Hike to PEB FORT ( VIKATGAD): Exploring Matheran Hills
HIKE TO PEB FORT ( VIKATGAD)
Peb Fort is another beautiful hiking spot Matheran Hills. Walking along the railway track in foggy weather and crossing through many seasonal waterfalls makes this trek unique and popular amongst the hikers and adventure lovers of Mumbai and Pune. This railway track then gradually leads you to a beautiful Fort known as “Peb Fort” This fort is also known as Vikatgad Fort and attracts many hikers and nature lovers during Weekends especially during the Monsoon season. The top of the fort offers 360 views of the entire Matheran Hill range.
I could not find much of background history about this fort except the Fort was named after the Peb Devi and Shivaji Maharaj used to store the food grain and ammunition in the fort cave and some elderly locals told me that it used to be a watchtower as well.
- Fort Type: Hill Fort
- District: Raigad
- Trek Difficulty - Medium
- Nearest station: Neral
- Status: Ruined
- Height: 2100 feet
- Monsoon/September to February
How to reach: Peb Fort
There are two routes to approach the Peb fort.
1. Matheran toy train route: The easiest and most convenient trek route is via the Toy train track route. The nearest railway station to Peb Fort is Neral Station. For Mumbai Hikers, take a Karjat bound local train and get down at Neral Station. For Pune Hikers, catch any Mumbai bound train and get down at Karjat. From there catch a CST-bound local train from Karjat and get down at Neral. Have your power breakfast outside the Neral station and take a shared Taxi for Matheran(INR 80per person).You can ask the driver to drop you at the start point of Peb Fort trek ( 134 NM) if you have not booked the full taxi. The hike starts from the 134 NM via train track route until you reach 154 NM. From there you have to leave the track route and start descending down towards the Peb fort. After the short descend, one has to ascend for around half an hour to reach the Fort top where there is a temple. In Monsoon, the descending route is a bit steep and slippery, you have to walk cautiously. There is a two iron ladder on the way. The first one is a short and shaky ladder while descending. And another one located near the top where we have to ascent towards the top. During the monsoon season, you may have to wait long to get your turn to ascend or descent this ladder. There is no other way to reach the fort top. There is a temple on the top of the fort.
2. Aanand wadi/Fanaswadi route: This route is more difficult than the first route. From Neral station, you can take a shared auto to reach Annand wadi which is around 3-4 km. You can also walk all the way to base village. But I may not recommend it. Because it will simply tire you and lose your time until and unless you are super fit and can walk fast. As a result, you may get less time to enjoy the view on the fort top. The trek route to reach the Peb Fort from the village is a bit confusing and one has to follow the electric poles which guide you to the correct path. If you are not sure about the route or going for the first time, I would strongly recommend you take a local guide along with you or join another group if you find any. It will take 3 hours to complete this trek.
Time for a group photo.Smile, please...
My Journey to Peb Fort
My Journey to Peb Fort was amazing as all my other Sahyadri treks. I did this memorable hike with the Nomad Adventure under the trek leader Kunal Sunkad. Kunal is one of the young Maharashtrian Hiker who is well versed with Sahyadri Hills. Very sensitive and responsible pro-hiker. Obviously, I do not have to worry much about the trek route and other stuff. When I am going with him.
When he asked me to join this trek, I was happy to join him. I did most of the hike in Sahyadri with Nomad Adventure. He knows that I am a Monsoon hiker. I love hiking during the Monsoon in Sahyadri. Hiking Sahyadri in monsoon gives you a different experience due to lush green and the weather becomes cool and romantic.
We took the Matheran Toy train route. We always start early by taking the first Karjat bound local train from thane and got down at Neral. We had a power breakfast at Neral taxi station, bought water bottles and we took a taxi, Hence we have good numbers, so our trek leader has arranged two taxies up to 134 NM(starting point of Peb fort hike). No need to wait for others to join you. I was pretty excited when kunai briefed us about the trail route through the Toy train track. It is so amazing walking along the railway trek and surrounded by dense forest. The weather was also favorable,
I was so excited to see so many seasonal waterfalls on the way. After 45 minutes of easy walk, we reached the point called 154 NM. It is near the big Ganesh Idol. From there the actual trial begins and is a bit challenging especially for the beginners. We have to go off the track and take stairs down to start descending towards the Peb fort. There are many patches where it is very slippery and risky.
1st iron shaky ladder( while descending)
We met many random hikers who were struggling to get down. After descending comes a short straight narrow trail that is equally risky, very slippery and no support. So you have to walk very carefully and take each other’s help. Further ahead starts the ascend which takes you to the 2nd Iron ladder section. There is no other way than climbing the ladder section and from thereafter 20 minutes of the climb will reach the topmost point of the fort where a temple dedicated to Swami Samartha is located.
Risky Trek patch
The weather was quite favorable to give us enough window to enjoy the breath-taking views of Matheran Hill ranges. I was mesmerized to see the Lush green landscape and decorated by beautiful white fog floating above the land. You can actually feel like flying at that moment.
2nd Ladders
We removed our wet shoe took a quick temple Dharshan and thank the Goddess for this opportunity. We sat in the corner on the other side of the temple and had our pack lunch while enjoying the 360 views. It was quite windy on the top. Fogs keep blocking your views in between. The rain stopped for some time.
Almost there on the top
As I mentioned earlier that our trek leader was an experienced guy, after almost 60 minutes, he gave us the signal to get ready for the return journey because there were many other groups are there on the top with us. So the descending the ladder section will be the problem. Since it is one way. We immediately understood the signal and pack our stuff and left the top. Luckily we didn’t have to wait much to descend the ladder section as there were only two groups were descending. So we quickly got down through the ladder and proceed further
Breathtaking view from the top
. While returning back, we met a guy on the way who got Angle sprain due to slipped while descending. He was struggling to walk through and his partner is tired of helping him. I realized that he did not wear the proper hiking shoe. He wore Crocs Sandal. And denim pants. This how we invite trouble by ourselves by not wearing the right shoe. However, we helped him to give our support to walk up to a certain point, and then we had to move ahead. Because we were also tired ascending and long way go back. Our leader put a spray to reduce the pain. We went ahead assuming that others will also offer their help.
While returning, we took a Ganesh Dharshan from the track. No energy to go down up to the idol.
We retuned back to the 134 NH from the same route after taking few pictures.
From there we got a taxi to Neral after few minutes of waiting. We returned back with no injuries and lots of good memories. It was truly a rejuvenating trip. A well spends weekend.
TIPS:
- September is the ideal time to visit the Peb Fort
- A good raincoat is a must during Monsoon
- Put your purse, watch, power bank in a plastic bag
- A good hiking shoe and the comfortable cloth is a must
- Avoid wearing cotton and woolen cloths during monsoon
- Respect the culture and the religion of the area
- Smoking and drinking is not allowed
- Respect the nature
- Carry your trash back to the city
- Start early and be alert with the traffic status at the 2nd ladder section while ascending and descending. A long queue will waste your time.
- Always hike responsibly.
Contact: For traditional Meal, Breakfast, Light Snacks at Sangachiwadi village: For lunch, pls order in advance.
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