Kohoj fort is situated near the village of Vaghote. You can see it from Manor-Wada highway. Kohoj fort is less explored than many around it. It is one of the forts which were not taken care of and now only the ruins remain of it. The trek to Kohoj fort is very tiring and unmarked at some places. It is a medium grade trek to reach this place, With a height of 3200 feet above sea level.
Kohoj fort was built 800 years ago and belongs to the Bhoj dynasty, which the Portuguese captured in the 16th century. Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj captured this fort soon after. But this fort was part of the treaty where Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj surrendered 22 forts to Mughals on 11 June 1965. The Peshwa captured this fort again in 1737. In the end, this fort remained under British rule and was completely destroyed in the battles that it saw, and later lack of care and was abandoned for many years.
What to do at Kohoj fort?
Explore Shelte Lake
After you start the trek towards Kohoj fort, just 15 mins on the way you will come to a nice lake with a great view of the kohoj fort. You can make a camp down near the lake or take a dip in the water. The view of this lake is amazing in the early morning. But since there is a huge mountain in front of the lake on the west side the sunset is not visible from this lake. So I would suggest you reach here by sunrise and enjoy this location. Once you reach the top of the mountain you can see that this lake is in the shape of a heart.
High Endurance trek to the Kohoj Fort
From the Shelte lake, it’s a two and a half hour trek to Kohoj fort. In case of doubt check for white arrow marks on the rocks to find the path to the top which is made by locals and trekkers. In the rains, the path becomes a bit treacherous but the views on the way get better and better along with some waterfalls. If you go here in the months of November or early December then the trek is much easier and the scenery nearly the same. But the afternoon sun is a bummer once you reach the top.
Check out Water Tanks on Kohoj Fort
There are over 9 water tanks on the Fort. But nothing like the name suggests these water tanks are made out of stone and only 1 or 2 of these tanks hold potable water depending on the time of the year you visit this place. I would still suggest you not drink this water and carry your own on the trek.
Take Blessings at 5 temples on top of the Kohoj fort
Experience serenity at 5 temples on top of the Kohoj fort, which are two Hanuman temples, one Lord Shiva temple, one Radhe Krishna temple, and one Kohoj Devi temple. Though very small in size these temples gather a good number Of crowds on the days of a few festivals from the nearby villages. If you visit here on some such occasions you might be able to take part in the puja on top of this mountain.
Climb on the Man shaped pinnacle on top of Kohoj fort
On the Topmost part of the Fort, there is a rock formation that is shaped like a man due to continuous corrosion due to wind and rain. You can climb on top of it if it’s not raining as it could get really slippery.
Food options near Kohoj Fort
There are a few homemade food options available in the Vaghote village. There are no restaurants nearby. And the closest you can find something is in the village of Manor. Or a Dhaba on the highway. But I would suggest you get your own food and water to this place, and make sure that is it enough to last you a long time as the trek gets really tiresome and will dehydrate you and take up a lot of energy.
How to reach Kohoj Fort
Travel to Kohoj fort By Air
Mumbai airport is the nearest to this location.
From the airport, the distance to this place is around 89km.
Travel to Kohoj fort By Train
Palghar station is the closest station near to this fort and has multiple options to reach the fort the distance from Palghar station to Kohoj fort is around 31km
Travel to Kohoj fort By Road
If you are coming from Palghar station you can catch a bus near the station to Wada and get down at the Vaghote village. The trek starts from this village itself. Or you can catch a rickshaw from Palghar station and get down at Vaghote village.
If you are coming in a private vehicle from Mumbai then get on the Mumbai Ahmedabad highway and from Manor take a right turn under the bridge towards Wada. At around 10 kilometres on manor Wada road, you will reach Vaghote village. You can get the car 100 meters inside the trail and park there. Before Shelte village. Follow the path marked on google maps to follow the trail to the lake.
Best time to visit Kohoj fort
The best time to do any trek is one month into the monsoon in India. If it’s raining you can catch a few waterfalls on your trek to the fort. The weather is cooler just make sure there is no storm in weather predictions. As the trek could go from nice to devastating in no time. The lake is full of water at the time. It’s safe to get into the lake near the dam as there is a gradual slope at that point in the water.
Places to stay nearby
Though it’s a small trip from the city if you wish to stay nearby, unwind a day before and have an early start to this place there are a few resorts and villas near Vaghote village and Manor
- Dani resort
- Aaji Aajoba che gav Resort
- Ambhai farmhouse
- Mayurvan club and holiday resort
- Hotel Taj inn
- Silent hill resort
FAQ
- Can I find a guide to reach Kohoj fort?
you can ask locals in Vaghote village they can provide you with a guide from the village if you are not sure about the route check with the charges beforehand.
- What are the bus timings from palghar to Vaghote village?
First Bus from Palghar starts at 7.20 am towards Wada with half an hour intervals.
- How much time does it take to reach the top of the Kohoj fort?
It takes around 3 hours to reach the top of Vaghote village.
- Is a parking facility available at the base of the fort?
Search for the road from Vaghote village to shelte village on that road around 100 meters inside you can park its slight offroad bt even a small vehicle can easily go through. Once inside there is a small clearing where you can park your vehicle.
- Can I find the way to the fort on my own?
The path is now marked by the locals and frequent trekkers with white arrows on rocks at regular intervals. And google maps also have the trail marked properly but make sure you have pre-downloaded the maps for the location as the network is not available at most places. If you are not a regular trekker or are in doubt you can always get a guide from the Vaghote village
- Can we do camping at Kohoj fort and Shelte lake?
There Are no camping services available at this location but you can get your own tent and camp at the lake and the fort by yourself. Do this only if you know how to as this location is very remote and isolated so you won’t find anything here at night. There is no shelter to put the tent under and the wind on the fort gets real high so make sure you have the proper equipment to make a camp