Bhatakanti

Rohida or Vichitragad

2010-07-21T23:07:00.000-07:00

Rohida

Fort Height : 3660 ft.
Type : Hill forts
Grade : Easy
Base Village : Bajarwadi
Days : 1 days
Accomodation : About 5 to 7 persons can be accommodated in the Temple.
Food Facility : Arrange yourself
Drinking Water : Water cistern near first darwaja (gate).
Time to reach : Approximately about 1 hours will be required to reach the fort.

The Rohida fort is located to the south of Bhor - a historical sansthan. It is popularly known as Vichitragad and Binicha killa. Reaching Pune, one can catch a ST going to bhor and then to Bazarwadi, which is hardly 4-5 km from Bhor.

History :
Rohida was built during the reign of the Yadavas.Post 1656, this fort became a part of Shivaji Maharaja's Swarajya. In 1666, the Moghuls conquered the fort but could not hold it for long. On June 24, 1670, Shivaji Maharaj recaptured the fort.

Point of Attraction :
A bastion, Rohideshwar mandir, Darwaja, water cisterns
The top is quite barren and doesn't hold too many remnants. However, ancient Rohideshwar mandir, different styled bastions, water reservoirs is seeing

How to reach:
Pune-Shivapur-Kapurhol-Bhor-Bajarwadi (66KM)
From Swargate Bus stand in Pune board any bus to the Bhor, then by local transport go to Bajarwadi,

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Kailasgad

2010-06-15T00:14:00.000-07:00

Kailasgad

Type : Hill forts
Grade : Easy
Base Village : Vaduste Village
Days : 1 days
Food Facility : Arrange yourself
Drinking Water : Water is available on the fort only during rainy season.
Time to reach : Approximately about one and half hours will be required to reach the fort.

Kailasgad is unknown fort for people, but some trekker know this fort, no famous history
With this fort, Shivaji raje once visit this fort, Awesome view of Mulshi river from this fort, In rainy season way becomes slippery,

How to Reach There : One can go there by two ways.

* Via Pune – Tamhini Road (85 Kms) : Take Pune – Tamhini Ghat Road and drive towards Tamhini Ghat , take right turn before Tamhini Ghat, and drive to Pimpri Village from their reach Vaduste Village via Vandre Village. It is the base of the fort, Now The road is in good condition.
*Via Pune - Lonavala (100 Kms) : Take Pune – Ambavane road from Lonavala, then reach to Vandre Village then Vaduste Village which is 5-7 K.M. away from there, which is base Village.

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Bhuleshwar

2010-03-23T03:45:00.000-07:00

Bhuleshwar is famous for the Hindu Temple of Lord Shiva, situated around 55 kilometres from Pune. The temple is situated on a hill and was built in the 13th century. There are beautiful carvings on the walls. The temple is significant not only from architecture point of view, but also mythologically. It is believed that it was here that Devi Parvati danced for Lord Shiva and thereafter, both of them went to Kailas and got married.
Originally , it was a fort called as Mangalgadh.

This place is very crowded during Mahashivratri. Tawny Eagles migrate here from Pakistan and Indian Himalayan areas during Winter in Himalayas but summer in Maharashtra.
Bhuleshwar is one of the ignored places in Pune region

Bhuleshwar Sculpture Detail : This place has a shivling below which you put Indian Sweets. It is said if they disappear your wish will be granted. Mostly it has been observed that no matter how much amount of sweet you put it disappears.

How to Reach There : One can go there by two ways.

Pune – Solapur Highway (55 Kms) : Take Pune – Solapur Highway and drive towards Yavat village, take right turn 2 K.M. before Yavat village, and drive approx. 8-10 Kms to reach Bhuleshwar Temple. It is located on the top of the hill, The road is in bad condition.
Pune - Saswad (50 Kms) : Take Pune – Saswad Road from Hadapsar, From Saswad
there is a left turn after crossing Saswad Stand.

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Chandan-Vandan

2010-03-09T01:27:00.000-08:00

Fort Height : 3800 ft.
Type : Hill forts
Grade : Easy
Base Village : Belmach
Days : 1 days
Accomodation : About 30 to 40 persons can be accommodated in the mosque.
Food Facility : Arrange yourself
Drinking Water : Water is available on the fort only during rainy season.
Time to reach : Approximately about 3 hours will be required to reach the fort of Chandan while about 2 hours are required to climb up the fort of Vandan.

Chandan-Vandan, the twin forts, are situated at about 24 kms. from Satara. These forts can be easily identified from Pune-Satara route because of their flat plateaus. These forts lie on the boundary of Satara city and Mahabaleshwar region. To the east of these forts lie Jarandeshwar Kalyangad, Bhavani hill, while to the west lie the forts like Vairatgad, Pandavgad.

History :
to the evidences of copper-inscriptions(Tamralekh) of 1191-1192 B.C., these forts were built-up by king Bhoj II of Shilahar dynasty. Shivaji Maharaj overpowered Chandan-Vandan along with Kalyangad, Sajjangad, Ajinkyatara during the campaign of Satara in 1673. Later, during the regime of Sambhaji, Amanullah Khan attacked the troop of Maratha soldiers on Chandan-Vandan. 25 horses, 20 guns, 2 ensigns, 1 kettle-drum were lost in the hands of Mughals in this battle. Marathas ruled this region up to 1689 B.C. Afterwards Mughals ruled this fort. In 1707, Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj won this region during rainy season. In 1752, Dadopant was accompanied by soldiers by Balaji Vishwanath to keep close watch on Tarabai. Later, British ruled over these forts.

Point of Attraction :

Fort of Chandan:
Formerly, the way near the entrance of Chandan was difficult to access. But recently the way has become broader because of mosque situated at that place. There are two bastions at the entrance gate which are presently in a half-demolished state. Approximately about 15 steps ahead of this on the left hand side lies a demolished edifice. There is a banyan tree at the upperside of this structure which is known as ‘Panchvad’, as it is comprised of five banyan trees. There is a temple of lord Shiva near the tree. Both the “Pindis” in the temple are comprised of five “Lingas”. In the month of ‘Shravan’, the fifth month of Hindu year, there is a pilgrimage every year in this temple. Villagers have refurbished the temple. Huge stones, arranged one above the other, can be seen at about 10 steps ahead from the temple.

There is a mosque on the fort. A wall-like structure can be seen adjacent to the mosque. Remnants of some structures are found behind the mosque. It seems to be a residential area of those days. An intact bastion can be seen at the north end of the fort. A self-immolation lies on the way to this bastion. There is a ‘Shivalinga’ and a statue of lord Hanumana over the bastion. Three rooms without roofing can be seen at the southern part of the fort. According to villagers, it was a storage room for ammunitions. There is a large quadrangular raised platform, commonly known as SADAR, at the center of the fort.
Fort of Vandan:
There are two entrance doors for this fort. The first entrance door is sturdy having bastions which are still intact. There is an idol of lord Ganesha on the left bastion. There were about 25 well-constructed steps ahead, which were destroyed in the battle of 1818. The second entrance door has completely tumbled down. Persian inscriptions can be seen on the arch of this door. There are five porches inside this entrance door which together form the L-shape. Rock-slide has blocked the way ahead. Further on there are few steps, downside of which lies a route along which one can traverse around the fort completely. ‘GHANA’, a mechanism where cementitious material is mixed and ground to be used for the construction of structures, can be seen on the lower side of the steps. We reach the fort-top by climbing up about 25 steps.

Many dilapidated structures can be seen on the fort. There is a row of demolished houses on the right side. Moving further about 20 of these houses we can see two structures, still undestroyed. The raised platforms on the fort give the indications of the existence of huge houses on the fort. These might have been government offices in those days. There is a storage room on the right side of these platforms, with its roof still intact. Besides there exist a natural lake, which at present has gone dry. A way on the right side beyond this lake takes us towards eastern end of the fort. The way on the left side of the lake takes us to a mosque. Some writings can be seen on the arch of the door which may be Arabian or Persian.

A manually constructed lake provided with steps lies beyond the mosque. It might have been used as a lake for bathing. There is a mosque besides this lake. Many tombs can be seen in front of it. There is also a storage room, seen besides this lake. A structure can be seen besides the mosque whose walls are in demolished state. There is a self-immolation inside this structure with the footsteps carved on it. It seems to be a self-immolation of a Brahmin. There is a small hill further on which remnants of many structures can be seen. The ways, which move around the citadel, meet over this hill.

Ways To Reach :
There are common ways to reach Chandan - Vandan. Bhuinj village lies on the Pune-Satara road. Kikali village is at a distance of about 20 k.m. from Bhuinj. S.T. buses ply to Kikali village from Wai as well as Satara. Belmachi village is situated near Kikali village. From here a way heads up to the col between Chandan and Vandan. On the left side lies Chandan while on the right side lies Vandan.

