Tung Fort is a hill fort in Pune District, India. It is also known as Kathingad meaning difficult in Marathi. It can be seen as a dominating peak from the Pawna dam and Pawna lake.
History
According to historical references, Tung Fort was built before 1600 CE. It was eventually captured by Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj but was constructed by the Adil Shahi dynasty. Tung Fort is small, and not able to hold more than 200 troops at a time. It would not have been able to defend itself on its own for a long time.
Owning to it’s sheer shape and structure it was used as a watchtower to guard the road to Pune city. One of the Deshmukh from the Maval region, the Dhamale family, was charged with ensuring the security of Tung Fort. It served to provide a temporary distraction for invaders, during any attack. Thus giving enough time to the major forts of Visapur and Lohagad to prepare themselves to meet the invaders. A lot of area in the Maval region of the Pawana and Mulshi valleys can be seen, and thus, from the top of the fort, a watch on these areas can be kept.
Geography
Tung Fort stands tall at a height of 1075 m above sea level. Since Pawna dam was constructed, it is now surrounded by water on three sides. Tungi, the base village for the Tung fort trek can be reached via a ferry from the Pawna dam.
The fort is conical in shape and has a steep climb with a very narrow route on the edge of the mountain throughout the trail. It takes about a 400 metre climb if reaching this place from Pawna.
There is a Hanuman temple and a Tuljai devi temple on the fort. There are some water tanks as well. Tung fort trek offers spectacular views of various other forts in the Sahyadri Mountain Range like Lohagad, Visapur, Korigad and Tikona . One can see region of Maval, Pavana valley and Mulshi valley from top of this fort.
The trail
Tung fort trek route is an easy trail that takes you first to the Hanuman temple. There are rock cut steps beyond this. One comes across the main gate of the fort and one can find a temple of Lord Ganesh on the right side. Beyond this one can see a water cistern, an underground cave and a Tungi Devi Temple.
It takes about one hour to reach the top. The trail is easy and very prominent.
How to reach
Tungwadi is the base village to the Tung fort trek. Once you reach Lonavala, follow the route of Bhushi Dam-INS Shivaji-Peth Shahapur-Tungwadi.
You can take an ST bus going to Bhamburde or Ambavne village from Lonavala. One needs to get down at the Ghusalkhamb village and start walking towards Tungwadi. The distance between Ghusalkhamb and Tungwadi is 8 km and it takes 1.5 hours to reach.
If coming from the Tikona Peth village, an ST bus leaves to Kamshet-Morve bus from Tikona Peth at 11:00 am. Alight directly at Tungwadi village. It takes 40-50 minutes for this journey.
You can reach Tungwadi by taking a boat from Pawna dam. One can reach Tikona Peth village and walk towards Bramhnoli village via Kale colony. Then from Bramhnoli, catch a boat to Kevre Gaon. It takes 20-30 minutes to reach Tungwadi from Kevre.
Lonavala station is the closest railhead for the Tung fort trek.
