Shrivardhan and Manaranjan
Twin fortresses around a machi, a plateau. Rajmachi played a part in the First Anglo-Maratha War and is a protected monument.
After the forts · the almanac
The trek in four numbers
An easy two-day traverse: up from the Lonavala side, down to the Konkan at Karjat.
826m
Shrivardhan, the high point
15km
Lonavala side to Kondhavane
16
Kondana Buddhist caves
1month
Of fireflies, mid-May to mid-June
💪 Easy⛺ 1 night🚆 Lonavala → Karjat
Day by day
Two days, step by step
The Bikat Adventures plan, Lonavala to Karjat.
How high you are on each kilometre
- Day 1Lonavala → Rajmachi villageMeet at Lonavala station 9 am, drive to the start, walk to the base villageAbout 8 km⛺ Tents at the base village
- Day 2Forts → Kondana caves → Kondhavane → KarjatFort in the morning, caves after lunch, Karjat by about 7 pm
Stories and nature
Two forts on a machi
Kondana
Sixteen Buddhist caves cut in the 1st century BC, among them a chaitya hall.
Above the Borghat
The forts overlook the old Borghat trade route. In the monsoon the Kataldhar waterfall can be seen from Shrivardhan.
When to go
Rain, winter or fireflies
Bikat runs it from June to September and November to March.
Jun–Sep
Heavy rain, 20–30 °C, forest and waterfalls. The jeep road closes.
Nov–Mar
Winter nights can drop to about 10 °C.
Mid-May–mid-June
Firefly season, before the rains.
Plan your trip
Start in Lonavala
The walk starts on the Lonavala side and ends near Karjat; both are on the Mumbai–Pune railway.
- Lonavala station🚙 Drive to the start
- Rajmachi🥾 Down past Kondana
- Kondhavane → Karjat
Water
Don't swim in the lake or the fort tanks: villagers drink from them.
No signal
Expect no mobile network beyond the base village.
Good to know
The small things
Cash, signal, water, permits and help on the way. Checked October 2026; confirm with your operator.
Trains to Lonavala
From Mumbai, the Konark Express (11019) leaves CSMT at 2:00 pm and reaches Lonavala at 4:27 pm. From Pune, a 3:00 pm local reaches Lonavala at 4:20 pm. Treks and Trails
Jeeps fill up
An 8 km jeep ride takes you towards the base village. In peak season the jeeps get overbooked, so expect to wait. Treks and Trails
Tiny village fee
No permit is needed. The local committee collects ₹5 a person at the base village. Trekhievers
Village homestays
Udhewadi homestays keep men and women in separate rooms. There are no couple rooms. Treks and Trails
If it rains
If rain stops camping, groups sleep in a villager's common hall for 40–50 people. Trekhievers
Toilets in the village
There are common washrooms in the base village. There are none on the trail. Trekhievers
Village food
Meals are home-cooked local food in the village. Treks and Trails
Firefly crowds
Firefly season brings big weekend crowds. Pick a Friday–Saturday batch if you can. Bhatakna
No offloading
Bikat has no option to offload your bag. Bikat Adventures
What to pack
Your checklist
Tick items as you pack. Your ticks stay saved on this device.
Clothing
Shoes
Gear
Papers and money
Health
List from Treks and Trails: Rajmachi things to carry.
Rent or buy
Where to get gear
Many operators lend tents, sleeping bags and spikes. Ask yours before you rent.
Mumbai before you leave
RentaRent · tents, sleeping bags, sleeping mats, home deliveryWebsite
Shop details are from each shop's own page. Phone to confirm prices and stock.
Who runs it
Choose an operator
We found 4 operators with a Rajmachi page in October 2026. Two of them only showed last firefly season's price. Bikat now lists Rajmachi as a DIY guide, not a group trek.
Prices are base prices from each operator's own page (October 2026); most add 5% GST. Ratings are what each operator shows, not an independent audit. Names marked † show last season's price or one seen only in a search snippet.