Fort of Chandan:
There are two ways to reach Chandan:
1) Via Belmachi Village
Half an hour will be required to climb the fort from the rock patch in front of the col. One reaches on the southern part of the fort through this route. The other way goes around the fort, with the fort lying on the left side of the way.
2) Via Lagadwadi Village
There is a village named Lagadwadi situated ahead of Belmachi. One has to walk across the plains of this village and then cross the headland. The road from Ibrahimpur village meets this way ahead. From here the route goes up to the fort top.
It takes about two and half hours to reach the fort of Chandan.

Fort of Vandan:
Ways to reach the fort:
To the right of col, lies the fort of Vandan. This route takes us to the entrance door of the fort within 10 minutes.

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Kalyangad (Nandgiri )

2010-03-09T00:50:00.000-08:00

Fort Height : 3500 ft.
Type : Hill forts
Grade : Easy
Base Village : Nandgiri (Dhumalvadi)
Days : 1 days
Accomodation : One can stay at Hanuman Mandir on the fort
Food Facility : Arrange yourself
Drinking Water : Can be arranged from tanks on fort.
Time to reach : 30-45 minutes (from base village)

Kalyangad is situated in Satara. All the forts in this area are built on the hilltops separated from the mountain range. The peculiarity of this fort is it is easiest to climb. The bus service here is good because sugar cane is grown on large scale and transportation is essential.

History :
Kalyan gad is also known as Nandgiri fort. This fort was built by king Bhoj-II of Shilahar dynasty as mentioned in the copper plate inscription found in Satara.
This fort appears to be built in between 1178 to 1209. It appears from many copper plate inscriptions of Shilahar kings that they gave many donations to Jain people. It has been proved that this fort is built by Shilahar Kings, as many statues of Lord Parshvanath are found in the cave on Kalyangad.
In 1673 Shivaji Maharaj conquered Satara and surrounding regions. Kalyangad became a part of his territory. After Shivaji, the administration of Kalyangad went into the hands of Pratinidhis (representatives). Later, conflicts arose between Peshvas and Pratinidhis. The fort was taken over by Peshwa. In 1818 general Prisler brought this fort under British control.

Points of Attraction:
The first gate of this fort is at the North side. After entering, there is one temple. This fort has gallery and this is the main attraction of fort. The depth of this gallery is about 30m. Iron rods are on the both side of the route of the gallery. Also there is water on both side of the route. On the east side ofthe fort there is one temple of Lord Hanuman. Also there is one Bamanghar. There is memorial of Kalyan Swami which at the front of this Bamanghar. This Kalyan Swami is the follower of the Ramdas Swami. Here is another temple of Lord Ganesha. From the top ofthe fort one can able to see other forts such as Jaranda, Ajikyantara, Chandan, Vandan, Vairatgad.

Way to Reach:
There is only one way to reach the fort. This way is from the base village of Nandgiri (Dhumalvadi). Board a bus for Satara Rd. from Satara station. Distance between Satara Rd and Nandgiri is 3 km. From here board a bus for Kinhaee, on the way to which Nandgiri is situated. Buses are available for every half an hour from Satara to Kinhaee. It takes 45 minutes to reach to the fort. There is a cave on this way.

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Vardhangad

2010-03-08T22:55:00.000-08:00

Fort Height : 3490 feets
Type : Hill forts
Grade : Easy
Village : Vardhangad village
Days : 1 days
Accomodation : In Vardhinidevi temple
Food Facility : Arrange yourself
Drinking Water : Can be arranged from tanks on fort.
Time to reach : 20 –30 minutes (from base village)

Vardhangad hill fort lies on the Bhadle-Kundla spur of the Mahadev range at a point of it on the boundary between the Koregaon and Khatav talukas, 20 KM from of Koregaon.
It is a round-topped hill rising about 900 feet above the plain below on the west or Koreganv side and about 700 feet on the east or Khatav side. The ascent to the fort is from a machi or hamlet at its foot on the Khatav side. This is easily reached from the Satara-Pandharpur road, which winds up the southern slope of the fort hill to a hill close to which on the north lies the fort hamlet. The way takes off from Maruti temple in Vardhangad village.

The approach to the fort can be made also from the village Pancgani-vadi. Both ways are easy. As one climbs halfway, one meets with an image of Maruti. Two large ponds attributed to the Musalmans lie about two hundred yards off to the south of the road. The path from the hamlet takes about half an hour to ascend with ease and goes diagonally up the south slope, till it reaches the middle of the south side where is the only gateway reached by a turn to the south-west. The gate is in good condition. After crossing the gate, a little further up one comes across a small temple of Mahadev. The top of the temple is dilapidated. The base of the temple is built of stones and is in good condition. Near the temple is a banyan tree. To the south of the temple are two ponds. The water in them is not potable.

As we climb a little further on the left side of the Mahadev temple, there is a temple of Vardhinidevi. On the outer side of the temple is a hall, the roof of which is being repaired by the Grampanchayat. Outside the temple is a dipmal, in front of the standing idol facing east. The base of the temple is built of stone and the upper part is built of bricks. There is an idol of Parashuram in the hall. It is said that, there is a tunnel leading to Mahimangad. The door of the tunnel is now covered with prickly pear and stones. The wall on each side juts out so that the gateway can be sighted only through a narrow passage from the north-east. It consists of a pointed arch and wooden doorway close outside which is shown the mark of a cannon shot fired when the fort was attacked by Fattesingh Mane (1805). The fort sloping all round from the sides to the top is round at the summit, and covers about twenty acres. On the east is a hollow, where are two ponds and the site of the garrison's quarters, now thickly covered with prickly pear, and the buildings in ruins. Only two small guns remain among the rubbish. The fort has but little scarp, the wall crowning a ridge of black rock protruding abruptly from the sides of the hill which though steep are covered with loose shallow soil. The walls with parapet vary from ten to fifteen feet on the outside, and follow the contour of the ridge, the hollows being filled up with strong masonry. They are about sixteen and a half feet thick, with a parapet, two feet high on the inside. The height is generally about six feet from the ground close under them. The ground rises so abruptly behind them that at any distance they would give no shelter, and the fort is commanded on the north from a hill in Lalgun, and on the south from the hill of Rameshvar, each about 2,000 yards distant, with perfectly possible ascents at any side. The masonry of the walls is mostly small and put together with mortar only in a few places.

The gate and its neighbourhood are the strongest points. The fort wall has fallen down at a number of places. On the north side was a pond now empty. The east is the only side where water is constantly found, but that in small quantities.

History :

The construction of the fort was undertaken in 1673 by Chhatrapati Shivaji and was finished in 1674. It was used as an outpost guarding the east frontier of his newly acquired territory. In 1800, the fort, then in the hands of the Pratinidhi, was invested by Mahadji Shinde's force with 25,000 men. The Ramoshis in the south-west machi were attacked and killed the horse of Muzafarkhan one of Shinde's generals. The machis were then sacked and burnt. Further havoc was stopped by the influence of the Sarnobat Ghorpade's wife who was sister to the wife of Shinde. In 1803, Balvantrav Bakshi, the commandant of the fort, fought here a battle with Yesai Saheb Firangi. The fort was shelled, the machis sacked, and a contribution of Rs. 3,000 levied. In 1805 the fort was attacked by Fattesingh Mane.

The Karkhanis and other officers were killed and Fattesingh took many horses in the neighbourhood. But was himself killed soon afterwards in a battle fought with Balvantrav Phadnis, the Mutalik of pratinidhi who was assisted by the troops of Chintamanrav Patwardhan. 1807 after the battle of Vasantgad, Bapu Gokhale brought the Pant Pratinidhi to Cimanganv, a Koreganv village close to the north of the fort, and the fort was then surrendered to him. He administered it for five years till 1811 when the Peshva took charge of it. appears to have surrendered in 1818.

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Kalwantin Durg

2009-12-17T03:10:00.000-08:00

Fort Height : 2300 feet.
Type : Hill forts
Grade : Medium
Village : Thakurwadi
Days : 1 days
Accomodation : Not Available
Food Facility : Arrange yourself
Drinking Water : Can be arranged from tanks on fort.
Time to reach : 2-3 Hr (from base village)

Kalwantin fort is situated on northeast side of Panvel, on Mumbai-Pune road. One can see it from express highway as V-Shaped mountain.
The left one is Kalwantin durg & on the right side is Prabalgad. There is a dense forest on the way.

Kalwantin durg pinnacle is tougher than Prabalgad. It has some rock cut steps and slippery path near the pinnacle. It’s really adventures.

Ways to reach :
Pune to Shendung Phata on Panavel highway.
Shendung Phata to Thakurwadi via Belavali (15 kms)
From Thakurwadi you can proceed to Kalavantin durga.

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Madhe Ghat

2009-11-16T04:09:00.000-08:00

Madhe Ghat is situated in Velhe, Pune District. It's unknown place for many people.
Nice views of the sunset, ghat and waterfalls from here,
The best season to visit is from June to December.

There are two ways to go to Madhe ghat, via pabe khind and via Nasrapur.

