malhargad Fort / Sonori Fort
Maharashtra is famous for its forts, with over 365 located in the Sahyadri mountain range. Each fort has its own unique history and story of glory. Malhargad, known as the “Last Fort Built by the Marathas,” was constructed in 1760. Located in the base village of Sonori, it is also known as Sonori Fort. The fort is about 30 km from Pune.
malhargad Fort History
Malhargad was built in 1760 by Peshwa Sardar Krishnaji Madhavrao Panse, who was the chief in charge of the Tofkhana (Cannon Department) of the Peshwas. In Sonori, the Panse wada (residence) is still in good condition. This wada houses temples dedicated to Lord Gajanana and Lord Laxmi-Narayana. The fort is named after God Malhari, with a temple dedicated to him at the top of the fort.this fort was built to keep watch over Dive Ghat along the Pune-Saswad routes.
Malhargad Fort Journey
Late on a Friday evening, my friend and I decided to visit a new place. We found Malhargad Fort, which is just 25 km from my house. Despite living in Pune for 20 years, I had never heard of this fort before, as more famous forts like Sinhgad, Rajgad, Torna, and Purandar usually come to mind.
We woke up at 4:30 AM and left home by 5 AM. The weather was perfect for a morning ride. We headed towards Malhargad via the Dive Ghat-Saswad road. After a 30-minute ride, we reached the top of Dive Ghat, where we enjoyed the view of Mastani Lake and an aerial view of Pune city.
At Dive Ghat, we saw the Vitthal murti, which is the tallest Vitthal murti in Pune. After taking blessings and some photos, we continued our journey using Google Maps. When we reached the base of the fort, we encountered vehicle charges of ₹20 for two-wheelers. We asked the gate person where to park our bike, and he told us we could either park at the base and trek for 30 minutes or ride up to the Chor Darwaja. We chose to ride up.
We walked to the other end of the fort to watch the magical sunrise. The golden rays hitting the fort’s stones felt like nature was spreading its magic on Malhargad Fort. Those sun rays felt like golden rays, which I think is why the base village is named Sonori (meaning gold in Marathi).
After enjoying the sunrise, we started exploring the fort. Malhargad is triangular, with strong bastions at each corner in excellent condition. Inside the MahaDarwaja, we saw two temples—one dedicated to Lord Shiva and the other to Lord Malhari.
After taking blessings, we visited the almost-ruined bale killa, where a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj stands, adding to the beauty of the fort.
There are two wells on the fort, one near the Chor Darwaja and the other close to the temples. A large water tank is also present to store water. The walls (buruj) of this fort still stand strong, and there are also houses with only walls remaining, indicating their ruined conditions. Additionally, one underground room was found, which might have been used to store food or weapons.
Furthermore, there is a small snack center on the fort, run by a village person, which provides snacks to visitors. They offer pohe, wadapav, and hot tea. We ate pohe and had hot tea to recharge ourselves before continuing our exploration of the fort. It takes about an hour to explore the fort. From the top, we could clearly see Purandar Fort and Vajragad Fort, as well as aerial views of Sonori village and Saswad city. We saw a large saffron flag (Bhagwa) hosted on the other side of the fort—the tallest I have seen on any fort. From this point, we could see the entire fort and the Sahyadri mountain range.
After spending two hours on the fort, we started our journey back home.
We said goodbye to Malhargad Fort with happy memories and stories of the past in our hearts and minds. Located in the Sahyadri highlands, this hidden jewel exemplifies Maharashtra’s enduring spirit. When we walked away from its historic walls, we carried not only photos, but a deep appreciation for our heritage.
How to reach Malhargad Fort
Via Zendewadi Village:
From the Pune-Sasvad route, take a detour at Dive Ghat towards Zendewadi village, which is about 2 kilometers from the main road. This village is known for its numerous Zendu plantations. After passing through Zendewadi, head towards a cleft in the landscape. Malhargad Fort remains out of sight until you reach this cleft. From here, it takes approximately half an hour to reach the well-fortified Malhargad.
Via Sonori Village:
Sonori village is located about 6 kilometers from Sasvad. There are three daily buses that travel from Sasvad to Sonori. Malhargad Fort is visible from Sonori village. To reach the fort, follow the ridge of the hill and move along the side of the tower until you arrive at the entrance door.
Timining and Entry fees
Malhargad Fort is accessible to visitors daily from 5:00 AM to 7:00 PM. There is an entry fee for vehicles: ₹20 for two-wheelers and ₹50 for four-wheelers. These fees help maintain the fort and ensure a pleasant experience for all visitors.
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