One has to reach Mahad city. S.T. buses ply regularly from Kalyan, thane, Mumbai, Pune to Mahad. One can also board the passenger train from Diva station at 6:00 am. From Mahad bus depot, two buses go to the village of Paane, which is at the base of the fort. First bus leaves at 11:00 am and the other one is at 4 pm. From here, we can reach the village on the upper plateau, which is called Lingana machi. From here a walk of 1 hr on slippery way leads to the base of the pinnacle.
Trekkers going from Rajgad or Torna to Raigad come through the valley called Borhatyachi Naal, which lies between the mountain of Lingana and the mountain of Raylingi. We come from the northern end of the fort to Lingana machi.
Description:
Lingana Fort is situated 16 mile awat to South-East of Mahad village between Torna and Raigad in Sahyadri range. The height of fort is 2969 feet. Fortification has destroyed there are remains only cisterns and warehouses of grain.
After defeating More family Shivaji Maharaj made this fort near Raigad. The cave, which was the old prison, 50 prisoners were kept at a time.
History:
The history of Lingana is not as glorious as the important ones, but still we get many a reference that put a light on it. These references can be concluded as follows:
The fort of Lingana is situated to the northeast of Raigad. It is about 2969 feet high. The distance to be covered to reach to the fort is about 4 and half miles. The ramparts have ruined. The only remnants are the storehouse and some cisterns.
Shivaji built it with Raigad after he defeated Chandrarao More. According to the treaty of Purandar Raigad and Lingana were retained by Shivaji Maharaj.
The goddesses worshipped here were Shree Janani and Somjai.
The fort was maintained along with Raigad. The money was provided from treasury of Raigad. It was maintained and looked after till 1786. Finally, in 1818, the British captured the fort and destroyed it so that no one could capture it back and stay on it. Thereafter the plight of this great monument has become sad. Today it is a great attraction for rock-climbers, but its history should be revealed to more and more people.