1. Pabe khind (70 km)
From pune go towards Sinhagad Road, Khadakwasla Dam, Donje Phata, and Khanapur, Paabe. Once you cross Khanapur you need to take a left turn after around 10 km. you will find a bords indicating the left turn towards Pabe.
After crossing the pabe village after 1 killometer, the road will joins Nasarapur-Velhe Road. From here take right turn, village velhe is around 5km.

2. Nasarapur (80 km)
From pune take Satara road , reach shiwapur then keep following the road and you will find a “Nasarapur bipas from here you have to take a left turn. Take a left turn immediately the Nasrapur village will come.

Once you reach Velhe village you need to take first right turn then left.
From Velhe Bus Stand,This road goes towards Pasli village ( 13 km). we can see "Gunjawani Dam" on other side of road.

From “Pasli” village keep going straight until the “Kelad” village comes, from here you need to take a right turn and this road will directly go to “Madhe Ghat”.

This way goes directly up to the spot from where we can see the waterfall.
Road Condition is not so good from pasli village.

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Shivtharghal

2009-09-07T03:58:00.000-07:00

Accomodation : Lodging facilities offer by Shivthar Ghal Shree Sunder math Samiti
Food Facility : One should carry the raw materials, and can people there prepare the food.
Drinking Water : Water is available in all seasons.

Shivtharghal is a cavern inside a cliff, in which saint Ramadas resided for 12 years, and created the famous work “Das-bodh”. Shivthar Ghal falls in Raigad District. It is about 1000 metres above the sea level.

The cave is in a dense forest area previously known as Javali and in the monsoon, is covered by a huge waterfall that runs down the same cliff.
There is a hall where Ramdas Swami sat and wrote the famous Manuscript Dasbodh.
Ramdas Swami dictated Dasbodh to Kalyan Swami and he wrote it down,
Shivthar Ghal is 20 mts long and 15 mts broad.

The place, now well maintained by SundarMath Seva Samiti and Shri Samarth Seva Mandal, has very good facilities provided by them to all those who visit Shivthar Ghal.

History :
The Mores ruled over the region of Javali where Shivthar Ghal is situated. This place is strategically important and very difficult to conquer. Chandrarao was the title conferred upon them by Adilshah. Shivaji Maharaj defeated them and brought this region under his control in 1648. Ramdas Swami came to reside here in 1649, and stayed till 1660. Before proceeding on “Dakshin Digvijay”, his great campaign in the southern India in 1776, Shivaji Maharaj took Ramdas Swami’s blessings here. For many years this place was undiscovered. However in 1930, 300 years after Shivaji Maharaj was born, Shankar Krishna Dev, an eminent follower of Ramdas Swami, discovered this great pilgrimage.

Sightseeing :

The cavern or the ‘ghal’ which requires surpassing of 100 odd steps is a must visit. Do spend some time in the divine atmosphere (meditating would be ideal) to perhaps feel the sanctity of the place.
A waterfall outside the cavern is a treat to eyes. Its best visited during monsoon. A river near the cavern can be a good are to play in groups.

Ways to reach :
Distances from major cities:
Mumbai- 200KM
Pune-90KM
Mahad-30KM

The state transport buses are quite frequently available to Mahad from Mumbai, Pune and Kalyan. Further on, vehicles ought to lead till the foothills of Shivthar Ghal. The route isn’t up to very good standards, however once the place is reached the endurance seems worth it.

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Kenjalgad

2009-08-19T01:40:00.000-07:00

Kenjalgad (GHERA KHELANJA) or Mohangad

Fort Height : 4273 feet.
Type : Hill forts
Fort Range : Mahadev
Grade : Medium
Village : Korle
Days : 1 days
Accomodation : Not Available
Food Facility : Arrange yourself
Drinking Water : Can be arranged from tanks on fort.
Time to reach : 1 Hr (from base village)

Kenjalgad or Ghera Khelanja Fort, 4,269 feet above sea level, is situated on the Mandhardev spur of the Mahadev range eleven miles north-west of Wai.

It is a flat-topped hill of an irregular oval shape, about 800 meters long and 300 meters wide at the extremes, looking remarkably strong both from a far and near. The fort is a black scarp rising vertically from the main ridge which is hogbacked. The scarp is one of the highest in any of the Satara forts and reaches in places eighty to a hundred feet. The only entrance is on the north side up a set of a hundred steps running parallel to the line of the scarp till within four or seven feet of the top, when they turn at right angles to it and cut straight into a passage leading on to the top. The steps are peculiarly imposing and differ from any others in the district. Thus on entering, the scarp is on the left and there is nothing on the right till the passage is reached, and invaders ascending would be liable to be hurled back over the cliff. At the foot of the steps is a bastion which evidently flanked a gateway. There are remains of six large and three small buildings, all modern. The head-quarters or kacheri is only marked by a large fig tree. The only building thoroughly recognizable is the powder magazine on the west which is about thirty feet square with strong stone walls three feet thick and seven feet high and three feet of brick on the top. The walls of the fort were originally of large square cut blocks of un-mortared stone, but were afterwards added to in many places. They are in most places fully four feet thick and including the rampart about eight feet thick.

History :
Khelanja fort is said to have been built by the Bhoj Rajas of Panhala who flourished in the twelfth century.
The guns on the Kenjalgad fort opened fire before surrendering to the detachment sent by General Pritzler up the Wai valley about the 26th of March 1818.

Sightseeing :
The fort has three large water tanks about forty feet square and six small ones for storage of water and grain. But there is no living spring inside the fort. The largest tank is in the southern face and is quite thirty feet deep. The tanks were emptied when the fort was dismantled by blowing up the outer sides which were formed by the ramparts and letting the water empty itself down the hill side. On the west is a sort of nose projecting beyond and a little lower than the main ridge of the fort, also strongly fortified. There is a narrow promenade on the ridge at the foot of the scarp and on the north side is a large cave with excellent water and partly used for storage purposes.

Ways to reach :

Reach PUNE bus stand, catch a bus to TITEGHAR or KORLE or AMBAVDE.

The route leads up to MACHI (5 Kms) where a good shelter is available.

The top is reached via a broad rock staircase. Reach the huge tunnel-cum-cave near the top.

Descend to MACHI to ASRE village and proceed to WAI.

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Torana (Prachandagad)

2009-07-17T02:15:00.000-07:00

Fort Height : 4600 feet.
Type : Hill forts
Fort Range : Pune
Grade : Medium
Village : Velhe
Days : 1 days
Accommodation Facility : One can stay at the temple of Goddess Mengai.
Food Facility : Available in Velhe
Drinking Water Facility : Bokad tank near Mengai Devi temple, A small pond present near Kothi Darwaaja provides potable water.
Time To Reach : 2 hour from base village.

One of the popular forts for the trekkers. This was the fort won by Shivaji Maharaj. He found a pot containing gold coins, which he later used for building Rajgad. Torana is called as 'Prachandagad' because of its size. The fort is very huge and wide spread. Its height is 1400 mtrs.
On the fort are found many trees of the type “Toran”, which may be the reason for the name of the fort. The fort is located in Pune district, 18.36 degrees Latitude & 73.37 degrees Longitude. The village at the base of the fort is called “Velhe”. To the south of Torna is the river of Velvandi & to the north is the Valley of Kanad River.

History:
The caves & sculptures here indicate that the fort belongs to the period of "SHAIVA PANTH", the followers of Lord Shiva. During 1470 to 1486 A.D., Malik Ahmed, a Bahmani ruler, captured this fort. Later Nizamshah ruled it. In the 1646, Shivaji Maharaj brought this fort under his control and named it "PRACHANDAGAD". He was the one who built some new monuments here. After his daring escape from Agra, he came here & renovated the fort. Moguls took over the fort after Sambhaji Maharaj's assassination. But Marathas regained control over the fort due to the efforts of Shankaraji Narayan Sachiv. In 1704 A.D., Aurangzeb captured the fort. He named it as "Futulgaib" or "The Divine Victory". However, within 4 years Sarnobat Nagoji Kokate was able to re-establish Maratha control here. In the treaty of Purandar, Torna remained with Shivaji Maharaj. The important thing about the fort is that it is the only fort that Aurangzeb won by fighting a real war.

Sightseeing :

Goddess Toranjai :
It is a small temple where goddesses Somjai & Toranjai are worshipped. Ahead we can see the lakes called Toran & Mhasoba.

Maal & Safeli bastions :
On the west of Kothi Darwaaja are the bastion Maal, & the latter one is to the south of the former. Near Safeli is a construction called Lakadkhaana, where wood was stored. Here is the way to Kokan Darwaaja & to Budhla machi.

Budhla machi :
In Marathi "Budhla" means a vessel, & "Budhla" Machi looks like a vessel kept upside down. This diff is a breathtaking spot on the fort. From here, a cheek was kept on the western side of this fort.

Bini Darwaaja :
This is the main entrance to the fort from Velhe and is situated to the northwest of the fort. The bastion on the left side has collapsed. The path ahead leads to Kothi Darwaaja.

Kothi Darwaaja :
Ascending the steps carved in the rock, we enter the Kothi Darwaaja facing east. Here we come across some guardrooms. Way along the wall towards east takes us to the temple of goddess Toranjai.

