Bonus: during the monsoon season, the waterfalls along the way and the lush greenery add to the scenic beauty of the trek. However, knowing the increased difficulty and potential for slippery trails is important during this time.
Vasota Fort, also known as Vyaghragad, is an ancient hill fort located near Bamnoli village in the Satara district of Maharashtra, India. It stands tall at an elevation of around 3842 ft. and is nestled amidst the Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary, offering a thrilling trek through dense forests and stunning views of the Koyna backwaters. The fort is believed to have been built in the 12th century by Bhoja II of the Shilahara dynasty.
The Vasota Fort trek is considered to be an easy to moderate trek, making it suitable for beginners with a decent level of fitness. The total distance of the trek is approximately 6 km (out and back) with an elevation gain of around 500 meters. While the initial part of the trail is relatively flat, the later sections involve a gradual climb. There are no technical climbs or challenging patches on the route.
Vasota Fort aka Vyaghragad
Vasota Fort straddles the Ghat line, protected by a bear-infested jungle. It is inaccessible except for a long and arduous trek. It has two forts, an old one and a newer one. It is possible to visit the new Vasota Fort through thick jungles.
At Bamnoli (Base Village) regular motor ferry services are available that take us to Met-Indavali from where we can walk on the western shores of the lake. Proceed along an arm of the Koyna Lake to the west. The route is now thickly forested with no human habitation. Climb through the dense forest by a tricky route to reach the top of the fort.
Depart from Pune by 23:00 hrs.
Once you reach your pick-up point, mark your presence with the SG-Trekkers representative. Then we will travel by private bus to the starting point of the trek.
Day 0: Highlights
• Drive (approx.): 210 km, 5-6 hrs.
Early in the morning, we reach the base village, Bari. Here, you can have a light breakfast. Start the trek from Bari village. The initial part of the trail is moderate, with a gradual climb through the forest. As you ascend, the trail becomes steeper and rockier. Use caution and take your time, especially during low-light conditions.
Reach the summit of Kalsubai Peak 5,400 ft. Celebrate your achievement and take in the breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape, including Bhandardara Lake and other Sahyadri peaks. At the summit, take your time to rest and appreciate the scenery.
Begin your descent, following the same trail back down to Bari village. Reach Bari village, feeling accomplished and refreshed. Enjoy a delicious lunch at a local home. Depart from Bari village and return to Pune; filled with memories of our Kalsubai adventure trip.
Arrive back in Pune by 21:00 hrs. (approx.).
Day 1: Highlights
• Altitude: ⇑ 2,790 ft. / ⇓ 2,790 ft.
• Walk (approx.): 10 km, 7-8 hrs.
• Accommodation: N/A
• Meals: Breakfast, Meal after the Trek, Evening Tea
Always love the journey of Vasota Trek with SG TREKKERS 🥰🚩
Always Memorable Trek with SG TREKKERS.It looks like family members.Overall arrangment and food is very nice.Vasota Trek gives all experience like boating,dense forest and View from top of Fort.🥰
I like it…
Wonderful trip. Good Planning. Informative and cheerful guide.
It was a great trekking experience with S G trekkers for my trek to Vasota…
1) Trek leaders helped immensely during ascend as well as descend especially during difficult sharp descend…this was definitely moral boosting for me
2) Time discipline was perfectly managed…they were always to the schedule and at the same time providing sufficient time for sightseeing etc..
3) History of the Vasota fort its importance was very well explained by trek leads
4) Being 1st batch to reach Vasota after a gap of 20 months, our group was 1st group to reach the top and we could enjoy the same to the fullest extent without worrying about crowd
5) places selected for having Food etc. were excellent
6) Extremely nice weather with all greenery around best views of Sahyadri range with Nageshwar caves in front of us..finally travel by boat was icing on the cake ….
Overall a great experience and full credit goes to team SG trekkers – Vishal, Swapnil and entire team 😊👏👏💐💐