Vikatgad (Peb Fort)

Vikatgad, also known as Peb Fort, stands 640 m high in the Matheran range, about 19 km from Karjat in Raigad district, in a line with Malanggad, Tauli Hill and Chanderi. Its closeness to Matheran and Neral makes it a favourite weekend trek. Little history survives beyond its grain and ammunition stores and a visit by Captain Dickinson in 1818. The forest department and villagers have been planting trees and restoring parts of the fort.

The easiest route follows the railway track from Matheran, a narrow path of about an hour to the entrance steps; harder trails climb for three hours from Mamadapur and Fanaswadi, with three short rock patches to scramble before the gate. Along the scarp are a cave temple, rock-cut cisterns and narrow caves, one with an iron ladder down into a dark, humid chamber. The thin summit has a new Datta temple holding padukas, a Hanuman idol, a lone bastion and a cistern with water all year. Trekkers can stay overnight in the Datta temple.