Treks Near Pune

By Author: Shewta
Total Articles: 21
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I studied at a college in the outskirts of Mumbai, and made friends from Mumbai as well from Pune. We all lived in the hostel together and it was a terrible hostel. But it’s because of the hostel that I started going on treks near Mumbai, so I’m grateful for that.

The mattresses were paper-thin and the food was really bad, so one day my friends and I got fed up. Someone said “I would rather live in the mountains and sleep on the grass than sleep on that mattress.” That actually seemed like a good idea, so we ended up signing out and going for a trek. And that was the beginning of a new hobby for us.

We began to explore treks near Mumbai because none of us had a car to go far. Then as we got more daring, we started to go by train or local bus to the treks that were further away. And finally we started exploring the treks near Pune. Out of all of them, the one that I’ve enjoyed the most during monsoon is the Andharban trek which is one of my favourite treks.

Our first trek: Karnala Fort

Our first trek was Karnala Fort, and I have a lot of good memories there. It’s got a nice structure ...
... with different levels to explore, and there’s ancient ruins of the fort too. The views were really nice. In the monsoon, this is one of the best treks near Mumbai because it has so much greenery. You can also visit the Karnala Bird Sanctuary at the base, which is a pleasant place.

On my first trek to Karnala Fort, we reached Panvel railway station at about 07:30 hrs, and took a tum tum from there to Karnala. We saw a lot of bird watchers going home as we began the trek, and realized they must have come in at 4 am or something. The climb is quite easy, but the beginning is a little steep. We reached the fort and explored the ruins; it is a spectacular fort with great views.

Trek to Andharban

Another trek I would recommend is the Andharban trek, especially in the monsoon. I think it’s one of the best treks near Pune. There are flowers, birds and butterflies in abundance. You would enjoy a walk in the woods and completely admire the nature around. I find this trek very unusual with water pools and waterfalls along the route. The route is filled with greenery and is a great place to take stunning pictures.

I visited here in the monsoons and I think that’s the best time to be here. Though you have to be a little careful with your steps as the trail gets slippery, however, this is an easy trek and suitable for beginners. This trek offers views of the pristine Kundalika Valley, the Tamhinighat mountains and also the Bhira Dam. Trust me, you’re in for a lot of adventure and sights on this trek.

I guess college is the time when you can enjoy as much as you can and an ideal time to travel too, as we have no responsibilities. We did many treks in those few years, and camped at all kinds of places. And guess what? It was always more comfortable to sleep on an old blanket in the hills than in my hostel.

Shewta is an avid weekend trekker and enjoys getting away from the city and into the Sahyadris. Hence, She’s always on the lookout for treks near Mumbai & Pune.