Hatgad

Maharashtra, India

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Hatgad is a village and hill station in Surgana tehsil of Nashik district in Maharashtra, India, situated close to the Gujarat border and known mainly for the historic Hatgad Fort and its proximity to the Gujarat hill station of Saputara.

The village lies about 72 km from Nashik city and is administered as a gram panchayat with a population of around 3,000 people spread over roughly 560 households, with moderate literacy and a young demographic profile. Hatgad’s main attraction is Hatgad Fort, which stands at about 3,600 feet in the Sahyadri (Western Ghats) range and was built in the 17th century by the Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji as a watchpost guarding the routes between Nasik and Gujarat.

The fort offers panoramic views of the surrounding hills and valleys, has two old rock-cut water reservoirs named Jamuna and Ganga, and is reached by a narrow rocky trek that passes through stepped rock pathways and small caves, making it a popular but offbeat destination for trekkers and nature lovers. Because Hatgad is just about 3 km from Saputara, many visitors to the Gujarat hill station also make a short excursion to Hatgad Fort, and the area near the village is now being developed with resort infrastructure such as Radisson Resort Hatgad, Saputara, reflecting its growing appeal as a weekend and nature retreat.