Rajmachi Trek Guide 2026: Lonavala vs Karjat Route, Night Trek and Fireflies

01Rajmachi at a Glance

• Twin forts: Shrivardhan (the higher) and Manaranjan, with Udhewadi village below
• Lonavala route: about 15-16 km one way, gentle gradient, 4 to 5 hours
• Karjat route: from Kondivade, about 3.5 to 4.5 hours, steep in places
• Difficulty: easy (Lonavala) to moderate (Karjat)
• Best season: July to February; fireflies in late May and early June
• Stays: homestays in Udhewadi, booked in advance on weekends

02Route 1: From Lonavala

The Lonavala approach starts near Tungarli and follows a broad, mostly level track along the plateau to Udhewadi. It is long rather than hard, and in the dry season parts of it are jeepable, which is why some visitors drive or take a jeep most of the way. On foot it is a pleasant walk through forest and open grassland, with views down into the Ulhas valley.

Because it is gentle and well defined, this is the route most groups use for night treks. The catch is the monsoon: the track becomes a long mud slog, and the walk feels much longer than its gradient suggests.

03Route 2: From Karjat via the Kondane Caves

From Karjat, shared transport goes to Kondivade village, and the trail climbs steeply through forest to the Kondane caves, a group of early Buddhist rock-cut caves with a chaitya hall, often with a waterfall streaming over the cliff in the rains. From the caves the path keeps climbing hard to reach the plateau and Udhewadi.

It is the more rewarding route and the tougher one: steep, slippery in the monsoon, and hot in the afternoon in summer. A good plan is to climb from Karjat and walk out to Lonavala, which gives you the caves and the climb and then an easy finish.

04Shrivardhan and Manaranjan

Udhewadi sits on the saddle below the two forts, with the Kaal Bhairav temple and a lake. Shrivardhan, the higher fort, has a stepped approach, a cave cistern and fine views along the ghats; Manaranjan is smaller and shows the Duke's Nose and the Bhor ghat on a clear day. Each takes about 30 to 45 minutes to climb from the village.

Rajmachi controlled the old trade route through the Bor ghat between the Konkan ports and the Deccan, which is why such a modest hill carries two forts. Shivaji Maharaj took it in the 1650s.

05Night Treks and Fireflies

On a clear night the Lonavala track is easy to follow by headlamp, and arriving at Udhewadi for a late dinner before a sunrise climb of Shrivardhan is a much-loved plan. Go with an organised group or someone who knows the turnings, and keep the group together.

In the pre-monsoon weeks, roughly the last week of May into the first half of June, the forest around Rajmachi fills with fireflies. Leave torches off where it is safe, never catch them, and keep groups small and quiet; the display depends on dark, undisturbed forest.

06Where to Stay and Eat

Several families in Udhewadi run homestays offering simple rooms or floor beds, and home-cooked Maharashtrian meals: pithla bhakri, rice, dal, and tea at all hours. On monsoon weekends they fill up, so call ahead or go with a group that has booked. Carry cash; connectivity is patchy.

07Best Time to Go

• July to September: lush and full of waterfalls, but slippery and very wet; check district orders
• October to February: the best all-round season, clear and cool
• March to mid-May: hot; trek early or at night
• Late May to early June: firefly season

08What to Carry

• Three litres of water on the Karjat route; there is little on the way up
• A headlamp with spare batteries for any night plan
• Rain gear and a change of dry clothes in the monsoon
• Cash for the homestay and food
• Insect repellent and a basic first aid kit