It was a sunday and we 3 friends made a plan to trek Karnala situated near panvel. I travelled by Mumbai locals from Seawood station to Panvel station & later took a bus. It was a easy trek which can be done even without trekking shoes. Maharashtra is covered with the lush green Sahyadris western ghats. Rainy- winter season is the best time to trek and feel refreshed.
Glimpse into History
Karnala Fort is believed to have been built before the 15th century, although its exact origins are uncertain. Because of its strategic position, the fort controlled an important trade route connecting the Konkan coast with the Deccan.
Over the centuries, Karnala was controlled by several powers, including the Sultanate of Gujarat, Nizam Shahis of Ahmednagar, Mughals and Marathas.
In 1670, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj captured Karnala from the Mughals, incorporating it into the Maratha kingdom. The fort changed hands again during later conflicts before eventually coming under British control in the early 19th century.
The most fascinating feature
The fort’s most recognisable feature is its enormous basalt rock pinnacle, rising dramatically from the fort.
The pinnacle contains inscriptions dating back to the 13th–14th centuries, providing clues about the site’s earlier history.
The fort’s location was strategically important because its height provided an excellent view over the surrounding Panvel region and Konkan routes.
Karnala Bird Sanctuary
The fort lies within Karnala Bird Sanctuary, established in 1968.
The sanctuary protects a patch of forest that is particularly important for birds. More than 150 species of resident and migratory birds have been recorded here.
You may spot:
Raptors
Paradise flycatchers
Parakeets
Hornbills
Owls
Drongos and other forest birds
The Trek
The trek to the fort is moderately challenging, with a forest trail followed by a steeper rocky section near the fort.
The monsoon and immediately after the monsoon make the landscape particularly beautiful, although the rocks can become slippery.
Accessibility Check
Not wheelchair accessible. Reaching Karnala Fort requires a forest trek with uneven terrain, inclines and rocky sections. It is better suited to visitors who are comfortable walking and climbing.
Getting There
Karnala, Panvel, Maharashtra
From Mumbai/Navi Mumbai, the fort is accessible via the Mumbai–Pune Expressway/Old Mumbai–Pune Highway.
Panvel is the nearest major railway station, from where taxis/autorickshaws can be used to reach the sanctuary entrance.
Don’t Miss
- The massive Karnala pinnacle
Ancient inscriptions
Forest trail- Birdwatching
Panoramic views from the fort
Ruins of the fortifications
My Takeaway
“Karnala is where a historic fort and a living forest share the same landscape—one tells the story of armies and trade routes, while the other tells the story of Maharashtra’s biodiversity.”
KARNALA- Google Maps
V4J9+PF9, Foot Path, Karnala, Koral, Maharashtra 410221
How did Shivaji Maharaj conquer Karnala Fort?
Karnala Fort was strategically important because it controlled the trade route between the Konkan coast and the Deccan.
In 1670, during the period when Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was expanding the Maratha kingdom, Maratha forces captured Karnala from the Mughals.
The important point is that the capture was not a famous dramatic siege like Sinhagad. Historical accounts indicate that Karnala was taken as part of Shivaji Maharaj’s campaign to regain and consolidate strategically important forts in the region after the Treaty of Purandar (1665).
Why Karnala mattered
Karnala’s value wasn’t simply its height. It sat in a position overlooking the Panvel–Bhor Ghat/Deccan routes and approaches toward the Konkan.
Controlling Karnala meant the Marathas could:
Monitor movement through the region
Strengthen their control over the northern Konkan
Control an important inland trade route- Create a defensive link with other forts in the region
What happened afterwards?
Karnala remained under Maratha control for several decades. After Shivaji Maharaj’s death, the fort changed hands during the conflicts involving the Mughals and Marathas. It eventually returned to Maratha control and was later captured by the British in 1818 during the Third Anglo-Maratha War.
KARNALA FORT- Google Maps
