Achala Fort

Achala Fort is the westernmost fort of the Satmala range, 55 kilometres from Nashik, next to Ahivant Fort; with Mohandar the three lie close together, and Achala and Mohandar were built to protect Ahivant. The Adil Shahis held it in 1636 before Alivardi Khan, an officer of Shaista Khan, won it for the Mughals. Shivaji took it in 1670, but when Aurangzeb's generals Mahabat Khan and Diler Khan forced Ahivant to surrender, Achala followed. In 1818 it was handed to Colonel Briggs along with 17 other forts.

The trek begins at a hillock north of Dagad Pimpri, 13 kilometres from Vani, on a wide, safe and treeless path; about an hour brings walkers to the col between Achala and Ahivant. The small summit has ruined buildings, storehouses and water tanks, and a round of it takes half an hour. There is no drinking water for a night stay, but villagers provide food and lodging at modest cost.