Achala Fort is a westernmost fort in the Satmala hill range near Nashik.
The fort is adjoining the Ahivant Fort, and if that wasn’t enough, the Achala and Mohandar forts were constructed to guard the Ahivant fort. Talk about teamwork!
According to Captain Briggs, the ascent up the large hill is very easy until you reach the top, where it becomes very steep. So, be prepared to put in some effort to reach the top, but trust us, the view from up there is worth it.
Once you reach the top, you’ll see a few ruins of buildings, storehouses, and water tanks that give you a glimpse into the fort’s past. It takes about half an hour to encircle the fort, and there must have been some lakes and small temples in the ramparts. Who knows, maybe you’ll even discover some hidden treasures!
The history of the fort is also quite interesting. It was under the control of Adilshah in 1636, but then the Moghul Emperor Shahjahan sent his General Shaista Khan to win all the forts in Nashik region. Alivardikhan, Shaista Khan’s cavalier, won the fort for the Moghuls. But, in 1670, King Shivaji swooped in and won the fort from the Moghuls. Talk about taking back what’s yours!
However, in 1818, the fort was surrendered to Colonel Briggs along with 17 other forts after the fall of Trymbak fort.
The nearest town is Vani, which is 44 km from Nashik, and the base village of the fort is Dagad Pimpri, which is 13 km from Vani. And don’t worry, there are good hotels at Vani if you need to rest before your trek.
The trekking path starts from the hillock north of the Dagad Pimpri and takes about an hour to reach the column between the two forts. And if you’re wondering about the night stay, unfortunately, you can’t stay on the fort due to the lack of potable water. But don’t worry, the villagers from the local village make night stay and food arrangements at a reasonable cost.
So, what are you waiting for? Grab your backpack and head to Achala Fort for an adventure you won’t forget!
In 1636 this fort was under the control of Adilshah. The Moghul Emperor Shahjahan send one of his General Shaista Khan and entrusted to win all the forts in Nashik region. Alivardikhan was cavalier of Shaista Khan who won the Fort. In 1670 king Shivaji Maharaj won the fort from Moghuls. The Moghul Emperor Aurangzeb sent his chieftain Mahabat Khan to win the fort. Mahabat Khan and DilerKhan opened battle front from either side of the fort. The attack was so fierce that the Ahivant fort was surrendered to Moghuls. Subsequently, the Achala fort was also surrendered. In 1818 the fort was surrendered to Colonel Briggs along with other 17 forts after the fall of Trymbak fort.
recommended nearby places
Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve
It is hard to imagine as you drive through these forests that this area was originally home to powerful kings…
