Forts
Ahivantgad
Bhimashankar
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Bitangad
Chavand
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Gorakhgad
Hadsar
Harishchandragad
Jivdhan
Kalsubai
Karnala
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Maps
Karjat Region
Nasik Region
Igatpuri Region
Malshej Ghat Region
Lonavala Region
Pune Region
Satara Region
Trekking
Material
Harishchandragad
 At a Glance
Trek Harischandragad
Alias -
Type Hill Fort
District Ahmednagar
Height above mean sea level 4510 feet
Base Village Khireshwar
Minimum Duration 2 Days
Region Malshej
Transport Kalyan to Khubi Phata by bus and then Khubi Phata to Khireshwar (4 km) walk
Time to reach the top About 3 1/2 hrs from the base
Water Availability Water cistern are available at the top
Best season to visit Any Time
Sights to visit Number of Caves, About 100 years old temple of Lord Shiva, Kokan Kada ,  a big Shivlinga
Difficulty Rating Simple
Shelter Caves at the top
 Location

Tolar KhindIt is one of the ancient forts in Western ghats and is a dream trek to be undertaken atleast once (some of us might have visited Harishchandragad four-five times)

Harishchandragad situated at the top of Malshej Ghat is about 91 Km. from Kalyan. Kalyan is a main railway junction and one can easily reach kalyan by railway. From Kalyan one can board a state transport bus going through Malshej Ghat. S.T. bus will drop you at Khubi Phata, from Khubi Phata its an hour walk to Khireshwar, the base village. Actual climbing is from Khireshwar to Tolar Khind (about 1 hour climbing. After Tolar Khind there is a rock patch. Precaution and easy steps see you through it. Once the rock patch is gone it is a simple walk up and down small hills to the caves. Harishchandragad is necessarily a two day trek , one can do the overnight stay in the caves, which are clean and well maintained

 
 Precaution
Rock Patch after Tolar Khind Carry ample amount of water from Khireshwar. After Khireshwar there are no water sources in the way till you get to the caves. The best season to visit Harishchandragad is winter especially the months of December and January. One should carry warm clothing's as its really cold at night. Lunch, dinner and snacks are also available at the top.
 
 Sight Seeing
Ganesh idol in the temple atop Harishchandragad

The major attraction of Harishchandragad is Kokan Kada . Its beyond description, one should actually see it to experience the nature's architecture. Konkan kada should be visited in the evening as well as morning. In evening one is enchanted by the sunset where as in the morning one can experience the divine feeling of being in the heavens. Taramati and Rohidas , the two peaks atop Harishchandragad, are also worth visiting as they offer beautiful views of the sahyadri ranges. The ancient temple of Lord Shiva atop Harishchandragad is also good sight for observing. An ancient temple and the caves present at the base village Khireshwar are also worth seeing.

Please follow the link to download the map of Harishchandragad. This map has been provided by courtesy of Mr. Mahesh Chengalva.

 
 More photographs
Cave atop HarischandragadFor more photographs follow this link
 
 Note
   All references regarding duration of trek and transport are given with respect to Kalyan
 Contact
   cdeepan@gmail.com                        Deepan Ashok Choudhary
   abhijit.avalaskar@gmail.com            Abhijit Ulhas Avalaskar
   Last updated on : 1st Dec 2005