Gorakhgad is a rock thumb above Dehri village in Murbad, with its twin Machindragad standing across the col. It is a small fort and a short day out, but the way up is one of the more memorable climbs within reach of Mumbai: caves cut into the base of the pinnacle, and a staircase that spirals around the tower to the summit.
Saints, not soldiers
The fort takes its name from Gorakhnath, and the caves below its summit are traditionally linked to him and to his teacher Machindranath, who gives the neighbouring pinnacle its name. Gorakhgad was never a large garrison - it watched the route from Kalyan towards the Ahupe and Naneghat passes, and its value was the view rather than its walls.
The route from Dehri
From Dehri the path climbs through fields and then into forest, reaching the col between the two pinnacles in about an hour and a half. The gradient here is friendly. Above the col a traverse leads to the caves, and this is where the trek changes character.
The caves and the spiral steps
The caves at the base of the pinnacle have carved pillars and a cistern, and they make a natural rest point. From there a staircase cut into the rock winds around the tower. The steps are narrow, worn in places, and open on the outer edge - this is the section that makes Gorakhgad a moderate-to-difficult trek rather than an easy one. Groups should climb it a few at a time with a rope fixed, and the caves are a perfectly good place to stop if the exposure is not for you.
The summit
Small, with a Shiva shrine and water cisterns, and a view that takes in Machindragad directly opposite, Siddhagad, Padargad and the long wall of the Bhimashankar range behind.
When to go
October to February. In heavy monsoon the spiral steps hold water and moss, and the exposure stops being a thrill and becomes a hazard. The forest approach is lovely in the rain, but the pinnacle should be left alone.
Getting there
Central line to Kalyan, then road to Murbad and on to Dehri - about 85 km from Mumbai by road. From Pune it is roughly 160 km via Kalyan or Malshej.
Trek it with us
With Sakhi runs Gorakhgad as a guided one day trek with rope support on the staircase section. See the trek details and dates.
