Tung Fort Trek
Pune, Maharashtra
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- Max altitude
- 1,075 m
- Days
- 1 day
- Distance
- 3 km
- Difficulty
- Easy
A short climb of about 300 m from Tungwadi that takes about an hour each way. Operators grade it easy or suitable for beginners (Durgbharari says medium), but the conical hill has steep rock-cut steps and narrow stretches of path along the edge with steep drops beside them.
Photos
On the trail
The route
Day by day
Day 1 · highest point
Tungwadi village → Tungwadi village (via the two gateways, the water cistern and the summit flag)
775 m → 1,075 m → 775 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 · Tungwadi village (base car park)
at 775 mLoading forecast…
High point · Tung Fort summit
at 1,075 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
- Tungwadi village (base car park) (nearest town: Lonavala)
- Nearest railway
- Lonavala (about 20 km by road) or Kamshet (about 15 km); Wikipedia puts the fort about 12 km from Malavli station
- Nearest airport
- Pune International Airport (Lohegaon)
- By road
- Lonavala (about 1 hour via Jalvayu Marg / SH110 and the Lonavala–Aamby Valley road, then the Javan–Tungi road; Wikipedia gives the route Bushy Dam – INS Shivaji – Peth Shahapur – Tungwadi, about 20 km); Pune (about 95 km, 2.5 hours via the Mumbai–Pune Expressway to Lonavala); Mumbai (about 110 km, 3 to 4 hours via the expressway and Lonavala); By boat across Pawna reservoir to the base village (Wikipedia)
- Drive
- About 2.5 h from Pune
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
₹400–1,200
With an operator
₹999–1,800
Per person. Guided prices published by operators (checked October 2026): Adventure Club Pune ₹999 if you drive yourself to the base village and ₹1,499 Pune to Pune (ex-Pune); Foliage Outdoors ₹1,650 plus GST for a day trip ex-Pune with lunch at a campsite; Treks and Trails India ₹1,800 for an overnight camp and sunrise climb ex-Lonavala station (jeep, dinner, breakfast and tent included). Self-guided is our estimate ex-Pune or ex-Lonavala: a shared car or a hired jeep from Lonavala, a meal in the base village and the parking charge at the base (Treks and Trails India says parking is charged). TripXL lists no entry fee for the fort, but we found no official notice, so 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 21
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 for most networks around the base village and on the fort (Treks and Trails India, Adventure Club Pune); download offline maps before you leave Lonavala.
- Last ATM
- Lonavala or Kamshet; we found no source confirming an ATM in Tungwadi, so carry cash and UPI.
- Nearest hospital
- Lonavala, about 20 km by road from Tungwadi (check the nearest open facility before you go).
- Water
- No drinking water on the trail; carry 2–3 litres. A rock-cut cistern on top still holds water but is not a safe drinking source. Food is available only in the base village.
Highlights
- The sharp, conical hill of Tung (Kathingad), a landmark seen from all around Pawna reservoir, which surrounds it on three sides
- Two stone gateways near the top, one still with working wooden doors, plus bastions, thick walls and a rock-cut water cistern
- A small summit with a flag and the ruins of a temple, with views over Pawna Lake to Lohagad, Visapur, Tikona and Korigad
- A watch-fort of the Maval region, taken into Swarajya by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and surrendered under the 1665 Treaty of Purandar
- Short enough for a sunrise climb: operators reach the top in about an hour from Tungwadi
Risks
- Narrow stretches of path run along the edge of the hill with steep drops beside them (Wikipedia, The Winged Fork); keep children close and do not stop on the edge for photos.
- Steep rock-cut steps and grassy slopes become slippery in the monsoon; wear trekking shoes with a firm grip (Adventure Club Pune makes them mandatory).
- Rock-cut cisterns and caverns near the top have steep, uneven steps; a hiker in The Winged Fork's group scraped an elbow climbing into one.
- During heavy rain the Pune District Collector issues Section 163 BNSS orders for Tung Fort, Tikona, Lohagad, Visapur, Pawna Dam and nearby spots (in 2026 imposed on 6 July and revoked on 16 July). Check current orders before going.
- Summer days are hot (Treks and Trails India quotes about 39 °C) on an exposed hill with no water on the trail; start at first light.
- No toilets on the trail or the fort; there is no electricity for charging at the base, so carry a power bank.
Know before you go
Questions
How difficult is the Tung Fort trek?
It is short and suits beginners with basic fitness. Treks and Trails India grades it easy and Durgbharari medium. The name Kathingad means 'difficult fort' because of the steep climb: there are rock-cut steps and narrow stretches of path along the edge with drops beside them, so take care, especially in the rain.
How long does it take to climb Tung Fort?
About an hour each way from Tungwadi village. Treks and Trails India allows 1 hour up; The Winged Fork took 1 hour 10 minutes up at a slow pace and 55 minutes down. Allow 2.5 to 3 hours in all with time on top.
What is the height of Tung Fort?
Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap give 1,075 m (about 3,527 ft). Some operators round it to about 3,000 ft. The climb from Tungwadi is about 300 m, or about 400 m from the Pawna dam side.
What is the best time to visit Tung Fort?
June to February. The monsoon (June to September) is green and misty but slippery; October to February is cooler with clearer views of Pawna Lake. Summer is hot. Check for district monsoon orders before a rainy-season visit.
How do I reach Tung Fort?
Drive or take a jeep from Lonavala (about an hour) via Jalvayu Marg and the Aamby Valley road to the Javan–Tungi road, which ends at a car park at the base next to a Bhagwan Hanuman mandir. Lonavala and Kamshet are the nearest major stations. Pune is about 2.5 hours away and Mumbai 3 to 4 hours.
Is there an entry fee or permit for Tung Fort?
TripXL lists the fort as free to enter and operators mention only a parking charge at the base. We found no official notice confirming fees, so check locally.
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, about 20 km by road from Tungwadi (check the nearest open facility before you go).
- Last ATM
- Lonavala or Kamshet; we found no source confirming an ATM in Tungwadi, so carry cash and UPI.
- Phone network
- Limited for most networks around the base village and on the fort (Treks and Trails India, Adventure Club Pune); download offline maps before you leave Lonavala.
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 Tung Fort
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Where this comes from
Sources
Last reviewed:
- Tung Fort — Wikipedia
- Tung Fort Trek & Camping — Treks and Trails India
- Kathingad — Durgbharari
- Tung Fort Trek | Kathingad Hike — The Winged Fork (AbbysHearth)
- Tung Fort: Your Complete Guide To Trekking And History — TripXL
- Tung Fort Trek From Pune — Adventure Club Pune
- Trek to Fort Tung — Foliage Outdoors
- Lonavala Monsoon Travel: Restrictions Lifted at Tiger Point, Lohagad, Pawna Dam and Other Attractions — Punekar News
Photos: MagnaErucae, CC BY-SA 4.0; Smukherjee6, CC BY-SA 4.0; Dinesh Valke from Thane, India, CC BY-SA 2.0; Kiranpawar3210, CC BY-SA 4.0
