Type                               Dhodap fort is a hill fort     

Difficulty level              Dhodap fort is medium trek. 

Height                            Dhodap fort is 4750 ft (1452 Meter) above sea level.     

Base village / District / Taluka -  Hatti / Nashik / Kalwan, Maharashtra, India.

Dhodap fort may be Dhorapavanki which was with the Burhan Nizam Shah who died in the year 1553. A contradictory is with the name of the fort which might be 'Dharab' instead of the 'Dhodap' which was given to the Mughal general Allah-vardi Khan in the year 1635.

After the Mughal's fort went to the Peshvas after which they made the fort as chief in the Nashik region. Ragunathrav wanted to have the peshvaship to him in the year 1778.
He started his preparations to march to the peshwa with the support of Britishers, Nizam, and personally helped by the Holkar, Damaji Gaikvad, and Janoji Bhosle who were camped on the Dhodap fort. To project the junction of the base's troops by the raghunathrav, seeing this Madhav Rao marched to Dhodap fort.

Ragunathrav was brought to Poona in the Peshva palace. It was taken under the two subhedars Appaji Hari and Bajirav Appaji who held the Dhodap fort with around 1600 men on the fort. After this incident, Ajabsing and Sujkum, two Kshatriyas in Holkar's employ, attacked looted, and burnt the village, after which the village could never stand.

In the year 1818 peshvas got the fort without any struggle. In the same year, Captain Briggs visited the fort and mentioned that the fort was a with much strong artificial fortification walls. The fort had its way only from the town and the fort had many rock storehouses and a water supply.
The fort had enough ammunition and manpower such as 37 sibandis, a military store of about 1,590 matchlock balls, 2 lead pieces, and a large amount of gunpowder.

The fort has water with the idol of lord hanuman and a tunnel of width 5 m. Shembi is the cliff name which is on the fort. Another cliff which is called Ikhara is ideal for rock climbing. There are caves and temples which are in good condition.

A cow of stone is on the fort it is said that the cow of stone moves inside the hill and this takes place only on the day "Vasubaras" it moves with the distance of 4 grains. Trekkers plan both Achala and Ahivant in a single trek and a long trek includes Saptashringi, Markandya, Rawlya-Jawlya and Dhodap in the same range.

Time to reach the top

It takes 2 hour 30 min from base village of Dhodap fort. (Hatti)

Minimum Duration 

1-2 day.

Best time to visit the fort

Any time you can visit the Dhodap fort, but except summer season.

Water Availability 

Yes, water is available on Dhodap fort, therefore carry enough water while climbing on this fort.

Accommodation Availability

No, there is no accommodation available on the Dhodap fort, but you can live in base village.

Jagdamba Temple, Various Caves, Particular natural Wall, Water Cisterns, Entrance of the fort.

Way from Pune to Dhodap Fort

Pune to Dhodap By Bus

From Pune there are ST (State Transport) buses available to Nashik, distance between Pune to Nashik are 220 kms. From Nashik there are ST (State Transport) buses and local transport is available to Hatti (Base village of the Fort), distance between Nashik stations to Hatti (Base village of the fort) is only 9 kms.

Pune to Dhodap By Train

From Pune junction there are trains available to Nashik station, Pune junction to Nashik is around 220 kms, From Nashik there are ST (State Transport) buses and local transport is available to Hatti (Base village of the Fort), distance between Nashik stations to Hatti (Base village of the fort) is only 9 kms. 

Pune to Dhodap By Road

Route of Pune to Dhodap Fort 

Pune - Chakan - Manchar - Nashik - Malegaon Highway - Pimpalgaon - Vadalibhoi Village - Dhodambe - Hatti - Dhodap Fort.

Way from Mumbai to Dhodap Fort

Mumbai to Dhodap By Bus

From Mumbai there are ST (State Transport) buses and local transport available to Nashik, distance between Mumbai to Nashik are 167 kms, From Nashik there are ST (State Transport) buses and local transport is available to Hatti (Base village of the Fort), distance between Nashik stations to Hatti (Base village of the fort) is only 9 kms.

Mumbai to Dhodap By Train

From Mumbai there are trains available to Nashik, from Mumbai to Nashik is around 167 kms, From Nashik there are ST (State Transport) buses and local transport is available to Hatti (Base village of the Fort), distance between Nashik stations to Hatti (Base village of the fort) is only 9 kms. 

Mumbai to Dhodap By Road 

Route of Mumbai to Dhodap fort 

Mumbai - Kalyan - Asangaon - Nashik - Malegaon Highway - Pimpalgaon - Vadalibhoi Village - Dhodambe - Hatti - Dhodap Fort.

Achala Fort

Achala is a medium grade trek it is around 4040 ft from the sea level. Achala fort doesn't have history mentioned but seeing the area of the fort it is said that the fort was used as a watch tower.
On the fort there are water cisterns and a temple 30 mins are enough to see the whole fort. There are also water caves on the fort on is filled with water.

Saptashrugi

This fort stands at a height of 4600 ft above sea level and a medium-grade trek. This fort is also known as 'Wanicha Dongar' because of the temple of the goddess Jagdamba this goddess is popularly called as wani devi.

Goddess Jagdamba is among the "Three and a Half Shakti Peethas" in Maharashtra. Because of the temple on Wani Devi entry to the fort is prohibited. Accommodations here are the dormitories and guest houses. The water here is no problem it is available all year round.

Rawlya - Jawlya forts

These forts stand at a height of 3600 ft above sea level. Among the Rawlya - Jawlya, Rawlya is the hardest and toughest it requires rope. On the forts Rawlya there are only remnants of the houses and few water cisterns which are dried.

Jawlya is easier than the Rawlya. We can see some caves, water tanks and some water cisterns they do not have potable water. Form the fort Jawlya we can see forts such as Dhodap, Ikhara, Kanhergad, Kanchna and Indrai.

Both the forts have their shelters near the 'Tiwari' community. avoid monsoons to visit the fort. Markandya fort can also be planned with Rawlya-Jawlya if we have a private vehicle.

Gowalkot fort

Gowalkot Fort is spotted around 10 km from Chiplun and spreads a range of in excess of two sections of land of area. This fortification was developed in 1690 by Habshi of Janjira and was revamped by Chhatrapati Shivaji in 1670.It is as of now in vestiges and is secured by trees and structures.
The fortification lies on the Mumbai-Goa Highway and is around 250 km far from Mumbai city. It ignores the Vashishti River and can be arrived at by walking from Chiplun.