Balwantgad
Range
Trimbakeshwar
Altitude
192m
Difficulty
Medium
Explore Offline
Download the app for 3D offline navigation, interactive trail maps, and emergency SOS tools.
About Balwantgad
Balwantgad Fort: Built to watch the vital Thal pass (connecting Kasara & Igatpuri) and the Javhar to Trimbakeshwar route. Located on a broken hill opposite Thal pass.
Best time to visit
Visit anytime!
Places to See
Enter the fort via the devastated western wall. Fortifications here are simple stone piles. Look for remnants of the fort wall and platform. Follow the small central elevation. Past this, see stones covered in vermilion, known locally as Vetaal. Further on are remnants of two houses. Beyond the elevation, discover a Shiva linga, Nandi, and a sculpture of a person with a sword over a devil. Turn right for the large water tank (currently silted). From the elevated section, look west for views of the Mumbai-Agra highway, Railway line, and Kasara village. This watch tower-oriented fort offers vital regional views.
Journey & Transport
Time to Reach
45 min. from Vihigaon
How to Reach
GETTING THERE1. BY RAIL: Alight at Kasara station (local/passenger trains). Take S.T. buses or jeeps to Vihigaon, or alight at Maal junction. From Maal junction, follow the route to Maal village. Descend 1.5 km on the ghat road, then turn left onto an unpaved road. Look for a small unpaved road between milestones 1/400 & 1/600. This leads to the fort (10 min walk, devastated entrance). Jeeps from Kasara may also drop you at Balwantgad junction. 2. BY OWN VEHICLE: On the Mumbai-Agra highway, drive 3 km past Kasara ghat on Thal ghat. Take the left diversion towards Khodala village. Pass Vihigaon village and continue towards Maal village. Look for a small unpaved road between milestones 1/400 & 1/600. This route leads directly to the fort.
Facilities
- StayNo accommodation facilities available.
- FoodNo Food Available
- WaterNo water facility.