Ratangad Fort

Ratangad Fort, Bhandardara, is a famous tourist attraction in Maharashtra. The fort is a part of the Ratanwadi heritage sites in Maharashtra. This is situated near the Western Ghats and it is believed that the fort is 2000 years old. You will find four gates in these forts. They are Konkan, Trimbak, Hanuman and Ganesh. You can see the sky from the rock cavity that is present in the fort. It is known as the eye of the needle or Nedhe. The rivers, Amrutavahini and Pravara originated from this fort.

History

Ratangad Fort, Bhandardara, is about 2000 years old. This fort has an amazing history behind it and one must visit this fort during their Maharashtra tour. People say that this fort was captured by the famous Maratha King, Chattrapati Shivaji Raje Bhosle.

Things to Do

Near Ratangad Fort, Bhandardara, you will get other tourist locations as well, like the Amruteswar temple. This temple will take you back in the Hemadpant ages. Along with this, there are several other places as well where you can visit like the Bhandardara hillside gateway.

While you are in Bhandardara, you can choose to have a trip to the Ghatghar, Sandhan Valley, Radha Falls and Arthur Lake. These places are must and one of a kind. You can also pay a visit to the Agasthya Rishi Ashram. This Ashram is famous and is mentioned in the epic text named Ramayana. You will have an amazing and memorable tour if you visit Bhandardara as this place is a mixed bag of various tourism places. You will get hills to villages, resorts to lakes and forts to temple, everything in this place.

There are several travel companies online which offers amazing deals and packages for Maharashtra tour.

Best Time to Visit Ratangad Fort, Bhandardara

You can visit Bhandardara at any time of the year but it unveils its amazing and spellbinding charm mainly in the monsoon months. Starting from June till September Bhandardara experiences rainfall. The climate during this time is breezy and cool and opposed to the summer when it is humid and hot. The temperature range is between the 20-30 degree celsius. Therefore, the months from June until March is the ideal time for you to visit Bhandardara. You can witness the amazing and breath-taking sights during this time.

Winter

Winter season is an amazing time for you to visit Bhandardara. Starting from October to February, you can plan and visit this outstanding place. During this time the temperature falls to nearly 10 degree Celsius. The cosy and pleasant weather attracts people from all around the country to spend a day or two. This place has a peaceful surrounding and lush greenery which you can enjoy with your friends and family. The cold breeze of winter adds on to the enchantment of this beautiful place.

In winter the days become shorter so you might not get ample amount of sunlight to visit different places and explore the tourist’s sites thoroughly in a day. During this time you can also see the migratory birds. You should carry warm woollen clothes along with you to keep yourself warm.

Visit this place for its amazing scenic beauty and the lush green hills. The clear blue skies and the dazzling lakes are perfect sights. The waterfalls are like a cherry on the cake.

Monsoon

From June till September, Bhandardara experiences monsoon season. The place becomes beautiful and the beauty enriches due to the advancing of monsoon. The temperature during this time is perfect and it ranges from 20-30 degree celsius. You can choose to visit this time as you won’t have to suffer in the scorching heat and still there will be plenty of sunlight to explore different tourist spots and locations.

You can also choose to have a picnic with your friends and family near the Bhandardara Lake or visit the famous Wilson Dam. Also, you can go and witness the beautiful Radha Waterfalls, the sight is something you would not want to miss.

Summer

In Bhandardara, the summers are not so appealing. In the summer seasons, the temperature can rise to 35-degree Celsius. Though the nights are cold, during the day, especially in the afternoon, the temperature rises and make it uncomfortable for you to head out. This limits the enjoyment and you cannot witness the pristine and pure beauty of the amazing hills.

Summers begin in March and ends in May. After this, there are chances of a light shower which will help things to be a bit better. This season is usually considered as offseason. This time is best if you have a tight budget. You can bargain and have a tour in your limited budget. People who love trekking and camping with their squad can visit Bhandardara during this time.

How to Reach?

This place is well-connected to the other states of India. There are regular buses which ply to and from the city of Bhandardara. You will get both government and private buses for this place. Though there are no direct rail or flight connectivity, the nearest airport is Mumbai airport. Igatpuri is the nearest railway station to Bhandardara which is around 42 kilometres away.

By Air

As mentioned earlier, the Mumbai airport is the nearest airport to Bhandardara. It is around 177 kilometres away. You can hire a cab and taxis from the airport to reach Ratangad Fort, Bhandardara. Pune airport is also near, it is about 79 kilometres from Bhandardara.

By Road

Mumbai is around 180 kilometres away from Bhandardara. It can be accessed through NH3 followed by a right turn from Ghoti toll post. You have to travel for the next thirty kilometres from Ghoti and you will reach your destination. Bhandardara to Pune is 175 kilometres and can be accessed by NH50 up to Ghargaon. From there you can take the SH 21 and reach Bhandardara.

By Train

The nearest railway station to Bhandardara is Igatpuri. It lies in the Mumbai to Nashik rail route. It is 45 kilometres away from Bhandardara. You can choose a taxi or a state bus to reach your destination.

There are several local modes of transport available for you to reach Ratangad Fort, Bhandardara.