Konkan Darwaaja :
Kokan Darwaaja still exhibits the constructional features that prevailed during 17th century. Here the fortification is the better condition. It lies on the way to Budhla Machi.

Temple of goddess Mengai :
This is the only place on the fort where one can stay. It has two doors & the roof is still in the need of repairs. Here the group "Pune Ventures" has put a map of Torna. In front of the temple is a Deepmala (a structure that supports oil lamps & is always found in every temple of Lord Shiva).

Zunjar machi :
It is situated on the western side & a wonderful spot to see. However, in the recent period, way here has been destroyed, & hence it cannot be reached easily.

How To Reach :

From the Village of Velhe :
Starting from Pune, preferably early in the morning is the best option. From Swargate Bus stand in Pune board any bus to the village of Velhe. The way to Torna starts from here and is quite straight. A walk of couple of hours leads to the "Bini Darwaaja", the main entrance to the fort.
From Rajgad to Torna :
The route starts from "Male Darwaaja" of Rajgad, descending along the left side of "Sanjeevni Machi" and proceeds through a few houses. It continues through the woods and is about 5-6 hours walk. The road ends in front of " Budhla Machi". Here one has to climb a small rock patch. A walk of 15-20 minutes eastwards leads to the temple of "Mengai Devi". This temple serves as an accommodation facility.

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Shivneri

2009-06-23T01:25:00.000-07:00

Fort Height : 3500 feet.
Type : Hill forts
Fort Range : Naneghat
Grade : Medium
Village : Junnar
Days : 1 days
Accommodation Facility : One can make a stay on the fort in Shiv Kunj or Ambarkhana. Shiv Kunj is a suitable option among the two because of water cisterns is available near it.
Food Facility : Available in Junnar
Drinking Water Facility : Water ponds are available at the top.
Time To Reach : 1 hour from base village..

Shivneri Fort is a historic military fortification located near Junnar which is around 105 km from Pune, a city in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is known as the birthplace of Shivaji Raje.

History :

Shivaji's father, was a general in the army of the Adil Shah, Sultan of Bijapur. He was concerned for the safety of his wife Jijabai during her pregnancy as there was constant warfare going on.He,therefore moved his family to Shivneri fort. Shivneri is a highly defensible location, with steep rocks on four sides and a strongly-built citadel.
Shivaji Maharaaj was born at the fort on 19 February 1630, and spent his childhood there. Inside the fort is a small temple of goddess Shivai Devi, after whom Shivaji was named so.He acquired all the skills and training on this fort which he used while establishing hindavi swaraj (self-rule). He learnt the early lessons of swaraj on this fort. There are statues of Jijabai and young Shivaji. In the fort there are two water springs, namely Ganga-Jamumna, which have water throughout whole year.

Sightseeing:

Shiv Janmasthan:
This is the place on the fort where the birth of Shivaji Maharaj took place. This place is named as Shiv Mandir. Ahead of Shiv Mandir there is a huge water tank.
Kadelot point :
This is the place where prisoners were punished by throwing them down the fort. This point is on the northern end of the fort.
Shiv Kunj :
Shiv Kunj is a monument constructed by the state government, in honor of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Inside Shiv Kunj there is an idol of Bal Shivaji and Jijabai made of “Panchdhatu”
Kamani Masjid :
In front of Shiv Kunj on can see this Kamani Masjid. It might have been named Kamani because the top of this structure is like bow that is called as Kaman in Hindi. On the east-facing wall there is an inscription in Urdu.
Ganga Jamuna :
These are the water cisterns behind the Shiv Kunj. Water in these cisterns is potable. On whole of Shivneri there are more than 10 water tanks.
Ambarkhana :
Every fort needs to have a warehouse for its storage of grains and food products. Ambarkhana is the place where huge amount of grain can be stored. The caretakers here keep this place very clean.

How To Reach :
To reach on fort Shivneri first we have to reach Junnar. Distance between Junnar Bus stand and Shivneri is 2 km by road.

Ways to reach Junnar :
1) From Mumbai or Kalyan one can reach Junnar via Malshej Ghat or via Khandala Ghat. Route via Malshej Ghat is the preferable as it takes less time. Buses ply hourly from Kalyan towards Junnar. Distance from Mumbai is approximately 100 km.

2) From Pune or Shivaji Nagar one can take buses for Junnar. Buses ply hourly for Junnar from these bus stands.

3) On Kalyan – Nagar road there lie two diversions:
a) Bangar Phata
b) Aale Phata.
One can also descend at any one of these diversions and use local transport to reach Junnar city.

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Kanifnath Temple

2009-04-10T05:35:00.000-07:00

Kanifnath temple is around 30 KM away from Pune.
It is located on top of the hill.
Women are not allowed to enter such temple.

The Navnath Sampradaya or 'Navnath Parampara', is a Hindu sampradaya, and a parampara, tradition based upon the lineage of the nine gurus Navnaths , from the Nath Sampradaya (lineage) of Hindu mythology.
This tradition, believes Rishi Dattatreya, an incarnation of the Holy trinity Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva to be its first teacher .

Navnaths
The nine teachers collectively known as Navnaths are consider the representative of great teachers in this tradition or parampara :

Matsyendranath
Gorakhnath
Jalandharnath
Kanifnath
Gahininath
Bhartrinath
Revananath
Charpatnath
Naganath

Kanifnath was one of them.

How to reach:

Take road Pune – Hadapsar - Saswad.
In village Saswad, there is junction. From here, take road to Kanifnath.
Drive approx for 10-15 Kms to reach Kanifnath.
One can go there via the Babadev Ghat road.

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Rajgad

2009-03-18T05:55:00.000-07:00

Fort Height : 4520 feet.
Type : Hill forts
Fort Range : Pune
District : Pune
Grade : Medium
Village : Vajeghar / Pali
Days : 2 days
Accommodation Facility : About 20 to 25 persons can be easily accommodated within Padmavati Mandir.
Food Facility : We need to arrange on our own.
Drinking Water Facility : Water ponds are available at the top.
Time To Reach : About 3 hours.

Rajgad' - the name describes the place itself. The king of all the forts. The fort of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He spent almost 25/30 yrs here. The place of historical importance, very near from Pune. Rajgad is south-west 40 Kms from Pune. Rajgad is famous for its construction. Fort is of 1350 Mtrs. high, Rajgad is famous for its Padmavati Machi, Sanjivani Machi ,Suvela Machi and 'Bale killa' - the pride of Maharashtra. It is almost 500 feet high and really difficult to climb.

RAJGAD FORT – CAPITAL FORT OF “HINDAVI SWARAJYA”. It still can be witnessed as an unchallangable, undisputable and unconquerable fort in ‘Hindavi Swarajya’.
Rajgad is truly a place to visit and remember the greatest Maratha King. One must visit the fort and enjoy the nature and the beauty of the great fort.

History :
The history of this fort however dates back to approximately 2000 years wherein one can find evidence of this mountain range in existence. History also has evidence that saint Brahmarshi lived on this mountain range and also subsequent establishment of ‘Shri. Brahmarshi Devasthan’ which confirms its vintage existence.
Rajgad was initially known as ‘Murumbdev’ during the Bahamani regime. However, during the year 1490, the founder of Nizamshahi of Ahmednagar, Ahmed Bahiri had conquered many forts in western Maharashtra which included Valeghat and many others in South Konkan, and thus established a supremacy over the region. It was during the same period that Ahmed Bahiri established control over Murumbdev fort. His task was simplified by the In-charge of the fort, who extended unconditional surrender to Ahmed Bahiri. Thus, Nizamshahi was established on the fort and later for about 125 long years there was no attack on the fort. Subsequently, the reins of the fort were transferred from Nizamshahi to Adilshahi. During Nizamshahi, Baji Haibatrao Shilimkar and his father Rudraji Naik controlled the operations of the fort however, as per instructions of Malik Amber, the operations were handed over to Sardar Haibatkhama of Adilshahi dynasty.
Later during 1630 the fort was again under the control of Nizamshahi. Shahaji Raje`s officer Sonaji started looking into the affairs of this fort. Later, the fort was attacked by Adilshah of Vijapur during which Sonaji was injured. Hence, Balaji Naik Shilimkar ventured ahead to protect Murumbdev fort along with a division of troops. He too was injured during the clashes. However, he was duly honored by Shahaji Raji for the performance in the task.
It’s hard to find clear evidence as to when Shivaji Maharaj established control over Murumbdev fort.
In the year 1665, Maratha kingdom was attacked again by Mughal Sardar Mirzaraje jaisingh. Daudkhan and Raisingh were nominated to capture forts. Vide their assigned task; on 30th April 1665 Mughal troops attacked Rajgad. There was strong opposition from Marathas which ultimately proved too strong for Mughals. Hence, Mughals had to move back.
After the escape from Agra, on 12th Sept 1666, Maharaj arrived safely on Rajgad.
On 24th Feb 1670 Rajaram was born on Rajgad Fort. In the year 1670, Shivaji Maharaj summoned Tanaji Malusare to capture Sinhagad fort from this very Rajgad. During 1671-72, Shivaji Maharaj confirmed Raigad as the capital base of Hindavi Swarajya` and shifted all operations from Rajgad fort to Raigad. After the sad demise of Shivaji Maharaj on 3rd April1680, marked a downfall of Swarajya. On 11th March 1689, Sambhji Maharaj (Son of Shivaji Maharaj) was nabbed and killed by Mughals. Later, Mughals marched triumph and captured many forts. Rajgad was one among them which fell in hands of Kishoresingh Hada (a Mughal Sardar). It was in June 1689; Aurangazeb nominated Abdulkhairkhan to look after the operations of the fort. However, the news of death of Sambhaji Maharaj had not reached Marathas hence their morale was high. Marathas later gathered near foothills of the fort and managed to capture the fort on their own vigor.

