About The Event
About the Trek
Located near Karjat, the Sondai Fort Trek is an offbeat yet scenic destination perfect for adventure seekers. Just 9 km from Karjat Railway Station, this historic fort offers panoramic views of Morbe Dam, Matheran Range, Prabalgad, Irshalgad, Rajmachi, Songiri, and Karnala Fort.
Originally used as a watchtower to safeguard ancient trade routes, Sondai Fort is home to the Sondai Devi Temple at its summit. The trail features rock cut steps, ancient water cisterns, and an iron ladder that ensures a safe climb for trekkers and devotees alike. The base villages for the trek are Sondewadi and Wavarle, with Sondewadi located about a quarter of the way up the fort.
Trek Details
Base Village Sondewadi, Karjat
Region Karjat
Best Season Monsoon
Height 1200 ft 366 m above sea level
Difficulty Level Medium
Endurance Level Moderate
Trek Distance 1.5 km one way
Trek Duration 1.5 2 hours ascent
Total Trek Time Approximately 6 hours
Nearby Attraction Changewadi Waterfall 1 km from parking
Distance from Mumbai 70 km
Distance from Pune 115 km
Distance from Karjat Railway Station 10 km
Trail Type Well marked with ladders near the summit
Trek Cost
Without Transport own vehicle 799 per person
With Transport Karjat to Karjat 1199 per person
With Transport from Mumbai 1499 per person Ac bus
Sondai Trek Event Itinerary By Train For Mumbai Participants
Train Route CSMT Karjat Local
Recommended Train Schedule
06:10 a.m. Mumbai CSMT
06:18 a.m. Byculla
06:24 a.m. Dadar
06:31 a.m. Kurla
06:49 a.m. Thane
07:05 a.m. Dombivli
07:15 a.m. Kalyan
08:08 a.m. Arrive at Karjat
08:10 am Meet trek leader at Karjat railway station near the ticket counter
08:15 am Depart for Sondewadi base village by local vehicle
08:45 am Reach Sondewadi breakfast stop
09:15 am Begin ascent
11:00 am Reach summit explore Sondai Devi Temple and fort
11:30 am Begin descent
12:30 pm Reach Sondewadi depart for Karjat by local vehicle
01:30 pm Reach Karjat railway station disperse
Note
Participants are requested to board the 0610 a.m. CSMT Karjat local and assemble at Karjat Station by 0810 a.m. for group meetup and onward travel to the base village.
Sondai Fort Trek Itinerary - One Day Trek from Mumbai
Day 1 Sunday: Sondai Fort Trek Schedule
Pickup Points and Timings Mumbai to Navi Mumbai Route
05:00 am - Meet at Borivali National Park Main Gate. (Location)
05:15 am - Depart for the Sondai Fort Trek.
05:20 am - Pickup at Virwani Bus Stop, Goregaon. (Location)
05:30 am - Pickup at Gundavali Bus Stop, Andheri East. (Location)
05:40 am - Pickup at Kalanagar Bus Stop, Bandra. (Location)
05:40 am - Pickup at Everard Nagar Bus Stop, Sion. (Location)
06:00 am - Pickup at Diamond Garden, Chembur. (Location)
06:25 am - Pickup at Vashi Plaza, Navi Mumbai. (Location)
06:55 am - Pickup at McDonalds, Kalamboli. (Location)
Trek Activities
07:30 am - Reach the Sondai Fort base village. Enjoy breakfast and scenic views of Morbe Dam and the Matheran Range before starting the trek.
08:00 am - Start the Sondai Fort Trek with short breaks for rest and refreshments.
09:30 am - Reach the summit. Explore the fort ruins, ancient temple, rock cut caves, and water cisterns. Enjoy panoramic views of the Sahyadri and capture memorable photographs.
10:15 am - Start descending towards the base village. Enjoy views of Morbe Dam with Karnala Fort and Irshalgad Fort visible in the distance. The region also connects to popular Matheran trekking routes such as One Tree Hill and Garbett Plateau.
11:45 am - Reach the base village and conclude the trek.
12:30 pm - Start the return journey to Mumbai. Halt at a local restaurant for lunch. Lunch expense is on your own.
05:00 pm - Approximate arrival in Mumbai.
Inclusions
1 Vegetarian Breakfast
2 Trek Leader and Expertise Charges
3 E Certificate of Participation
Important Notes
1 Wear trekking shoes with good grip
2 Be 10 minutes early at your pick up point
3 Missing transport means missing the trek no refund will be issued
4 Direct participants must reach Sondewadi base village on their own
5 If a participant books for the wrong date or batch a Rs 200 transfer fee will apply for date changes made within 3 days of departure
Things to Carry
1 Minimum 2 3 liters of water
2 Sturdy trekking shoes with good grip
3 Day backpack 20 30 liters
4 Torch with extra batteries mandatory
5 Dry fruits snacks or energy bars
6 Glucon D ORS Gatorade sachets
7 Cap and sunscreen
8 Personal first aid and medicines
9 Valid photo ID
10 Full sleeve T shirt and track pants to protect from insects and thorns
