KURUGAD FORT

OVERVIEW

District : Raigad
Hill Range:Raigad
Height above sea level : 2020 feet
Difficulty rating : Easy Grade Trek
Base village : Jite
Nearest City :
Approx. time to reach the top : 2 - 3 hrs from base village
Google Map Co-ordinate :

How To Reach

1]Get down from Tamhini, on the way to Mangaon - 4km before Nizampur, the one before you hit NH-17 you can see a sign which shows a diversion to Jite. Reach Jite which is 11km s from the diversion, and walk to Kurdu Peth. There is some landslide there enroute, so you could also proceed to Umbardi and climb to Kurdu Peth. A way from Pune going towards Konkan passes through Tamhani ghat. An approach is available from Tamhani ghat via Dhamanwal, which goes to fort’s plateau. From Jite town, take a route alongside a water stream. On the way, there is a rock patch having a certain idol on it. Take left from here. The route goes through a farm. It takes 5 minutes walk to start the climb. This route takes us to the plateau after numerous turns. The plateau has a small community by the name Pethwadi. One and half hours would sufficient to reach here from Jite. The route is quite hectic as it drains much energy. The route from Dhamanwadi also reaches here. Pethwadi has a beautiful temple of goddess Kurdai. A water tank lies nearby. A way for the fort starts from the right of the temple. It takes half an hour by this way to reach.

2] Reach Dhamanohol/Dhamanvahal via Dasve there is some temple and a high tension electricity tower get down from there to Kurdugad.

Place To Stay / Eat

Groove on the fort can be used for accomodation. One has to make the food arrangements on its own. Water reservoirs is available on fort.

Places Of Interest

Near the base of the fort is a temple of goddess ‘Kurdai’. On the way up, there are remnants of a gateway. Entering by this gateway a Hanuman idol, about 1m in height grabs our attention. Behind this idol we find a natural ghal (groove). This groove can easily accommodate around 100-150 people. Fort has 2 large pinnacles, of which one comprises the Fort top. One can traverse the path around the pinnacle, but it is damaged completely at certain places in between. There are one or two water tanks on the fort. Fort top offers excellent view of entire nearby region. Location of the Kurdugad attaches to it real significance, strategically. A pass called Tamhani ghat, can be easily controlled from here. Besides, it has Raigad and Kokandiva forts on its backside. Half an hour is enough to explore the fort