1. Lohagad Fort
Lohagad fort is one of the many hill forts of Maharashtra which is situated close to the hill station Lonavala and 52 km Northwest of Pune. It is one of the best tourist places to visit in Lonavala and one of the popular heritage places in Maharashtra. Lohagad fort is designed in the shape of the tail of a scorpion. The fort can be reached by any of its four entrances namely, Maha Darwaja, Hanuman Darwaja, Ganesh Darwaja and Narayan Darwaja. Lohagad fort is very popular especially for tourists during monsoons. Lohagad fort makes an ideal trekking destination for trekkers coming from Pune and Mumbai because of its accessibility, ease of trek and lush green surroundings.
2. Pratapgad Fort / Pratapgarh Fort
Pratapgarh fort is a large mountain fort situated in Satara district in the Western Indian state of Maharashtra. The fort’s historical significance is due to the Battle of Pratapgarh in 1659. Now the Pratapgarh fort is a very popular tourist destination in Maharashtra. The Pratapgarh fort is divided into two parts the lower fort and the upper fort. The upper fort is built upon the crest of the hill. The upper fort comprises several buildings including Mahadev Temple. The lower fort comprises the Bhavani Temple on the eastern side. Today the Pratapgarh fort has become a very popular tourist destination in the Satara district of Maharashtra.
3. Sinhagad Fort
Sinhagad fort is a hill fortress located in the city of Pune which is situated in Maharashtra. This fort was previously known as kondana which had been the site of many battles most notably the Battle of Sinhagad. Sinhagad fort is counted as one of the most famous tourist places in Pune. This fort is naturally protected due to its very steep slopes. The fort has two gates namely the Kalyan Darwaja in the southeast and the Pune Darwaja in the northeast protected by the three successive gates. The fort contains kaundinyeshwar temple, Lokmanya Tilak Smarak, Amruteshwar Temple and Kali Temple.
4. Raigad Fort
Raigad is a hill fort situated in Mahad, Raigad district of Maharashtra. Many constructions and structures were built by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The main entrance of the Raigad fort comprises Maha Darwaja which is colossal and provides construction to the fort. The samadhi of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his dog Waghya are situated near the avenue. There are temples of Shirkai Bhavani and Jagadishwar inside the fort premises. The Raigad fort is the only fort in Maharashtra which has ropeway access due to which it has become a very popular tourist destination.
5. Garbett Point / Garbut Point
This fort is located near Matheran with a grand view of the Plateau below. Garbett to Matheran trekking is very famous for trekking lovers from Mumbai and Pune. The trek is a bit longer and requires a little patience to accomplish. The trek for Garbett or Garbut point starts from Diksal village. Visitors need to walk along the perimeter of the lake and cross a fast-moving stream. Trekkers need a rope to cross the stream during the monsoon season. The fields and the mountains are lush green with waterfalls all around due to which it becomes the most famous tourist destination in Maharashtra.