Sightseeing:

PADMAVATI MACHI :
In all, Rajgad has three machis. Out of three, the most graceful machi is the Padmavati machi. Padmavati machi was not only a military base but also a residential zone. One get to see a glimpses of many devastated structures on this machi, like temple of goddess Padmavati, tomb of Saibai, castel of constables, Padmavati Lake, secret doorway, Pali doorway, Gunjavane darwaja, storage yard of arms and ammunition which are still a witness to the glory of those days.

PADMAVATI TEMPLE :
During the period when Shivaji Maharaj renamed Murumbdev as Rajgad, he constructed this Padmavati Temple. There is also the evidence to the above. There are three idols inside the temple. The one right in front is established by Pant secretary of Bhor and the one to its right is established by Shivaji Maharaj himself. The temple is quite big enough so that 20 to 30 persons can stay there. The drinking water is available nearby.
Right in front of the temple, is the tomb of Saibai.In 2002, the temple has been reconstructed.

SANJIVANI MACHI :
After the construction of Suvela machi, Shivaji Maharaj started the construction of this machi. The machi extends approx. 2 ½ kms long and has been constructed in three phases. For every stage of construction of this machi, an armoured fortified place is being provided. As you climb down the first stage of machi then upon traveling backwards towards North, we get to see a trio of fortified places being constructed. It is believed that there could be huge cannons in existence during those glorious days. One gets to see many cisterns on this machi. Also remains of castles can be noticed. Sanjivani machi has in all 19 fortified places. It also has an under ground escape route. It leads directly to outermost fortification.

SUVELA MACHI :
After the capture of this Murumbdev fort, Shivaji Maharaj constructed a strong and sturdy machi on the eastern part of this fort and named it as Suvela machi. Although, the length of this machi is not as long as Sanjivani machi however, like Sanjivani machi, Suvela machi too is constructed in three stages. The machi narrows down along its length. At the start of the machi, there is a hill which is called as ‘Duba’. As you take a left from this ‘Duba’, and proceed ahead, we get to see military camps of those days. To the left of it we notice an idol of Lord Hanuman which is facing south, and a cistern near it. The verandas near to it were owned by Yesaji Kank, Tanaji Malusare and Shlimbkar, who were Maratha sardars. The way straight ahead from this place leads to the 2nd stage of machi whereas a leftward route leads to Kaleshwar fortified place. A little ahead from this fortified place is a courtyard on right hand side. From here the actual fortification starts. The fortification is bifurcated into two stages and at the end of each stage of it, is a fortified place, which is armored one. There is also a provision of underground escape way. As you proceed towards 2nd stage, we get to see a rock having a hole of approximately 3.0m in diameter. This rock is known as ‘Nedh’ or ‘Hatti Prastar’. At the base of this rock, there is an idol of Lord Ganesha and through it; you reach the Gupta Darwaja or the secret doorway. This door is also known as ‘Madhe’ darwaja. There exists yet another secret doorway ahead of this ‘Hatti Prastar’.

Citadel :
Citadel of Rajgad is actually the place of highest elevation. The approach leading to the Citadel is quite difficult and narrow too. At the end of climb, we come across a doorway also known as ‘Maha Darwaja’. The condition of this doorway is reasonably good even today. It stands 6.0M in height and has carving of a lotus and ‘Swastika’ on it. The Citadel has 1.5M high fortification all around and also has fortified places at prominent locations.

RAMESHWAR TEMPLE :
Right in front of Padmavati devi Temple there is a Rameshwar Temple. The Shivalinga is believed to be in existence from the era of Shivaji Maharaj. The temple is facing east. Inside the temple is also an idol of Lord Hanuman which is facing South.

RAJWADA :
As you climb up the Staircase in front of Rameshwar Temple on the right side we get to see remains of few castles (Rajwada). Further ahead, we come across Amberkhana and a flat land portion thereafter. One can also get to see artillery storage yard ahead of this portion of land. One lake is also there in the castle.

PALI DARWAJA :
As the name justifies, the approach to this door is from Pali village. The approach is a very huge one with staircase being made. The door of this pali darwaja is quite huge as even an elephant can enter through along with its seat specially designed for mahut and passengers and placed above him, very comfortably. After crossing the 200m distance from this door, we come across yet another equally huge door. This door is well protected by fortified places. The special feature of this door is the construction of a protective wall with circular openings. These openings are used to fire cannon balls on the approaching enemies.
After entering through the door we get to see gate houses on either side of the door. We reach Padmavati machi as we enter the fort through this door.

How To Reach :

There are many ways to reach Rajgad.

From Pali Darwaja :
From Pune, board a State Transport Bus to Velhe and there after from Pabe village after crossing Kanad river we can directly reach Pali darwaja. This staircase walkway is quite easy and one can reach Rajgad in 3 hours.

From Suvela Machi :
From Gunjavane village, a way through the forest leads to Gupta Darwaja from which one can reach Suvela Machi.

From Gunjavane Darwaja :
On Pune-Velhe State Transport Bus route, alight at Margasani village. Thereafter one can reach Gunjawne village via Sakhar village. From Gunjavane village, one can reach Rajgad in 2 1/2 hrs. Since the route is quite difficult and confusing, it is advisable to travel through this way with adequate help.

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Purandar

2009-03-18T04:44:00.000-07:00

Fort Height : 1500 Meters.
Type : Hill forts
Fort Range : Pune
District : Pune
Grade : Easy
Days: One and half days
Accommodation Facility : Available on the prior permission of the officers military in Camps
Food Facility : You have to make your own arrangement for food.
Drinking Water Facility : Available the year round.

Purandar is about 40kms south-east of Pune and some 10kms south-west of Sasawad. It really comprises two fortresses: Purandar, the stronger and more important of the two, and Vajragarh, small sister for t situated on a ridge running out east of it. Purandar has two parts: the upper or Balekilla with precipitous sides all around and the lower part or machi about 300 metres above the plain. On the north side of the lower part there is a broad terrace comprising the cantonment area of the fortifications.

History :
The history of the Purandar fort goes back to the 13th century. The Bahamani Sultans in the 14th century built here some walls and bastions. From 1484 AD, for about a hundred years, the fort remained in the hands of the Nizamshahi rulers. In 1596 AD, the fort was given as Jagir to Maloji Bhosale, grandfather of Shivaji. However, Shivaji had to struggle very hard to establish his control over the fort in 1646 AD. In 1665 AD, Purandar was besieged by the mighty Mughal forces under the command of Jai Singh and Dilir Khan. In the ensuing battle Murar Baji Prabhu, the gallant commander of the fort, was killed. Shivaji, under a treaty, had to surrender to the Mughals his 23 forts, including Purandar and Vajragarh. At the lower fort a statue of Murar Baji Prabhu has been installed in his memory. Purandar was recaptured by Shivaji in 1670 AD Later it became a favourite retreat of the Peshwas. Purandar was captured by the British in 1818 AD. During the Second World War, the British kept here the German war prisoners. Dr. H. Goetz, one of the German prisoners, thoroughly studied Purandar and wrote a monograph on it. After Independence there also functioned a National Cadet Crops (N.C.C.) Training unit at the top.
Maharaj’s son, Sambhaji, was born on Vaishakh Shudhha 12, Shake’ 1579, ie., 16th May 1657, Thursday on this fort.

Sightseeing:

Purandareshwar Temple :
This is Lord Mahadev’s temple built in ‘Hemadic’ style of architecture. The temple houses approx. 1.25 to 1.5 feet high statue of Lord ‘Indra’. Senior Bajirao was instrumental in leading its reconstruction.

Delhi Darwaja :
This door, facing north, is still in a good condition. As the road turns near the Darwaja, we can see a temple of Goddess Laxmi. A leftward route from the bifurcation ahead leads us to the other end of the Citadel. The same road leads us to some water cisterns. The rightward road from the bifurcation leads to yet another door (Darwaja). Two statues of lions guard either sides of this Darwaja.

Kedareshwar :
As we walk for 15 minutes along the main road and climb the steps, we come across ‘Kedareshwar’ temple. A reconstructed temple, it is of Lord Kedareshwar. During Mahashivratri thousands of pilgrims visit this temple. ‘Deepastambha’, a stone pillar for enlightening the lamps, can be seen in front of the temple.
This temple is a topmost part of the fort. One can see the forts like Rajgad, Torna, Sinhagad, Raireshwar, Rohida, Malhargad as well as Karhe-Plateau from here.

