Founded amid the Sahyadri mountain ranges of Maharashtra, Visapur Fort ranks as one of the major hill forts, nowadays at just a stone's throw away from Lonavala, which has made itself quite famous as a hill station. It sits at an impressive 1084 m (3556 ft) high above the sea level to stake its claim among the highest forts in this area. Located very close to Lohagad Fort, the Visapur Fort along with Lohagad takes on a strategic role along the Western Ghats for watching the trading routes connecting the Deccan Plateau to the coastal Konkan. Visapur Fort in terms of geography gains importance by being perched on top, from which it can easily watch over the surrounding valleys, thick forests, and nearby Tung, Tikona, and Rajmachi forts. The fortification, as well as its pathway, becomes delightfully cushioned in rain, with gushing waterfalls on the escaping slopes with sparkling green foliage. The fort is thankful for having a plateau-like structure allowing its visitors to study the ruins closely with a peaceful and soothing environment. The high altitude at which the fort stands gave it a commanding position as a military outpost in antiquity, while today it stands as a popular trekking destination for adventure and historical buffs alike. The Visapur Fort Trek package is popular for monsoon trekking and historic fort exploration.This fort was erected by Balaji Vishwanath, the first Peshwa of the Maratha Empire, in the early years of the 18th century. A visionary in his capacity as a statesman and administrator, he played a dramatic role in building the Maratha Empire in its formative years. Rising under Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, he became the first hereditary Peshwa to be appointed by him in 1713. To strengthen Maratha's hold on strategically important regions, The fortification of several forts, one of which was to play an important role in sealing Maratha supremacy. Balaji Vishwanath saw how priceless his fort would be during the vulnerable Indo-Political scene in the 18th century. Also, it happened to be on somewhat high hilly ground, upon which from the natural defences, very strong defences could be made against any enemy invasion. Fort trekking enthusiasts can discover more destinations through our Treks in Maharashtra guide.Best Time for TrekkingMonsoon (June-September): Best for lush greenery, waterfalls, and a refreshing atmosphere, but trails can be slippery. On the other hand, winter (November-February) is considered the best experience with pleasant weather and clear skies for trekking. The summer (March-May) is the least favourable due to the adverse weather conditions: extreme heat, and high chances of dehydration.How To Reach Visapur Fort.By Train: The closest station to Visapur Fort is Malavli Railway. The station lies 5 km apart. Malavli has many local trains reaching and connecting to the Pune Railway to complete the Lonavala route. Local trains connect Pune and Lonavala, running every 45 minutes to an hour. Get off at Malavli Station, which is the second stop coming before Lonavala. From Malavli, you can either hike to the fort, which takes around 1.5-2 hours or hire an auto-rickshaw to reach the base village.By Road (Car): Distance from Pune to Visapur Fort is about 65 km, which can be covered in about 1.5 to 2 hours by the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.The best route is as follows: Travel on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and exit at Lonavala. Drive from Lonavala towards Malavli village. Park your vehicle at Bhaja Caves parking, which is the point where trek begins.By Bus: Plenty of state and private buses operate to and from Pune to Lonavala. From Lonavala, take an auto or a local bus to Malavli village. You have to trek or hire a local vehicle from Malavli to reach the fort base.From Mumbai to Visapur FortBy Train: The best route by far is by train from Mumbai to reach Visapur Fort. The nearest railway station is Malavli, connected to all Mumbai suburban rail networks. Catch the train from Mumbai to Lonavala (available every one to two hours). Get down at Lonavala or Malavli Station. From Malavli, you can either walk to that fort or get an auto to the base village.By Road (Car): Around 100 km separate from Mumbai and Visapur Fort. It takes about two to three hours to drive, depending on traffic.Following the Mumbai-Pune expressway, take the Lonavala exit. Drive towards Bhaja Caves for parking and starting the trek. Make sure if you are riding a bike, that it is made for off-road conditions because even during monsoon months, these roads would be really slippery.By Bus: Between Mumbai and Lonavala, private and state transport are running periodically. From Malavli, the fort can be trekked to or reached by local vehicle. From Lonavala to Visapur Fort, there are the most direct routes as Lonavala is connected to both by road and railway. It is almost 15 km from Visapur Fort.
