Naneghat, Mountain pass in Pune district, India

Naneghat is a mountain pass in the Western Ghats linking the Konkan coast with Junnar on the Deccan plateau. Near the top, a large man-made cave is cut into the rock, its back wall covered with Sanskrit inscriptions in Brahmi script. A stone-paved trail climbs to the pass, and a low stone wall with a metal railing edges the path.

This pass served as a major trade route from ancient times, with tolls collected from merchants traveling between the coast and interior regions. The practice of charging fees at this location dates back to around the second century BCE.

The name Naneghat combines nane (coin) and ghat (pass), recalling its use as a toll point. The cave's Brahmi inscriptions record Queen Naganika's donations and 22 Vedic sacrifices, including two ashvamedha rites, linking trade with royal ritual.

The site is accessible by two main highways, with Kalyan railway station serving as the nearest major transport connection for those arriving by train. Road conditions can vary by season, so it is worth checking local conditions before planning a visit.

The toll stone at Naneghat is a two-piece carved container that from a distance resembles a stupa, as Charles Allen noted. It stood by the roadside to collect fees from traders crossing the pass, and its form is easy to mistake for a religious monument.