Bhairavgad is one of Maharashtra’s most strenuous treks, and only experienced trekkers should attempt it.
The trek distance one way is approximately 5kms and will take around 3-4 hours to complete, with breaks in between.
The trek starts from the National Highway itself; once you reach the start point, you can see a main entry gate for the hike. Click here to see the start point on Google Maps.
There are two distinct parts of the trek: From the start point to Machi & then from Machi to the fort.
Start Point to Machi:
The first part of the trail is through a forest, and there are various diversions on the route; hence there is a slight possibility of getting lost; however, if you have a guide, this should be fine.
This part of the trek is relatively easy but requires good stamina as there are some steep ascends on the trail. It will take around 2 hours to reach the Bhairavmachi from the start.
Machi to the top of the fort:
This part of the trek is tricky yet very thrilling. One needs to be very focused on the rock-cut steps as the steps are very small and are more exposed and steep.
At the halfway point, there is a small cave where you can rest for a while; till this point, you will not require any ropes.
However, after this comes to the overhang patch, where there are no steps and the rock curves out, making it difficult to get a grip on the wall. It is necessary to have an experienced trekker or a guide who can help you with the ropes and climb this patch.
The last section of the trek has tiny steps again; after you finish, you reach the top. The top of the fort is like a ridge, and it’s a minimal area; hence camping and staying here for a long duration is impossible.
The tricky part is descending again on the same rock steps; you should be very careful while going down. It would help if you took your time and went down at a slow and easy pace.