Rohida Fort Information Guide

Rohida Fort Information Guide : Hike, History & Must-Sees

Rohida Fort : A Brief Overview Nestled amidst the Sahyadri mountain range, between Bhor and Mahabaleshwar, lies a picturesque trekking route. This route is dotted with several forts, and Rohida is one of its most prominent ones. Rohida Fort is situated in the Rohida Valley, which forms part of the Nira River Valley. This valley once had 42 villages, and out of them, 41 currently fall under the Bhor taluka of Pune district. Rohida Fort served as the main stronghold of the Rohida Valley.
Due to the cooperative sugar factories and cooperative milk schemes in Pune and Satara districts, facilities like buses and electricity have reached most of the villages in this region. This has improved the quality of life of the people in this area. Rohiḍa Fort is located about 6 miles south of Bhor and this fort is also known as ‘Vichitragad’ or ‘Bini Fort’.

Rohida Fort places to visit

1. Gates and ramparts
   The first gate of Rohiḍa Fort has a Ganeshpati panel and a mihrab (arch) above it.
   The second gate is reached by climbing 15 to 20 steps. Upon entering through this gate, there is an underground water tank right in front.
   The third gate is a very grand and strong gate. It exhibits excellent examples of carvings. Elephant heads are carved on both sides of the gate, and there are inscriptions in Marathi on the left side and Persian on the right side.

2. Structures on the fort
   Upon entering through the third gate, two structures are visible right in front. One must be the fort’s administrative building, and the other, the residence of the fort commander.
   A short walk to the left leads to the temple of ‘Rohiḍamalla’, also known as ‘Bhairbaba’. The temple houses idols of Ganesha, Bhairava, and Bhairavi. In front of the temple are a small tank, a lamp stand, and a square platform.
   There is a pond in front of the temple, and as you descend from the pond towards the bastion, the remains of the administrative building can be seen near the bastion.
   Further ahead, there is a pushkarani (a sacred water tank), and beyond the pushkarani, there is a bastion. And there is a secret door in the rampart near it.

3. Bastions and other structures
   As you walk towards the bastion visible from the secret door, there are remains of ruined structures on the left. Further ahead, at the northern tip of the fort, is the ‘Fatteh Burj’ (Victory Bastion).After visiting the Fatteh Burj, if you continue walking straight ahead for a short distance, you will see a row of water tanks. There is an underground water tank here.Beyond the water tanks is a lime kiln, and from there, our exploration of the fort is complete upon reaching the fort’s entrance.It takes about an hour and a half to walk around the entire fort.The bastions of the fort have been named. There are a total of 6 bastions: ‘Shirwale Buruj’ in the southeast, ‘Patane Buruj’ and ‘Damgude Buruj’ in the west, ‘Baghjai Buruj’ in the north, and ‘Fatte Buruj’ and ‘Sadarcha Buruj’ in the east.

Rohida Fort how to reach ?

• Via Bazarwadi
  Bazarwadi is a village located 8 to 10 kilometers south of Bhor. ST bus service is available to reach Bazarwadi. From behind the school in Bazarwadi, you can reach the first gate of the fort in half an hour to an hour by a prominent footpath.

• Via Ambawade
  ST bus services are available from Bhor to Ambawade. You can also travel by bus from Pune to Bhor, Panvel, and Ambawade. Get off at Ambawade village and start climbing the fort from the ridge on the east side of the village. This path is long and slippery. It takes about two and a half hours to reach the fort by this route. If possible, go up the fort via Bazarwadi and come down via Nazare or Ambawade. This will make it easier to get to Raireshwar Fort.

  There are many routes from Rohiḍa to Raireshwar Fort.
  1) Via Bhor-Kari:
  Travel by bus from Bhor to Kari and get off at Kari village.
  From there, you can reach the Raireshwar plateau in 2 hours via the Lohan Dara route.
  It will take another half hour to reach the settlement on the plateau.

  2) Via Vadthumbi:
  Take the Bhor to Titeghar bus that arrives in Ambawade at 2:45 PM.
  Get off at the Vadthumbi Phata stop and you will reach Vadthumbi village in 15 minutes.
  From there, you can reach the Raireshwar plateau in 2 hours via the Ganesh Dara route.

  3) Via Bhor-Korle:
  Take the Bhor to Korle bus and get off at Korle village.
  If it gets late, stay overnight in the village and reach the Raireshwar temple on the plateau in 3 hours via the Gaydara route at dawn.
  4) Via Bhor-Dabekghar:
  Take the Bhor to Dabekghar bus and get off at Dabekghar.
  From there, walk to Dhanawali. Then, you can reach Raireshwar in 3 hours via the Vaghdara route.

Rohida Fort trek map / Google map