Pune: 120 Km Sahyadri Adventure Race to Be Held Near Bhatghar Dam in November
Reported by Radhika Sharma and Priyanshu Banerjee
Pune, 10th October 2026: A 120 km multi-sport endurance race featuring cycling, trekking, kayaking and river crossing will be held near Bhatghar Dam in Bhor on November 28 and 29 as part of the second edition of Casuarina Adventure X. Organised by LifeFit Sportz and Casuarina, the event will have six race categories across two days.
The event was announced at a press conference on 10th October 2026, Saturday attended by veteran actor Sachin Khedekar, mountaineer and expedition leader Umesh Zirpe, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation Senior Manager Hanumant Hede and LifeFit Sportz Founder Director Mahendra Lokhande, among others.
Zirpe pointed to Maharashtra’s long history of hiking, mountaineering and rock climbing while speaking about the growth of adventure sports in the state.
“We have a tradition of hiking, mountaineering, rock-climbing in our state,” said Umesh Zirpe, Indian mountaineer and expedition leader. He added that more people were heading to the mountains on weekends as they recognised the benefits of outdoor activities.
The 120 km Sahyadri Expedition, scheduled for November 28, will involve seven disciplines, including cycling, running, trekking, kayaking, river crossing, rope activities and map-and-compass navigation. Teams will have 24 hours to complete the course and will need to find checkpoints without route markers or directional signboards.
The first day will also feature a 75 km endurance challenge and a 50 km cycling route around the Bhatghar Dam backwaters.
Events on November 29 will include a 55 km Olympic Duathlon, a 25 km Rajgad Fort Challenge and a 10 km trail run.
The organisers have announced a prize pool of approximately ₹24 lakh. The top-performing four-member team in the 120 km category will qualify for the Indian Adventure Racing Championship 2027, with the national winner eligible for an opportunity to compete at the Asian Championship, subject to applicable guidelines.
