Adventures in India

Peth fort or Kotligad (1550 ft) was a watch post for soldiers guarding the Bhor Ghat, an important trade route between Pune and Kalyan.

We begin the hike from Ambivili, from where the base of the Peth fort or Kothli fort is about 2 hours of reasonably easy walking across the mountain slope to the plateau at the base and another half an hour or so to the MahaDarwaja or main gate of the fort. The lower plateau leads to Wandre Khind.

In terms of forts, it seems to have been quite a "hot property" in the 18th and 19th centuries considering the little I found out about its history.

The cave and the temple carvings date back to the 13th century. Not much is known about the history until the 18th cent. In 1716, this cave was captured by the British. Then later on, on November 2, 1817, it was recaptured by the Marathas under the leadership of Bapurao who belonged to the generation after Bajirao. It was recaptured by the British, on December 30, 1817, the very next month, under Captain Brooks. The British had the fort till 1862 as an outpost for vigilance on the surrounding valley and the hills all around it.

Worth enjoying here are the small temple and huge cave at the base of the fort and of course, the dramatic chimney like tunnel to the top of the fort. There is a tank of water at some distance from the cave and another one at the top of the fort, and this is usually well maintained. This tunnel is the high point of the trek, with its funnel like structure and steps along the inside in a steep ascent to the very top. I wonder how it was made.

The top affords a breath taking panorama of the Karjat and Bhimashanker area.