Torna or Prachandgad (तोरणा
वा प्रचंडगड) |
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Difficulty Level
(very easy, easy, medium, slightly tough, tough)
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Medium by Velhe Route.
Tough by Budhla Machi entrance from Rajgad. |
Duration of the trek
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1 day
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When to visit
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Sept to March |
Nearest City / Location
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Pune, Nasarapur
(नसरापूर),
Bhor (भोर),
Velhe (वेल्हे) |
Base Village
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Velhe (वेल्हे) |
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Torna a seen from Velhe
(वेल्हे)
route |
Torna can be reached from two ways.
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Rajgad to Torna Trek
– The walk from
Rajgad takes about 5-6 hours to reach the base of Torna. Path goes from
the top of more than 20 hills along the ridge (डोंगराची
सोंड) between Rajgad
and Torna. After some steep rock patches you enter on Budhala Machi (बुधला
माची) of Torna. After
third frightening rock patch from here, you reach Balekilla (बालेकिल्ला)
of Torna through Konkan darwaja (कोकण
दरवाजा). Visit
Rajgd-Torna Trek for details.
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Torna by Velhe route–
Start climbing the fort form the base village Velhe. First 50% of the
route passes through meadows and next 50% is steep rock patches with steps
carved in stone. Difficulty level is medium. Torna is highest fort in Pune
district still it takes only 1 and ½ hours to reach the Balekilla. So the
route has to climb pretty fast. This route takes you to huge official
entrance called Bini darwaja (बिनी
दरवाजा)
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Reach Velhe from Swargate (Pune) ST stand (frequent ST
from Swargate to Velhe). Or you can go to Nasrapur (नसरापूर)
(ST every 30 minutes) and go by 6-seater from there.
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You will easily see fortification of huge Torna fort from
here. Start climbing Torna now. Soon you will reach Bini
darwaja of Torna hidden very strategically.
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Bini darwaja (बिनी दरवाजा)
Budhala machi (बुधला माची) of
Torna
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History
– Torna is glory of Maratha history. The
fort from which Maratha kingdom started its existence. The
fort, which provided finance for building
Rajgad – first capital of Maratha kingdom. Shivaji
conquered this fort when he was just a teenager. He
modified the fort structure and while building work was
going on, lot of gold was found, which was used for
building Rajgad fort in front of Torna. Aurangzeb – the
mogul emperor conquered the fort after Shivaji’s death but
Marathas regained the control over it soon.
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The fort has
steep edges all around with proper fortification. This is
highest fort in Pune district. Hence Shivaji
renamed it as Prachadgad. Prachand in Marathi means huge.
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Bini
darwaja (बिनी
दरवाजा)
– This is an excellent architecture. Climb on the buruj
sandwitching this darwaja. This gives a great view of
Velhe and dam near it.
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Balekilla (बालेकिल्ला)
– This is where you reach from Bini darwaja. The highest
part of Prachadgad. One gets astonished to see the mighty
fortification of Torna fort, which is still undestroyed.
On Balekilla there are two water tanks with drinkable
water. Mengai devi temple is rebuilt now. You can stay in
this temple if you plan for night stay. Various bastions
at various directions of Torna display many forts around
like Sinhagad, Rajgad,
Lohgad, Visapur, Raigad and Lingana.
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Konkan
darwaja (कोकण
दरवाजा)
– This takes you to Budhla Machi. The door is huge one
with all the walls around it intact. The route from here
is not proper and some difficult horizontal rock patches
need to be crossed if you want to reach Budhla Machi.
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Budhla
Machi (बुधला
माची)
– This is largest arm of Torna with a pinnacle of the
shape of oil pot called as Budhla in Marathi. The
fortification of Budhla can be really seen while you climb
this from Rajgad. The bastions here are just incomparable.
There are some other doors on this Machi but most of them
now unused. When you come from Rajgad to Torna, you arrive
here first.
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Zunzar machi (झुंझार
माची)
– This is difficult to reach now since the route is
blocked. This is smaller as compared to Budhla Machi but
gives a great view of Velhe and Sinhagad.
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Getting down from Bini darwaja to Velhe |
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Get down by the same route to
Velhe |
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Every half an hour ST to Nasrapur and 1 hour to Velhe.
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Last ST to Nasrapur is 3.00am from Swargate (Mumbai –
Bhor ST)
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First ST to Nasrapur / Velhe is at 6.30am from
Swargate (Pune) ST stand.
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Time to climb |
2
hours from Velhe. |
Food |
Food
available in Velhe. No food available up on Torna fort.
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Drinkable Water |
Available on Balekilla in two water tanks. No water
available on Budhla Machi. |
Shelter |
You can stay at Velhe or in Mengai
devi temple on Balekilla or in Velhe. |
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