JUNIOR FORT EXPLORERS
5 Days. 5 Chapters. 5 Stories.
A Journey Through Maharashtra’s History and Heritage
Recommended for age group: 10 - 12 years
What If History Wasn’t a Chapter in a Textbook, But a World to Explore?
What if your child could explore the birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, discover the secrets of historic forts, participate in a royal council and understand how geography shaped the course of history?
JUNIOR FORT EXPLORER is a five-day series of immersive outdoor learning experiences for curious young minds. Through historic landmarks, engaging stories and hands-on challenges, children discover Maharashtra’s rich history and heritage in a way that goes beyond textbooks.
Each day features a new destination—Shivneri Fort, Shaniwar Wada, Pratapgad, Sinhagad, and Janjira—where children embark on guided adventures, hear fascinating historical stories, and tackle a special Explorer Challenge.
Children engage in map reading, role-play, teamwork, and problem-solving activities, developing essential skills such as observation, critical thinking, leadership, and decision-making.
This five-day programme offers full-day excursions with children returning home each evening. It’s a safe, enjoyable way for kids to experience the outdoors, build confidence, and learn history—no overnight stay required.
Ready to Begin the Journey?
Five Days. Five Chapters. A Whole New Perspective on History.
Give your child the opportunity to step beyond textbooks, explore Maharashtra’s remarkable heritage and build real-life skills through meaningful outdoor experiences.
Every day brings a new destination, a new challenge, and another opportunity to learn, grow and discover.
Spaces are limited to keep the experience meaningful and guided for every child.
Register your child for JUNIOR FORT EXPLORER and let the journey begin.
- Five Days, Five Field Quests: Explore Shivneri, Shaniwar Wada and Shiv Srushti, Pratapgad, Sinhagad and Janjira, each offering a unique window into Maharashtra’s history.
- Pune-to-Pune Day Trips: Enjoy full days of guided exploration, with the comfort of returning home every evening.
- History Beyond Textbooks: Discover the people, places and decisions that shaped history through on-site storytelling and guided exploration.
- Discover Shivneri Fort: Explore the birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and discover stories of his early life, the fort’s strategic location and its historic significance.
- Experience History at Shiv Srushti: Explore detailed fort models, historical weapon replicas and multimedia presentations that bring the life and legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to life.
- Discover the Science of Fort Defence: Understand how hilltops, steep slopes, gateways, defensive walls and island locations influenced the design and protection of historic strongholds.
- Explore Historic Architecture: Observe fortifications, gateways, watchtowers, cannons and historic water-storage systems.
- Trek, Observe and Investigate: Experience Sinhagad’s rugged landscape and discover how terrain influenced movement and military strategy.
- A Boat Journey to Janjira: Sail across to the remarkable island fortress and discover its distinctive maritime history and defensive features.
- Build Skills for Life: Develop observation, critical thinking, teamwork, communication, leadership and decision-making through hands-on activities.
- Guided Outdoor Learning: Explore with the Foliage Outdoors team through structured activities, historical storytelling and supervised field experiences.
Day 1: Shivneri Fort | DISCOVER
Reporting: 6:30 AM at Foliage Outdoors Office, Pune
Departure: 7:00 AM
Begin your journey at Shivneri Fort, the birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Explore its historic gateways, fortifications, and strategic hilltop location, and discover stories from his early life and the world he grew up in.
Observe how the natural landscape and defensive features shaped this historic stronghold. Discover how Shivaji Maharaj's story connects with Maharashtra's broader history.
Return: Approximately 6:30 PM at Foliage Outdoors Office, Pune.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and evening snacks.
Day 2: Shaniwar Wada + Shiv Srushti | GOVERN
Reporting: 9:00 AM at Foliage Outdoors Office, Pune
Departure: 9:30 AM
Begin at Shaniwar Wada, the former seat of Peshwa power. Discover how administration, leadership and political decisions shaped the Maratha kingdom beyond the battlefield.
Continue to Shiv Srushti for an immersive historical experience. Explore detailed fort models, historical exhibits and multimedia presentations that bring the life and legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to life.
