Scaling New Heights: Conquering Harihar Fort — A Trekker’s Paradise
Welcome to the thrilling world of trekking in Sahyadri, where adventure and natural beauty collide. If you’re seeking an adrenaline-pumping experience coupled with stunning landscapes, then the trek to Harihar Fort in Maharashtra, India, is a journey you won’t want to miss where every step is an exhilarating adventure waiting to be discovered.
Harihar Fort is located in the Trimbakeshwar region of Maharashtra and the nearest big city is Nashik which is well connected by rail and road. Alternatively, you can reach Mumbai or Pune and then plan your travel towards Nashik. The Nearest Railway station is Igatpuri which you can reach by train from Mumbai or Nashik and from Igatpuri you can take an auto/taxi to reach Nirgudpada which is the base village of the trek.
We started at about 11 pm from Pune and reached the base village in the morning amidst the mystical whiteout of fog. After breakfast, we started our adventure journey filled with history, architectural marvels, and surreal panorama all around. Today, Harihar Fort is primarily famous for its rock-cut 80-degree inclined stairs but it also has a rich history associated with it. During the Yadava dynasty in the 6th century, it was built to keep a watchful eye on surrounding trade routes. After the 13th century under Bahmani Sultanate, the fort underwent further fortifications and improvements and finally, in the 17th century, the fort fell under the control of the Maratha Empire, led by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who recognized the strategic value of Harihar Fort and further fortified it, strengthening its defenses and establishing a garrison to protect the region.
The initial part of the trek takes us through dense forests and open fields. As we begin our ascent, the trail gradually reveals its challenging nature with steep uphill climbs, slippery rocks, and overflowing streams. After walking for around 1.5 hours we reached the base of the fort but the stairs were still not visible thanks to dense cloud cover the only thing visible is the crowd all around. The stairs rise almost vertically with narrow, uneven, and inconsistent steps presenting a daunting sight. We started to climb with utter precision of foot placement taking support of the grooves marked on the stairs but the difficulty I faced most was the people. One group of people is going up and the other group is coming down at the same time through these steps which also becomes dangerous at times. However, At reaching the Ganesh Darwaza, the main door of the fort we congratulated each other but little did we know steeper, slippery, and more dangerous staircase ascent was waiting for us.
With each step conquered, the summit draws nearer, and the sense of triumph intensifies. As we finally reach the top fort, a wave of fulfillment washes over us taking some moments to absorb the breathtaking vistas that unfold before our eyes, rewarding for the perseverance and hurdles we overcame to reach this point. After some mandatory photo sessions, the even more difficult part of the trek starts, descending those treacherous steps. As we started descending, the level of difficulty increases due to the added challenge of heavy rain and water flowing through the steps. Also, the constant rush of people trying to make their way to climb upward was leaving very less space to balance adding to the level of risk.
Finally, after more than one hour of struggle, we were able to successfully come down to the base village and assembled for a traditional Marathi lunch. Ultimately, the trek to Harihar Fort is a test of your physical endurance, mental resilience, and determination to conquer this formidable obstacle. So, lace up your trekking shoes, embrace the adventure of treks around Sahdyadri, and just a pro tip: please don’t come on weekends.
Till then Bon Voyage…
