Rajmachi Trek
Pune, Maharashtra
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- Max altitude
- 826 m
- Days
- 2 days
- Distance
- 26 km
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Gentle gradient but a long walk: about 12 km each way on a rough, exposed jeep track and plateau trail, plus short rocky climbs to both forts; muddy and leech-prone in monsoon.
Photos
On the trail
The route
Day by day
Day 1
Tungarli Dam, Lonavala → Udhewadi (Rajmachi village)
630 m → 640 m
Day 2 · highest point
Udhewadi (Rajmachi village) → Tungarli Dam, Lonavala
640 m → 826 m → 630 m
Ups and downs
Altitude profile
Where it is
Map
Trailhead and high point only — not a recorded track. Use it with a proper map.
Weather
Next 5 days on the trail
Live forecast for the trailhead and the high point. Mountain weather changes fast — check again on the morning you start.
Trailhead · Tungarli Dam, Lonavala
at 630 mLoading forecast…
High point · Shrivardhan Fort (Rajmachi)
at 826 mLoading forecast…
Each day: high / low °C · rain mm and chance · snow cm · wind km/h
Weather data: Open-Meteo.comModel forecast, not an official warning. For alerts follow IMD and the local administration.
Plan the trip
How to reach
- Trailhead
- Tungarli Dam, Lonavala
- Nearest railway
- Lonavala
- Nearest airport
- Pune International Airport (Lohegaon)
- By road
- Lonavala station to Tungarli Dam (about 3 km by auto-rickshaw); Pune to Lonavala (about 65 km); Mumbai to Lonavala (about 85 km)
- Drive
- About 2.5 h from Mumbai
Plan the trip
Permits and fees
We could not confirm the current permit rules and fees from an official source. Check with the local forest department or tourism office before you go.
Plan the trip
Cost
Self-guided
₹600–1,200
With an operator
₹1,500–1,700
Per person, ex-Lonavala. Guided 1N/2D packages (jeep, homestay or tent, dinner and breakfast, trek leader) cost about Rs 1,500–1,700 from Lonavala; Pune pick-up packages cost about Rs 2,500. Self-guided estimate covers auto-rickshaw to Tungarli, village meals and a homestay or tent at Udhewadi. Operators report a small village entry fee at the base; check locally.
Gear
Top picks for this trek
The gear that matters most on this route, chosen from its altitude, season and risks.
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Packing checklist
Matched to this trek: altitude, season, days and the risks on the route.
Packed 0 of 24
Monsoon months (Jun–Sep): pack everything in plastic or a dry bag and wear shoes with good grip.
Tick each item as it goes in the bag.
Know before you go
Good to know
- Mobile network
- Limited and patchy on the plateau; BSNL and Vodafone work only occasionally
- Last ATM
- Lonavala
- Nearest hospital
- Lonavala town (about 15 km from Udhewadi)
- Water
- Little water on the Lonavala trail; carry 2–3 litres. Water at Udhewadi village and rock-cut cisterns on the forts
Highlights
- Twin Maratha-era citadels, Shrivardhan and Manaranjan, rising from a wide plateau
- Overnight in Udhewadi, a small village on the machi below the forts
- Rock-cut water cisterns, ramparts and the Bhairavnath temple area
- Monsoon waterfalls and green Ulhas valley views; fireflies before the monsoon
Risks
- Muddy, slippery track and leeches in monsoon; streams may need careful crossing
- Long stretches without drinking water in the dry months
- No electricity at Udhewadi and darkness falls fast on the plateau, so carry a torch
- Landslides and fallen trees on the trail in heavy rain
Know before you go
Questions
Do I need a permit to trek to Rajmachi?
No formal permission is needed. Operators report a small entry fee collected at the base village and parking fees for vehicles; confirm the amounts locally.
Which route is more common, Lonavala or Karjat?
The Lonavala route via Tungarli is the more common and gentler one. It is about 12 km to Udhewadi on a mostly flat track. The Karjat route from Kondivade is shorter but steeper and climbs through dense forest.
Can I drive to the base village?
In winter and summer, jeeps and high-clearance vehicles can reach Udhewadi on a rough road. In monsoon the road is often impassable and you must walk.
Where do I stay and eat?
Villagers at Udhewadi offer homestays and home-cooked meals. Tents are used in winter and summer, and homestays in monsoon. Food stalls are found only at the base village.
Is Rajmachi suitable for beginners?
Yes. Operators describe it as easy to moderate and suitable for first-time trekkers, but the full walk from Tungarli is long, so pace yourself.
In an emergency
Save these numbers before you lose signal. Tap to call.
- 112All emergenciesIndia’s single emergency number — works in every state
- 108Ambulance
- 1077District disaster control room
You are in
District: PuneMaharashtra
- Nearest hospital
- Lonavala town (about 15 km from Udhewadi)
- Last ATM
- Lonavala
- Phone network
- Limited and patchy on the plateau; BSNL and Vodafone work only occasionally
Before you set off
- Tell someone your route and when you will be back.
- Carry a charged phone and a power bank.
- Download an offline map of the route.
- Turn back if the weather turns bad — the mountain will wait.
Questions about Rajmachi
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Where this comes from
Sources
Last reviewed:
- Shrivardhan Fort — Wikipedia
- Rajmachi Trek Maharashtra — Veena World
- Rajmachi Trek (tour listing by the operator Treks and Trails India, treksandtrails.org; not this site) — Treks and Trails India
- Rajmachi Fireflies Trek & Camping — Trekhievers
- Shriwardhan (Rajmachi) — Durg Bharari
- The Complete Guide to Rajmachi Trek — Indiahikes
- Rajmachi Fireflies Trek and Camping — Adventure Club Pune
- A Guide To Rajmachi Fort Trek: Best Seasons, Attractions, & Trekking Routes — LBB
Photos: Nikhil Thokal, CC BY-SA 4.0; Mukundvg1942, CC BY-SA 4.0; Elroy Serrao, CC BY-SA 2.0; Mukundvg1942, CC BY-SA 4.0
