Rajmachi Fort

On the way to Mumbai from Pune, you come across the Rajmachi point, where there is a garden. This place is known as Rajmachi point because opposite this is the historic Rajmachi Fort. Rajmachi Fort can be approach only on foot. It is surrounded by deep valleys on three sides and a thick forest on one side. There are three ways to reach there (1) Lonavala through Tungarli village and Dam. There is a small right turn here which is to be avoided and take a left turn to reach the fort.
(2) On the railway route, get down at thakurwadi station, cross a place called Palas Dari and reach Rajmachi
(3) from Karjat town one can straight away reach Rajmachi. This fort is very old, it probably belongs to yadav period because there are two small fort attached to it viz.
(a) Shrivardhan (b) Manoranjan .
Yadava's use to name their forts in this manner, the ancient Buddhist caves show that these forts are ancient. Rajmachi fort is 10 kms away from Lonavala and one can travel through thick forests and Deep valleys on the way.

Shrivardhan
The fort east of Rajmachi is known as Shrivardhan fort. Between Shrivardhan and Manoranjan, there is an old temple of Shri Bhairavnath. There are watchmen posts at the entrance of the Shrivardhan fort. The entrance is semicircular in shape so that it is not easy to locate. A little further there is cave belonging to Buddha period. Remaining part of construction is however in Maratha style. This can be made out from Ganesha on the door. There are two huge water tanks on this fort. Both have water all year round. One of them is near the caves and the other one near the fort. At one end there are residences of the people staying on the fort and on the other end for the guards. Lohagad, Visapur, Tungi, Korigad, Nagfani etc. Can be seen from here.

Manoranjan Fort:
Manoranjan can be approached from the road behind Bhairavnath temple. The entrance is in a state of ruin and the watchmen houses and ammunition depots on the fort can only be seen. There is square lake of water, which is filled with clean water all year round. A straight rock divides this lake into two parts and the person knowing this place can walk through it. Khandala railway station can be seen from here. Besides the fort at Pali, Karnala, Matheran, Nagfani etc. can also be seen.

Visapur Fort
This fort is located to the east of Lohagad fort and it has a huge plateau surrounding it. The fort is famous for its protective walls with intricate designs. These walls and designs have remained in good shapes even after facing centuries of torrential rains. The fort guard's residence in the forest at the center is in ruins. On the right hand side one can still see the gun turret. This turret is made of copper. Unfortunately, it is missing today. There is a pass of 1 - 15 furlongs between Visapur and Lohagad forts. This semicircular pass can be seen from the railway bridge at Lonavala Station. According to a legend, a brave woman is supposed to have crossed this valley on a rope.

Lohagad Fort
This fort belongs to Shivaji's period and is 10 kms from Lonavala. It was used for keeping prisoners in the year 1564. Shivaji Maharaj won this fort in 1670 in the year 1751, Gaikwad and Dabhade family were incarcerated in this fort. First Delhi gate - the entrance of the Lohagad fort is a spectacular sight. There are three gates one after the other. The third gate especially is very exquisite. On entering this third gate one reaches the guard's post. There is provision to position guns here. This gate is constructed in such a way that the gunfire from gates above would reach the enemy at the first gate. There is a huge cave outside the fort. This cave would be used for storing grains during the rainy season. There is a tomb here as well as a Shivlinga. Next to that there is a tank of water with sweet taste. On the fort there is one more place where water would be stored for use. This is suppose to have been built Nanasaheb Phadnis. There is a plaque but the writing cannot be read any more. The peculiar design on the walls of the fort is known as Vindhukata (fangs of a scorpion). It is said that Shivaji Maharaj had kept the treasures he looted from Surat in this fort for some period of time.

Tunga Fort
A rock piercing the horizon can be seen to the south of Lohagad, this is Tunga Fort. Pavana Dam surrounds it. This fort can be approach by the motor boat for Pavana Dam. It is a stiff fort to climb. It is a narrow fort with slippery roads for climbing. There is a temple of Mahadeo on the fort. During Shivaji's period, this fort was use for keeping a watch on the other forts.