossing the stream, you will enter a dense forest area with thick growth of bushes and trees. This patch continues all the way to the ridge. Close to an hour of trekking on this trail and you will arrive at the ridge from where you can see the fort along with the trail leading to it.
Take a minute to soak in the views from the ridge with Gunjavane Dam on your left. The trail here is fairly simple as you continue on the ridge for another 30 minutes.
The final section of the trail starts once you start climbing the wall of the fort. The trail here is inclined at 70 degrees and is tricky to navigate. The initial part of this climb is over rocks which are steep and slippery. Navigate this part of the trail with great caution. Take a look back to get a panoramic view of your surroundings!
A little around 30 minutes on this trail, you will arrive at rock-cut steps with a railing for support. The railings are present all the way up to Binni Darwaja. Be mindful of the railings in some sections as they are not in the best condition.
The trail deviates to the right with colourful flower beds and views of the valley. Binni Darwaja is just 10 minutes away from here. You enter the fort through this gate and another set of steps take you up to Kothi Darwaja. The flowers continue to stay by your side throughout this trail!
You have now finally reached Torna Fort. There are a number of historically important sights here to explore. It will take you close to 4 hours to explore everything.
Upon following the trail you entered the fort through, you will arrive at a water tank and a shelter where trekkers can stay the night if they wish to.
If you take a left at the entrance, the trail will take you to Hanuman Buruj, Dhaalkathi and Zunjar Machi. A well made path connects all three of them. You can take a left from Dhaalkathi to arrive at Torneshwar Mahadev Temple, Mengai Devi Temple and Konkan Darwaja which will take you to Budhla Machi.
Please note that Mengai Devi Temple acts as a shelter and can accommodate trekkers who wish to stay the night. This is the best place to camp on top.
Budhla Machi is long and will take you a long time to explore and come back to Konkan Darwaja. Budhla Machi offers captivating views of your surroundings and makes the hard climb up so very worth it.
As you enter Budhla Machi you can see Hattimaal Buruj. You need to descend down to reach this spot and this section can be the toughest part of the trail. You might even need rope during monsoon. If you continue from Hattimaal towards the pinnacle, you will see the trail split into two. The trail on the left will take you to the ridge that connects to Rajgad Fort.
This ridge walk to Rajgad Fort is stunning and we do recommend covering both Torna and Rajgad together!
The trail to the right from the pinnacle will take you to Cheetah Darwaja from where you can get some of the best views possible.
Spend some time soaking in these beautiful views before you make your way back. The way back down is the same route you took to come up.
You can also stay the night on top and descend down the following day if you wish.
Highlights: Things to Look Forward to on This Trail
1. Flower Beds
The trail offers bright colourful flower beds in pink, purple and yellow that make the landscape 10 times more beautiful by adding a contrast to the lush green vegetation around. These flowers will keep you going on the steeper section of the trail!
2. Budhla Machi
Budhla Machi is a highlight in itself given the large size of the structure that is bound to surprise you. The views from here are unparalleled and make the difficult climb worth it.
3. Panoramic View from the Top
The views from the top of the fort are mesmerising with the vast expanse of Sahyadris around you. They are even better during monsoon with the vegetation forming a green carpet on the hills and valleys beneath you.
Challenges: Things to be Prepared For on This Trail
1. The Final Climb to Binni Darwaja
This part of the trail is inclined at 60-70 degrees and can be challenging to navigate given that certain parts of it are covered in rock. Ensure you navigate this section with great caution and climb on all fours if you have to!
2. Climb Down to Hattimaal Buruj
The climb down to Hattimaal Buruj from Budhla Machi is the toughest part of the trail. It is steep and the rock-cut steps are extremely slippery during monsoon. You might even need rope to navigate this section successfully.
Difficulty Level and the Bikat Rating Scale
Torna Fort is a level 2 trek on the Bikat Rating Scale.
About the BRS: The Bikat Rating Scale rates the difficulty level of all treks and expeditions in our portfolio after taking into account their geographical and climatic conditions.
According to this scale, if you are a beginner who is unsure of your fitness level and don’t know what to expect on a trek, a trek rated one will be a good place to start.
If you liked your very first trekking experience and are looking to test your limits next, the treks rated 2 or 3 will do the job for you.
A beginner who is sure of their fitness level on the other hand is welcome to skip the first two levels and directly start with one of the treks rated 3.
From 4 onwards, the rules change a little. It is mandatory to have trekking experience of the previous level to participate in the next level.
Best Time to do Torna Fort Trek
The best to do this trek is between September to February. The flower beds are in full bloom in September and October and the views are clear in the period between November and February, making it ideal for trekkers.
The path is extremely slippery during peak monsoon and it is advisable to avoid trekking at this time. During the summer months the temperatures soar and it becomes difficult to trek with no tree cover.
How to Reach the Base
Velhe can be reached from Pune by your own vehicle or by public transport. It is at a distance of 65 kms from Pune.
If you are reaching by public transport, there are direct buses from Pune to Velhe. However, their frequency is low. Alternatively, you can catch a bus to Satara, Kolhapur or Bangalore and get down at Nasrapur. Nasrapur is 36 kms away from Pune. From here, you will get shared taxis or autos to Velhe.
If there is a group of you, you can book a cab from Pune and split the costs. This way you do not have to worry about bus timings for onward or return journeys.
There are a few stay options in Velhe or you can stay the night on top of the fort if you wish to. In that case ensure you carry adequate camping equipment.
Frequently Asked Questions about Torna Fort Trek
1. Is there network connectivity on this trek?
No. There is no connectivity even in Velhe. However, you may catch a few bars of Airtel and Jio at certain points on the trail. The signal is not stable.
2. Are there food stalls on the trail?
There are no food stalls available on the trail. There are a number of hotels and restaurants in Velhe which serve food. You can get food packed from here. There are no water sources as well so carry adequate water for the entire trail.
3. Do I need a permit for this trail?
No, you do not need any permit from the forest department for this trek.
4. Is this trek for beginners?
The trail has a number of steep and challenging sections which can be difficult for a beginner. The trail warrants good fitness and endurance to be able to enjoy it.
5. How long does the trek take?
The trek can be completed in a day or two depending on when you start your trek.
If you wish to do the trek in one day then ensure you start your trek before sunrise to make it to the top by 10 am. The top of the fort takes 4 hours to explore.
If you wish to do the trek over two days, you can start later in the day and spend the night on top of the fort. Carry camping equipment and camp at Mengai Devi Temple.
That’s all about the Torna Fort trek! Should you wish to know more or need help planning your weekend adventure in Sahyadris, please feel free to reach out to our team.
