| Re: Around Pune : Go SLO - Shivneri, Lenyadri, Ozar
I visited Shivneri fort on Saturday. From Kothrud, it is 99km, and it still took 2.5 hours. The directions are very clear. Pune - Narayangaon, and then the sign boards lead you all the way. The first signboard I spotted was right after crossing the Narayangaon town, and it was a better choice. The other road passes right through the heart of the town, and is not advised.
The cars can drive about half-way to the top, and there road-side paid parking available. From the parking place, it is a slow, winding climb (around 450 steps). Once you reach the top, it is more or less flat.
It took us good three hours to complete the walk around the fort. The birth place of Shivaji Maharaj is at the other end of the fort, from the main gate.
There are no eateries on the fort, and I did not find many decent places nearby. So it is a good idea to carry packed lunch with you. There are some good shaded places on the top where you can have your own lunch.
We had also planned to visit Lenyadri and Ojhar, but the kids were really tired, and somone told us that Lenyadri was another 350 steps climb, and that settled the discussion. We drove back home!
On the way back, the vagaries of traveling on Pune-Nashik road hit us, almost! There was a head-on collision of an ST bus with a truck, and another truck and an omni behind the truck had created a nice pile-up. At least, no one seemed hurt badly.
Luckily, ours was some 6th vehicle behind the pile-up, so we steered clear in 10 min or so, but the Nashik-bound traffic had already stacked up for half a km! | 
19th June 2013, 10:59