Bini Darwaja :
The only door to Purandar Machi,enroute from Narayanpur as we approach Purandar fort. Unlike many other forts, the door is in good condition even today. As one enters through the door, there are provisions for the guards to hide and attack enemy. These are called as the Gatehouses. (Paharekaryandiya Devdya) As one proceeds further, the khandakada immediately catches our attention.
Once you enter through the door, the road branches, one straight ahead whereas the other towards the rear end of fort. As we move on, we come across the vintage military camps and a few bungalows. The same road leads to the foothills of the citadel, where we can see the temple of “Purandareshwar”. Also, the statue of Murarbaji in his fighting stance gives us the feel of his courageous nature and dose not fail taking us back to those glorious days.

Rameshwar temple :
This temple is located towards the rear end of Purandareshwar temple. Constructed during the start of ‘Peshva’ dynasty, built by Balaji Vishwanath, it was a temple that was privately owned by the Peshvas. Moving further ahead we come across the remains of an ancient two storied bungalow called as ‘Wada’.
It was in the same ‘Wada’ that Sawai Madhavrao was born. Behind it is a well, which is in a good condition even today. Moving further ahead, the road bifurcates, one that leads to the foothills of citadel whereas the other towards ‘Bhairav Khind’. As we move towards the road leading the citadel, after a walk of 15 minutes, we come across ‘Dilli Darwaja’.

Purandar Machi :
Coming back up to Delhi Darwaja, one can take a straight route, which leads to ‘Purandar Machi’. We get to see many dilapidated remains along this route. Statue of Murarbaji Deshpande : The statue of Murarbaji Deshpande was established in 1970 to the right after we go through Bini Darwaja.

How to Reach :

From Saswad : S.T. bus to Bhor from Saswad will drop you at the bus-stop of ‘Purandar Ghat matha’ in Narayanpur village. A road on the left side along the two houses situated on mountain ahead leads to Bini Darwaja which can be reached approximately in 45 minutes.

From Pune : S.T. bus to Saswad from Pune takes us to the foothills of Purandar fort. Pune-Narayanpur bus is also available to reach up to the base village, Narayanpur.

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Sarasgad

2009-03-02T23:34:00.000-08:00

Sarasgad is village situated near Pali in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Pali lies along the Lonavala-Khopoli road and is 110 kilometres from Pune.

Pali is also a famous temple of Lord Ganesh. It comes under the famous Ashtavinayak temples of Maharashtra.

Sarasgad stretches out in the north-south direction, to the east of Pali. From both ends of the fort one can reach the top.

A very huge wall of Sarasgad is at the north south border of Pali.

This fort was mainly used to keep a check on the surrounding regions. From fort, ‘Pali’ and all surrounding areas can be seen. Shivaji Maharaj brought this fort under Swarajya and spent 2000 Hon (the prevailing currency) for its reconstruction. Till independence this fort was under Bhor Sansthan.

Sightseeing :

Near the main entrance we see a triple curtain wall. Going rightwards and ascending 15 steps we see the ramparts. To the left there is a big water tank. Next to it was a gallery. Further there is another way to the fort. Near this is a water tank named ‘Moti Haud’. If we go at right, we have to ascend 15 steps and then we reach the base of citadel.
Base of Citadel : Here we see a very big water reservoir. To its left is the tomb of Shahapeer. Near to it few small lakes are seen. In a cavern nearby we see ‘Shivlinga’. Here a few can stay. At the right side of the tank we see silos, armory, jail and residences. Here also 10 to 12 people can be accommodated. Next to it is the way towards citadel.
Top of Citadel : On the fort we see Kedareshwar temple and a lake nearby. Two bastions are there to keep watch on surrounding areas. From citadel we can see the mountain of ‘Tin Kavdi’. We can locate Sudhagad, Tailbaila, Dhangad and Korigad. We also see Paligaon, River Amba, hot water reservoirs of ‘Unheri’, Konkan and Jambhulpada. On Vaishakh Poornima (full moon day), the villagers celebrate the festival of Shahapeer. Many people go to Kedareshwar temple on ‘Maha Shivratri’. Sarasgad is one of the favorite places of the trekkers.

How to reach :

We can go to fort through ‘Dindi Darwaza’. This is the only way to the fort. One should alight at Pali and go to the fort through ‘Dindi Darwaza’. Go to left from backside of the temple. This way heads straight to the bastion of the fort. There is a room at the base of the bastion. It was residence of the guards. From here ascend about 96 steps and go at the main entrance of the fort. Opposite to it is a gatehouse.

Accommodation Facility :
About 7-8 people can be accommodated at silos or the gatehouse. But very few prefer this.

Food Facility :
None. Cooking on site is very much advised.

Drinking Water Facility :
There are many cisterns on the fort. The water reservoir near the tomb of Shahapeer at the base of citadel is mainly used for drinking purpose.

Time To Reach : 1 hour from Pali to Dindi Darwaza

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Vasota

2009-02-06T05:02:00.000-08:00

Fort Height : 4267 ft.
Type : Forest forts
Fort Range : Mahabaleshwar
District : Satara
Grade : Medium
Days: Max 2 days
Accommodation Facility: Mahadeo Mandir can accommodate 2-3 people. A plateau near the joint water cisterns can also be used as camping ground. Nageshwar cave can accommodate 20-25 people easily.
Food Facility: One should arrange for self.
Drinking Water Facility: The way to the right of the stairways to Nageshwar cave takes us to a well, water in which can be used for consumption. Even in summer this well does not dry out. Water is available in sufficient quantity on Vasota.

Situated in dense forests surrounded by river Koyna is the fort of Vasota, which according to the ‘Dnyaneshwari’ means a resting place. This fort is also known by the name of Vyaghragad.
History : We have to go back to the times of Sage Vasishtha to know how exactly old is the fort. It’s believed that a disciple of Vasishtha, a sage by the name Agasti, came to reside on a mountain on the banks of river Koyana. He named the mountain after his mentor. Later the mountain was fortified and converted into a military station. In the course of time, fort Vasishtha was pronounced as ‘Vasota’.

This fort is believed to belong to the Shilahar dynasty era, and probably named Vasota due to the name Vasantgad given to it during that era. According to ancient scriptures Shivaji took Vasota after his successful raid on Javli region. But it is untrue. Shivaji took Javli and other forts in the Konkan region but Vasota eluded him. When Shivaji was trapped on Panhalgad he dispatched a battalion from his main army and won Vasota on June 6, 1660. Later in 1679, 26,000 rupees were found on the fort. Among the prisoners caught in 1661 in Rajapur, Faren and Samuel were kept imprisoned on the fort.

Later in 1706, Tai Telini brought the fort under her control. The very next year Peshwa Senapati Bapu Gokhale fought with her. After 8-10 months of intense battle, Bapu Nadkarni conquered the fort.

Sightseeing:

There are two entrances to the fort Vasota

On entering the fort there is a Hanuman temple, now devoid of a roof. Three ways go ahead this temple. The path straight ahead takes us to the remnants of the fort. The one on the left takes us at ‘Kalkaiche Thane’.
On the way is a Mahadeo temple which can accommodate 2-3 people. Moving along the path we arrive at ‘Machi’. The view of the surrounding region is simply spectacular.

Babukhada :
The cliff to the west of the gorge has a sheer drop of 1,500 feet if not more. It was known as the Babukhada and was used as a place of execution for criminals or offenders who used to be hurled down the cliff. The west face of the fort was only a degree less abrupt, and a loose block or boulder of the old wall, if tumbled down the cliff, might be seen bounding from ledge with increasing violence- and speed for an extraordinary distance. The face of the cliff to the south is in three concave stretches and a shout or whistle gives three or sometimes four beautifully distinct echoes. The view to the north is fine, including Makrandgad or the Saddleback and the fine group of steep hills about Kandat and the Par pass. The view south is shut out by the Babukhada, but the west gives an extensive prospect over the rugged Konkan down to the sea.

Old Vasota :
The mountain that is seen from the Babukada on Vasota is Old Vasota. No way exists now that takes us to this fort. In addition there is an acute shortage of water. Also presence of wild animals in the area keeps the trekkers away from this fort.

