Kothaligad is a fort situated near Karjat. The is very popular for Trekking among youngsters. The most favorable time to visit is at the start of the monsoon or end of monsoon. For all the nature lovers, this is your paradise. It is an amazing place to be.
Accessibility
By Train - you can get a train up to Karjat station after that its either bus or jeeps.
By Bus - you can get a bus till Karjat and from there you have to get another bus which will take you till the trek point.
By road - you can either hire a private car or take your own car. There is paid parking available at the start point.
After you have reached the "start point" its walking. Even though you can take a vehicle up(most tourist don’t) I would recommend walking/trekking.
Local Sightseeing
The trek is a bit long till the fort’s base.It takes around 3 hours to reach the base. The Fort’s base is situated in the Peth village, beacause of which it is also called "Fort Of Peth". From the village, its another hour or so climb to the top. There is a Temple at the top and a water pond. The water tastes very nice and is very refreshing after the long trek.
There is nothing else to see around here. The only reason people come here is for the trek and for the amazing view of the surrounding mountains. The place is must visit during monsoon. Even though the climb is long and tiring, its not a difficult one. The climb is easy but a long one.
The view from the top is amazing and totally WORTH all the climb.
Hotels/Accommodation
There are no hotels here. You can have a nice meal at the homes of the villagers who cater for the tourists. It is a simple everyday meal. No menu. You eat what you get and you don’t mind as its all part of the experience. The meals are not exactly very delicious or what you get at restaurants but they consist of everyday comfort food.
You also get refreshing lemonade after you start climbing the fort from the base. There are many villagers selling lemonade at different points of the trek and its fresh and really rejuvenating.
Safety
The place is totally safe and local people are very helpful. I would recommend not walking too much along the edges as it can be risky.
Take care of your own belongings.