|| Tung Fort | किल्ले तुंग (कठीणगड) Tung fort trek ||

११ जून १६६५ रोजी झालेल्या पुरंदरच्या तहात शिवाजी महाराजांनी जयसिंगाला दिलेल्या २३ किल्ल्यांपैकी तुंग हा एक किल्ला होता.

महाराष्ट्रातील सह्याद्रीच्या डोंगर रांगेत अनेक वैशिष्ट्यपूर्ण प्रदेश आहेत. त्यातीलच एक पवन मावळ! या प्रांतात निसर्गाची मनसोक्त उधळण पहायला मिळते, उंच डोंगर, धडकी भरवणारे उभे कडे, दऱ्यांतून वाहणारे पाणी, धबधबे अशा संपूर्ण वातावरणा मुळे आपसूकच पर्यटकांची पावले या भागात वळतात. याच पवन मावळात मराठ्यांच्या इतिहासातील अनेक महत्त्वाचे किल्ले आहेत

पवन मावळात लोहगड, विसापूर, तुंग, आणि तिकोना हे किल्ले आहेत. यातील तुंग किल्लाची माहिती पाहत असताना त्यांचे भौगोलिक स्थान खूप महत्त्वाचे मानले जाते. पूर्वीच्या काळी बोरघाट या व्यापारी मार्गावर लक्ष देण्यासाठी व पवन मावळातील हालचालीवर लक्ष ठेवण्यासाठी तुंग किल्ल्याचा उपयोग होत असे.

History:

Tung Fort was built before 1600 CE. It was built by the Adil Shahi dynasty but was captured by Shivaji.[3] It is a small fort, and able to hold not more than 200 troops at a time. As such, it would not have been able to defend itself on its own for a long time. Its shape and structure suggest that its main function was as a watchtower overlooking Maval region of the Pawana and Mulshi valleys guarding the road to Pune city. The Dhamale family, one of the Deshmukh from the Maval region, was charged with ensuring the security of Tung Fort. During invasion, it served to provide a temporary distraction for invaders. Thus, the major forts of Visapur and Lohagad would have time to prepare themselves to meet the invading army.

Location:

It is about 12 km from Malavli railway station and can also be approached from Lonavala. Tung Fort has an elevation of 1075 m above sea level.[2] Since Pawna was built, it is now surrounded by water on three sides. One can ferry across in a boat from Pawna dam to its base village, Tungi.

Tung fort is also named Kathingad fort. The word "Kathin" in Marathi means difficult. While climbing, one can experience the difficult challenge of reaching this fort. The fort is conical and has steep climbs with a very narrow route on the edge of the mountain throughout. From Pawana dam, reaching this fort requires a 400-metre climb.