Return: Approximately 6:30 PM at Foliage Outdoors Office, Pune.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and evening snacks.
Day 3: Pratapgad Fort | DEFEND
Reporting: 6:30 AM at Foliage Outdoors Office, Pune
Departure: 7:00 AM
Explore Pratapgad Fort and discover how its hilltop location, surrounding forests and approach routes contributed to its strategic importance. Through guided storytelling and observation, understand how terrain and defensive features influenced historic military decisions.
Return: Approximately 6:30 PM at Foliage Outdoors Office, Pune.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and evening snacks.
Day 4: Sinhagad Fort | LEAD
Reporting: 7:00 AM at Foliage Outdoors Office, Pune
Departure: 7:30 AM
Explore Sinhagad’s historic landscape on foot and discover the people and events associated with its famous battle. Observe the terrain, explore its defensive features and understand the challenges of moving through a hill fort.
Connect the stories of the past with the qualities that matter in a team: courage, preparation, trust and leadership.
Return: Approximately 5:00 PM at Foliage Outdoors Office, Pune.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and evening snacks.
Day 5: Janjira Fort | MASTER THE SEA
Reporting: 6:30 AM at Foliage Outdoors Office, Pune
Departure: 7:00 AM
Travel towards the Konkan coast and take a boat ride to Janjira Fort. Discover the maritime legacy of the Siddi rulers and explore how the island’s location, defensive walls and access routes contributed to its strategic strength.
Understand why defending an island fortress presented different challenges from defending a hill fort, and discover the story of a stronghold the Marathas could not conquer.
Return: Approximately 6:30 PM at Foliage Outdoors Office, Pune.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and evening snacks.
Please note: Reporting and return timings are indicative and may vary depending on traffic, weather, ferry schedules, entry arrangements and conditions at the destinations. Final timings and operational details will be communicated before each field quest.
What Will Your Child Learn?
Through five days of guided exploration and hands-on challenges, children will discover:
- The historical significance of Shivneri Fort and its connection to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
- How geography influenced the location and design of historic forts.
- How kingdoms were organised and how leadership and administration worked.
- The differences between hill forts and island fortresses.
- The importance of observation, planning and strategic thinking.
- How to collaborate, communicate and make decisions as part of a team.
- How to connect historical stories with real places, structures and landscapes.
More Than a Heritage Tour
At Foliage Outdoors, we believe children learn best when they are curious, actively involved and encouraged to think for themselves.
JUNIOR FORT EXPLORER transforms Maharashtra’s historic places into opportunities for discovery. Children don’t simply visit monuments. They observe, investigate, ask questions and connect the landscape with the events that unfolded there.
Each day introduces a different way of thinking: discovering the roots of leadership, governing, strategising, leading and understanding defence. Along the way, children develop confidence, curiosity, teamwork and problem-solving skills that extend well beyond the classroom.
And for parents, the programme offers five full days of meaningful outdoor learning, with children returning home every evening.
History becomes more than something to memorise. It becomes something to experience, question and understand.
What is included in the tour
- Pune-to-Pune escorted day trips for all five days, as per the itinerary.
- Transportation by chartered AC bus from Foliage Outdoors Office, Pune, to the respective destinations and back.
- Breakfast, lunch and evening snacks for all five days, as specified in the itinerary.
- Entry charges to the forts and attractions mentioned in the itinerary.
- Boat transfer to Janjira Fort, as per the itinerary.
- All activities and Explorer Challenges mentioned in the itinerary.
- Services of Foliage Outdoors experts well ,equipped with First Aid.
What is NOT included in the tour
- Mineral water, cold drinks, ice creams and additional food or beverages beyond the meals specified in the itinerary.
- Camera Charges.
- Personal expenditure of any kind.
- Medical expenses, if any.
- Any additional activities, entry fees or transportation not mentioned under inclusions.
- Expenses incurred due to circumstances beyond the control of the organisers, including unforeseen travel disruptions or changes to boat services.
- Any other charges not mentioned in the "Charges Include" list.
- Goods and Services Tax (GST), if applicable and charged separately.
