Koldurg

**Koldurg Fort: Trek & History** **Access:**1. **Plateau Route:** Take the Palashi – Banurgad road to the plateau left of the fort. 15-min walk to the fort. 2. **Shukracharya Temple Route (Bus Accessible):** Located in a cleft between two hills, this was the spiritual abode and shrine of Sage Shukracharya (son of Sage Vyas). Legend says Parikshit (Grandson of the Pandavas) received lessons on Bhagwat here.**Shukracharya Temple Highlights:** The temple is in dense trees with a year-round stream, small water tank, and two caves.1. **Temple to Open Ground (10 min):** Climb 10 steps past the water tank, follow the right path into the jungle, cross an easy rock patch to reach an open flat ground (Lord Dattatreya Temple here). 2. **Flat Ground to Fort:** Path splits behind Dattatreya Temple. Take the **right path** for Koldurg Fort (straight path goes to Kusbavde village). Proceed towards two houses. 3. **To Fort Entrance (30 min total from Temple):** The flat ground ends at the cleft between Koldurg fort and Kusbavde village (20 min from temple). Descend stairs (5 min) to enter the fort's south side fortification wall.**Fort Highlights:** * **Residential:** Houses belonging to the Chavan family remain. * **Fortification:** A fortified wall stands behind the houses, with a road cut through it leading to Palashi – Banurgad. Very few remains on the north side. * **Remnants:** Opposite the houses, find remnants of a Temple, Nandi, Veerghals, and a Satighal. * **Water/Land:** A lake on the lower side is now used for farming. * **View:** To the north, you can see Banurgad fort's temple.**Alternative Exit (Eastern Edge):** A proper path descends from the eastern edge (opposite the houses) to Hivtad village (10 min). Near the cow shed and ashram, stairs lead back to Shukracharya temple (5 min). **Easy Trek Time:** Shukracharya Temple to Koldurg Fort and back: 1 hr 30 minutes.