Sudhagad is one of the broadest fort plateaus in the Sahyadris, and one of the few where enough survives to give you a sense of what living on a fort was actually like - a temple, a granary, wooden wadas still standing, and a gateway that looks a great deal like Raigad's.
The fort that was considered for the capital
Sudhagad, then called Bhorapgad, was on the shortlist when Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was choosing a capital. Raigad won, but the resemblance is not a coincidence - the same broad plateau, the same commanding position over the Konkan, and a Mahadarwaja built in the same style. Standing at that gateway, it is easy to see what the surveyors were thinking.
The climb from Thakurwadi
The usual route goes from Thakurwadi through forest, with a long wooden ladder section partway up that most groups end up enjoying more than they expected. Above the ladder the path opens onto the plateau and the walking turns level. The ascent takes around an hour and a half to two hours.
What survives on top
The Bhorai Devi temple, which still holds services and where groups often stay overnight. The Dhanya Kothar granary. The old wooden wada. Water cisterns cut into the rock. And the Mahadarwaja, the best-preserved piece of the fort and the reason most people come.
The plateau walk
Sudhagad is wide enough that walking the edge takes a couple of hours on its own, with Sarasgad visible across the valley, Pali below and the Konkan stretching west. Take the time for it - most groups rush the summit and miss the best part.
When to go
June to February. The monsoon fills the cisterns and turns the plateau green; winter gives the clearest views across to Sarasgad and Telbaila.
Getting there
About 110 km from Mumbai via Panvel and the Mumbai-Goa highway to Pali, or 100 km from Pune via Paud or Tamhini. Karjat and Khopoli are the nearest railheads. The Ballaleshwar Ganpati temple at Pali is worth the stop on the way.
Trek it with us
With Sakhi runs Sudhagad as a guided one day trek from Mumbai and Pune. See the trek details and dates.
