Gorakhgad Fort

Gorakhgad Fort is a historic hill fort located in the Sahyadri range of Thane district, Maharashtra, approximately 24 km from Murbad. Named after Saint Gorakhnath, it served as a meditation site for hermits and a strategic watchtower guarding the ancient trade route between Junnar and Naneghat during the Maratha era. The fort features rock-cut water cisterns, caves with square pillars, and a Shiva temple at the summit, offering panoramic views of the surrounding region.

Visitors can expect a moderate to challenging trek through forested trails leading to ancient fort ruins atop a 2,130-foot peak. The site includes rock-cut water cisterns, a spacious cave with square pillars, and a small Mahadev temple at the summit. Trekkers encounter steep climbs with gradients reaching 90 degrees and are rewarded with 360-degree views of Ahupe Ghat, Siddhagad, and Macchindragad. Basic facilities like potable water cisterns exist on the trail, but food and supplies must be arranged at Dehri village.

Gorakhgad Fort was strategically important during the reign of Shahaji Raje and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as a surveillance point and stopover on the Junnar-Naneghat trade route. Originally a meditation site for Saint Gorakhnath and hermits, it later served as a war camp and watchtower for various dynasties governing the Deccan-Konkan passage. The fort's twin, Macchindragad, is named after Gorakhnath's disciple.

The fort holds religious significance as a historic meditation site associated with Saint Gorakhnath, a revered yogi in the Nath tradition. A Shiva temple at the summit and another at the base continue to serve as spiritual landmarks for trekkers and devotees visiting the Sahyadri region.