Mahuli Trek, MUMBAI | Weather, Best Time @Holidify

Mahuli Trek, Mumbai Overview

Mahuli is a hill fort in Maharashtra. Located in the district of Thane, the peak of the fort rises to an elevation of 2700 feet from the ground. The summit is actually a collection of 2-3 hills, all having typical names.

Much of the fortifications are still present, and the crumbling remains of an old guesthouse can be seen, devoid of its arch though. There are cisterns of water at the top, and a number of water tanks on the way to the fort. There is a small Shiva temple atop the citadel, and a group of caves to the left of the temple. The forests surrounding the fort have been declared a sanctuary. Mahuli fort itself is now a protected monument.

Food availability

Food is available in the base village. It is advisable to carry some light foodstuff along with you as the trek is not very long.

Tips and Tricks

1) Either wear full sleeved clothes or carry a mosquito repellant with you to ward off the vicious mosquitoes during the course of the trail. 2)

Accommodation

There are caves at the top of the fort, but these are not inhabitable as they are heavily littered. The temple at the base can house around 6-8 people at once.

Water availability

There are water tanks atop the citadel with perennial water supply in them. It is advisable though to carry ample supply of water with you as mouth of the wells remain open all throughout the year.

Trek Routes

The trek begins from the Shiva temple at the base of the fort. After walking in a straight direction from the temple, we come across a seasonal stream which tends to overflow during the monsoon season. After crossing the stream, the trek along a narrow ridge starts. This section culminates in a near perpendicular rock patch which is quite difficult to ascend. A sturdy ladder has been installed by the local villagers to help scale down the difficulty for the trekkers. After the ladder has been scaled, we reach atop a plateau. From here we need to walk till we see a water tank. From the water tank two routes diverge. We need to take the one on the left in order to reach the caves and the temple.

How to reach Mahuli Trek

Rail: Frequent local trains are available from Mumbai and Kalyan to Asangaon. Mumbai and Kalyan are major train stations in the state, and are well connected to the other parts of the country.
Road: Asangaon is located on the Highway linking Mumbai and Nashik, and is a 91 kilometres drive from Mumbai. The landmark for the base village is a Jain temple named Manas Mandir on the Highway. The village is a further 5 kilometres straight drive from the junction before the temple. Buses are also available which will take you straight to the base village.