Torna Fort is the highest hill fort (1400mts) of Pune, located in the Sahayadri mountain ranges. It is said that “King Shivaji” of the Maratha Empire captured this fort at a nascent age of 16 and one of the first forts he conquered.
You will need to reach Velhe, the base village which is about 55-60 kms from Pune city. It takes about 1.5 hours to reach the fort from the base village. I undertook a night trek as the scorching summer heat would have killed me during the ascent. This was my first trek since I moved to Pune and the first of many that followed. It was quite intense using only but our flashlights to trek the route which dint seem daunting until sunrise.
The crimson sunrise was spectacular and with the clouds forming a white blanket over the nearby smaller hills was unbelievable.
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