How to Reach :
There are 2 main ways to reach the fort, one via Nageshwar and the one directly to Vasota.
Via Nageshwar : It can be said that a visit to Vasota is incomplete without visiting Nageshwar. On our way to Vasota a distinct pinnacle catches our attention. This pinnacle is named Nageshwar. A cave is carved in this pinnacle with a Mahadeo temple inside it. Thousands of devotees crowd this place on Shivratri. Water droplets fall on the Shivling from the rooftop of the cave throughout the year. Most of the trekkers generally visit Nageshwar on their way to Vasota; the only constraint being a walk for a few miles.
Directly to Vasota : a)From Satara:
One can reach Vasota from Satara by 2 different routes.

i)Via Kusapur:
Board a bus at 9 a.m. from Satara and reach Bamnoli. From here one should come to Kusapur by launch. From Kusapur 2 ways go through dense forest, the left towards Vasota and the one on the right towards Nageshwar.

iii)From Mahabaleshwar:
From Mahabaleshwar get to Tapole village and then further arrive at Kusapur by launch. From Kusapur one can reach Vasota as described above.

b)From Chiplun:
i)Board a bus from Chiplun at 8.30 a.m. and alight at village Choravane. It takes 5-6 hours to reach Vasota from this village. It is to be noted that there is no water on the way and one has to carry his own supply. After climbing for some time one comes across a plateau from where the path on the left goes to Nageshwar and the one on the right to Vasota. As we move ahead along the way to Nageshwar we see another path below that goes to a well through dense forest. We can cut short the total time to Vasota to just 2 hours if we take this path.

ii) Arrive at Tivre village from Chiplun. From here we can reach Vasota via the Rede Ghat.

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Harishchandragad

2009-02-05T00:00:00.000-08:00

Fort Height: 4000 ft.( 1424 M.)
Type: Hill forts
Fort Range: Malshej
District: Ahmednagar
Grade: Medium
Village: Khireshwar
Days: Max 2 days
Accommodation Facility: Ganesh caves & caves near the temple of Harishchandreshwar.
Accommodation in Khireshwar: In Khireshwar, local school is the best for a night’s stay. In this village, we can see the beautiful temple of Nageshwar as well as ancient caves of the Yadav era.
Food Facility: In summer & winter, arrangement for food is available on the fort. However, in monsoon, one should make the arrangement himself.
Drinking Water Facility: The water tanks near the caves.

One can reach Khireshwar after a 2 and 1/2 hours bus ride from Kalyan bus depot. Board any bus going towards Malshej ghat and get down at Khubi phata. 1 hour (4 Kms) plain walk over the dam wall from Khubi phata brings us to the Khireshwar hamlet. The real trek begins from this point. The route follows through a col between two mountains and is covered with dense forestation. Beware of the rock patch you will encounter. It is quite a big rock patch but its the simplest of all we ever encountered. Nothing like rock climbing is necessary. The road is carved in a rock and there are railings on the way to give us mental support. Yes they are there just to give us mental support, catch one of those pipes and u will go boommmmm with those pipes. But you can always rely on the pillars which support those railings. Nevertheless its a simplest rock patch of all.

Once you have triumphed over the rock patch a little climb brings you on the top of the hill. From here you can see the route you followed from Khubi phata to Khireshwar. Now all the climbing is done, I mean almost all. Now it is just a plain walk of 2 hours or so to the Harishchandra caves. You will suddenly be confronted with a huge temple of Lord Shiva. In the mountain to the left of this temple you will see several rock cut caves perfect for accommodation. The temple is also surrounded by rock cut caves. You can stay there as well. To the right of the temple from where the stream flows a road goes to a huge cave. The cave is filled with water around the year. In the center of the cave lies a huge shivling.

Sightseeing:

Taramati:

This is the highest peak and is located on the top of the mountain caves. The trail to the top is quite an adventure. But the view from up there is awesome.
There is trail that starts from the woods directly to the top. This trail starts through dense forest. It is a big trail so theirs not much chance of one getting lost. After the woods are over, there is a small plateau. From here the peak of Taramati can be seen very clearly. Take the trail that goes towards this peak. After some time you will come across some thing adventurous, to go at the top one has to climb over a rock. You have to turn 180 degrees as you go up. Behind is a gorge of about 200 meters deep. Do not look behind as you go up this rock. After you are through this rock, the rest of the path is easy. On the Taramati peak u will find a shiv ling. The view from up there is fantastic.

Konkan Kada:
The major attraction of Harishchandragad is Kokan Kada. This cliff is not just vertical, it is an overhang, almost like a cobra’s hood. It has been climbed twice so far. Its beyond description, one should actually see it to experience the nature’s architecture. Konkan kada should be visited in the evening as well as morning. In evening one is enchanted by the sunset where as in the morning one can experience the divine feeling of being in the heavens. Some times the wind is so ferocious that a coin floats if placed horizontally. The air shoots vertically upwards. If you throw water it comes directly upwards. Also if you go at kokan kada in the rainy season, u will observe that it never rains at the edge of the cliff. Its because all the rain drops are blown of with the wind.
The view from here is awesome and unimaginable. The sunset is gorgeous. There are not many places from where u can see the sun setting below ur eye level. And the reflection of the rays from the river flowing below gives it an orange outlining. Its too cool, hard to describe it in words. Also their are colonies of vultures in the huge crevices. You need a pair of binoculars to watch them little closely.

Harishchandreshwar Temple:
The ancient cave temple of Lord Shiva situated at Harishchandragad is a place worth visiting. The temple is also has a Ganesh statue placed just aligning to the left walls. The temple is a classic example of ancient art and architecture design to its best. Apparently, the name Harishchandragad got its name from this temple called Harishchandreshwar (Name of Lord Shiva).

Saptatirtha : To the east of the temple is a well-built lake called “Saptatirtha”. On its bank are temple-like constructions in which there are idols of Lord Vishnu. Recently these idols have been shifted in the caves near the temple of Harishchandreshwar. These days many trekkers have been responsible for the sad plight of this beautiful place, as they throw plastic wastes and other things in the pond. 7 years back the water was potable, and now it isn’t suitable even to swim.

Kedareshwar :
Going rightwards of Harishchandreshwar temple, we come across a huge cave. This is the cave of Kedareshwar, in which there is a big Shivlinga, which is totally surrounded by water. The total height from its base is five feet, and the water is waist-deep. It is quite difficult to reach the Shivlinga, as the water is ice-cold. There are sculptures carved out here. In monsoon it is not possible to reach this cave, as a huge stream flows across the way.

Caves on Harishchandragad :
These caves are situated all over the fort. Many of these are situated at the foot of Taramati peak & are the place of accommodation. A few are near the temple, whereas some are near the citadel and some far away in the forests. A natural cave is on the northwestern side of the fort, to the right of Kokan Kada. It is about 30 feet deep. The folks must know many such caves. Many of these may be remaining undiscovered.

Nageshwar temple near Khireshwar :
This is a great antique construction, and diverse artistic works are seen on this. On the ceiling of the temple are beautiful carvings. There are caves near the temple.
Temple of Harishchandreshwar :
This temple is marvelous example of the fine art of carving sculptures out of stones that prevailed in ancient India. It is about 16m high from its base. Around this temple there a few caves & ancient water tanks. Near the temple, the river Mangal Ganga originates. The top of the temple resembles construction with the north-Indian temples. A similar temple is situated in Buddha-Gaya. Here we can see many tombs, in which a typical construction is seen. These are built by arranging stones one over the other. The stones are well finished. There are three caves near the temple. The cisterns near the temple provide drinking water. Here another temple called Kashitirtha is located.
The fascinating thing about this temple is that it has been carved out from a single huge rock. There are entrances from all four sides. On the main entrance there are sculptures of faces. These are faces of guards of the temple. On the left side of the entrance is a Devnagri inscription, which is about saint Changdev.

History :
The various Puranas (ancient scriptures) like Matsyapurana, Agnipurana and Skandapurana include many references about Harishchandragad. Its origin is said to have been in 6th century, during the rule of Kalchuri dynasty. The citadel was built during this era. The various caves probably have been carved out in the 11th century. In these caves are idols of Lord Vishnu. Though the cliffs are named Taramati and Rohidas, they are not related to Ayodhya. Great sage Changdev (one who created the epic “Tatvasaar”), used to meditate here in 14th century. The caves are from the same period. The various constructions on the fort and those existing the surrounding region point to the existence of diverse cultures here. The carvings on the temples of Nageshwar (in Khireshwar village), in the Harishchandreshwar temple and in the cave of Kedareshwar indicate that the fort belongs to the medieval period, since it is related to Shaiva, Shakta or Naath.
Later the fort was under the control of Moguls. The Marathas captured it in 1747. The last warrior named Joshi became a martyr in the fight against the English in 1818.

How to Reach :

Harishchandragad lies where the boundaries of Thane, Pune & Ahmednagar districts converge. There are 4 - 5 known ways to this fort, the most usual being the following ones:

From Thane District :

One has to board the bus for Nagar from Kalyan & alight at ‘Khubi Phata’. From there we reach the village of Khireshwar by bus or private vehicle. This village is at 4km from the foothills of the fort.

The way beside the caves, where water tanks are seen, proceeds further to Junnar Darwaaja. From here, the route goes straight to Tolar Khind. Walking a few minutes from Tolar Khind, we come across a rock-patch on which railings are fixed. After ascending the railings, we come to the plateau region on which less dense forests are seen. From here, we have to cross 7 hills & after a walk of 2-3 hours, we reach the temple of Harishchandreshwar, the temple of Lord Shiva.

