Tung Fort

Tung Fort, also known as Kathingad, is a hill fort in Pune District, Maharashtra, situated on the banks of Pawna Lake near Lonavala. Built before 1600 CE by the Adil Shahi dynasty and captured by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in 1656 CE, it served primarily as a strategic watchtower guarding routes to Pune. The fort stands at an elevation of 1,075 meters and offers panoramic views of Pawna Reservoir and neighboring forts like Lohagad, Visapur, Tikona, and Korigad.

Visitors can expect a steep but short trek of approximately one hour from Tungwadi village to reach the fort summit. The site features historic fortifications including the Maha Darwaja gateway, rock-cut water cisterns, a Ganpati temple, and the Tungai Devi Temple. The narrow summit ridge provides 360-degree views of Pawna Lake and surrounding Sahyadri peaks. Facilities are limited, with no toilets or food stalls on the fort itself, though parking is available at the base village.

Built before 1600 CE by the Adil Shahi dynasty, Tung Fort was captured by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in 1656 CE during Maratha expansion. It functioned as a watchtower guarding routes between the Deccan plateau and Konkan coast, accommodating only about 200 troops. The Dhamale family, hereditary deshmukhs of Maval, were entrusted with its security. Under the Treaty of Purandar in 1665, it was briefly surrendered to Mughals but later recovered by Marathas. The fort came under British control in 1818 during the Third Anglo-Maratha War.

The fort houses the Tungai Devi Temple, dedicated to the presiding deity of the fort, which remains an important landmark for both trekkers and local villagers. Hero stones and memorial stones collected from the surrounding countryside are displayed at the trek start, preserving regional archaeological heritage. The name Kathingad (difficult fort) reflects its challenging terrain in Marathi cultural memory.