Pune: Over 18,000 Tourists Visit Sinhagad Fort Over Weekend, 3-km Traffic Jam Hits Ghat Road
Pune, 20th July 2026: Sinhagad Fort witnessed a massive influx of tourists over the weekend as thousands of visitors flocked to the historic hill fort to enjoy the monsoon greenery and pleasant weather. The heavy rush resulted in a nearly 3-kilometre-long traffic jam on the ghat road, leaving many visitors stranded in slow-moving traffic for hours.
According to the Forest Department, 18,327 tourists visited Sinhagad on Saturday and Sunday, with nearly 11,000 visitors arriving on Sunday alone. The surge in footfall placed significant pressure on traffic management and forest authorities.
As the designated parking area at the fort reached full capacity, many tourists parked their vehicles along the final stretch of the ghat road. The roadside parking considerably narrowed the roadway, obstructing vehicles descending from the fort and worsening the congestion. Several visitors were forced to leave their vehicles on the roadside and walk two to three kilometres to reach the fort.
Forest officials, along with members of the Forest Management Committee, remained deployed throughout the day to regulate traffic and manage the crowds. Authorities also temporarily halted vehicles at Kondhanpur Phata in an attempt to ease congestion. However, the continuous inflow of tourists from Pune and nearby areas throughout the afternoon overwhelmed the arrangements.
“Once the parking area at Sinhagad reached full capacity, many visitors parked their four-wheelers along the last three kilometres of the ghat road. This obstructed the movement of vehicles descending from the fort and resulted in severe traffic congestion,” said Manoj Barbole, Forest Range Officer, Bhamburda Forest Division.
Sinhagad remains one of Pune’s most popular monsoon destinations, attracting thousands of visitors every weekend. Officials have urged tourists to follow parking regulations and cooperate with traffic personnel to ensure smoother traffic movement during peak tourist periods.
