Torna or Prachandgad (तोरणा वा प्रचंडगड)

Torna a seen from Velhe (वेल्हे) route

Torna can be reached from two ways.

1. 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.

2. 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)

1. 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.

2. 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.

Bini darwaja (बिनी दरवाजा)

Budhala machi (बुधला माची) of Torna

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

Getting down from Bini darwaja to Velhe

Get down by the same route to Velhe

1. Every half an hour ST to Nasrapur and 1 hour to Velhe.

2. Last ST to Nasrapur is 3.00am from Swargate (Mumbai – Bhor ST)

3. First ST to Nasrapur / Velhe is at 6.30am from Swargate (Pune) ST stand.

Time to climb	2 hours from Velhe.
Food	Food available in Velhe. No food available up on Torna fort.
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.