Way from Belpada:

The third way is specially meant for hikers, which is via Sadhleghat. One should board the bus for Malshej Ghat & go to the village of Belpada. From here, the route goes through Sadhleghat. Here one has to climb a straight rock patch on which grips are provided. The temple is situated at a height of about 1km from Belpada. The total distance is about 19 km.

From Ahmednagar District :

One has to board the bus for Nasik or Mumbai & alight at Ghoti village. From Ghoti, we have to board another bus to Sangamner via Malegaon & alight at Rajur village. From here, 2 ways diverge to the fort.
1) From Rajur, one has to board the bus or a private vehicle to the village of Pachanai. From here, the way is straight to the topmost point.
2) Recently, the way from Rajur to Tolar Khind has been made available. From Tolar Khind (Tolar valley), the temple is about 2-3 hours by walking.

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kamalgad

2009-02-04T23:49:00.000-08:00

Fort Height : 4511 ft.
Type : Hill forts
Fort Range : Wai
Grade : Medium
Days : 1 days
Food Facility : Not available
Drinking Water Facility : The water tanks near the temple.

Kamalgad Fort is situated about ten miles due west of Wai. The hill divides the head of the Krshna valley. To the north of it flows the Valki, and to the south the Krshna proper, the two streams meeting at its eastern base. The top of the hill is approached by unfrequented footpaths from Asganv to the east, from Vasole to the north, and from Partavdi to the south. The top of the hill consists of an area of only three or four acres quite flat and surrounded by a low scarp and can now be reached only by arduously scaling the scarp. This funnel is blocked by a large boulder which has fallen into it. There are no traces of any buildings on the top nor or any walls or gateway. There is only a hole which is said to be the remains of a deep well sunk right through the rocky layer constituting the scarp and penetrating to the soil below which seems still to be full of water. The hole is only eighteen to twenty feet deep though the well was thirty or forty. The sides of the well which were formed of the natural rock are said to have contained recesses in which criminals were placed to choose between starvation and throwing themselves down into the water. No traces of the recesses remain. No one lives on the hill, its sides are covered with thick scrub and water is found only at the base of the scarp. The lands belong to the village of Asganv. There are no Gadkaris in connection with the fort. To the west of the base of the scarp is a rude temple dedicated to Gorakhnath. The builder of the fort is unknown, but it is probably very old. In April 1818, Kamalgad surrendered after resistance to a British detachment under Major Thatcher.

History :

The builder of the fort is unknown. During Maratha times, Kamalgad, Pandavgad and other forts in the area were administered by a mokasaddar from Bijapur. Early documents written in now defunct Modi script of the Marathi language refer to the fort as ‘Kattalgad’. A detailed study of these documents is underway. In April 1818, Kamalgad surrendered after resistance to a British detachment commanded by a Major Thatcher. Under the British, it was used to execute prisoners of war.

Sightseeing :

The fort covers a flat area, 3-4 acres in size. It is surrounded by steep rock and can only be reached by perilously scaling this rock. Earlier, the approach was by an artificial tunnel, which started at the base of the rock and emerged on the top. Now this tunnel is blocked by a big rock which fell into it and was never removed. There are no buildings on the top nor walls of any kind or even a gateway, which is unusual for a fort in this area. Likely, its height and steep rock around it provided it with enough protection.
The only structure on the top is a hole which is the remains of a well sunk right through the rock, into the soil below which still has water. The hole is eighteen to twenty feet deep. The sides of the well which were formed of the natural rock were reported to have contained recesses in which criminals were placed. They had to choose between starvation and drowning. However, none of the recesses can be discerned today. Some reports indicate that this ‘hole’ might have been a quarry for red stone which is plentiful in this region.

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Neelkantheshwar

2009-02-04T23:16:00.000-08:00

Neelkantheshwar is a big hill which is around 50 km from Pune. It is near Panshet. There is a temple of Neelkantheshwar.

How to Reach :

Go to Panshet by Pune-Khadakwasla-Donje Phata-Khanapur-Panshet. Panshet is having two dams- Panshet dam and Varasgaon dam. Follow the road to Varasgaon dam. On this way, you'll get a small road going to Neelkantheshwar. There is a board at this point. This road is in very bad condition. It goes straight at the base of Neelkantheshwar.

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Tikona

2009-02-04T05:18:00.000-08:00

Tikona (Vitandgad)

Hill Fort Fort Range : Lonavala
District : Pune
Height above sea level : 3600 ft.
Base village : Tikona Peth
Appx. time to reach the top : 1 hr from the base village
Water availability : Potable water is available throughout the year.
Food : Not available, need to carry on our own.
Shelter : Except during monsoon, about 10 to 15 persons can be accommodated in the cave.

Tikona (Vitandgad) is located near Kamshet around 60 km from Pune The village nearest the fort is called Tikona-Peth. The 3500 ft high hill is pyramidal in shape and the name Tikona means "triangle".

The fort is a trekking destination noted for the large doors, the temple of 'Trimbakeshwar Mahadev', a water tank and some Satvahan caves. Trek organisers also commend the views of Pawna dam and the nearby forts of Tung, Lohagad and Visapur.

Malik Ahmed Nizamshah of the Nizam dynasty conquered the fort in 1585 and aanexed it to the Nizam territory. In 1657 Shivaji Maharaj (The Great Maratha Emperor) brought the whole of Konkan, which had been Nizam territory, under his control when he conquered Tikona along with the forts of Karnala, Lohgad, Mahuli, Songad, Tala, and Visapur. This fort was a strategic nexus: the centre of control for the entire Pawana Mawal region. In 1660, Netaji Palkar was charged with ensuring the security of fort Tikona. Jaysingh invaded the regionn in 1665 and the local villages were by Dilerkhan but the forts held out. Tikona fort was surrendered to the Mughal warrior Kubadkhan, who had attacked the region together with Halalkhan and others, according to the Treaty of Purandar signed on 12 June 1665. Kubadkhan took over the fort on 18 June but it was later recaptured by the Marathas

The mountains on Deccan plateau in the vicinity of Bor Ghat have many ancient caves like Karle, Bhaje, Bedse, Bhandara and Shelarwadi. The forts of Lohgad, Visapur, Tung and Tikona were built in order to defend these caves. This region also has a number of Ghat-routes connecting the ports on the western coast to the cities located on the Deccan plateau. These forts served as protectors of these important trade routes of ancient India. As the caves found in this area belong to the Buddhist and Heenyana era, it is believed that these forts must have been built around 800 to 1000 AD.

History :

Not much is known about the history of this fort. Malik Ahmed Nizamshah of the Nizam dynasty conquered it in 1585 and thus it was made part of the Nizam territory. In 1657 king Shivaji conquered Tikona along with the forts of Mahuli, Lohgad, Visapur, Songad, Tala and Karnala. Thus, all areas of Konkan, which earlier belonged to the Nizam's territory, came under king Shivaji’s control. This fort was strategically very important to keep a watch on the entire region of Pauna Mawal. In 1660, Netaji Palkar was assigned the task of ensuring security of fort Tikona. This fort was surrendered to the Mughal warrior Kubadkhan, who had attacked the region together with Halalkhan and others. However, the Marathas later recaptured the fort.

In 1682, king Sambhaji met with Aurangzeb's son Akbar. After this meeting, Akbar was offered to stay at fort Tikona, however was sent later to Jaitapur since the climate here didn't suit him. A small battle was fought with the British on Tikona in year 1818 and the fort was damaged to a great extent. Till date the fort of Tikona lies in the form of ruins.

Sightseeing :

The whole fort can be seen in an hour's time, as the area is not so wide. Turn left after passing the entrance. In a short while a cistern and cave can be seen. About 10 to 15 persons can be accommodated in this cave. However, it is not suitable for a stay during monsoon. The path going uphill adjacent to the cave takes us to the entrance to the bastion. The steps in this stretch are a bit tiring. One can see cisterns on the right and fortification on the left after passing through the entrance. After taking a few steps straight ahead, a trail climbs down on our right. Here too are a few cisterns. Return back and join the main path, which takes us to a stretch of broken steps. A climb uphill brings us to a Mahadev temple, behind which is a big moat. Circumventing this moat takes us to the flag-post. From the bastion one can have a view of adjacent fort Tung, Lohgad, Visapur, Bhatrashi hill, Morse hill, Jambhuli hill, Pauna region and Fagne dam. Thus, the whole of Mawal region is visible from fort Tikona.

How to reach :

From the village of Tikona Peth :

The main route to the fort is from the village of Tikona Peth. To reach this village, alight at Kamshet, which is two stops ahead of Lonavala on the Mumbai- Pune rail route. From Kamshet railway station, take a bus / shared private vehicle (jeep) to Kale colony. One can also get a vehicle to reach Tikona Peth from Kale colony.

A bus at 08:30 a.m. at Kamshet bound for Paund or Morsay is convenient for reaching Tikona Peth. From Tikona Peth the fort can be reached in about 45 minutes. This straight route is quite simple and not at all tiring. After passing through the entrance door, a path leads towards left and takes us to the citadel in about 20 minutes.

From the Bedse caves :

A combined trek of Lohgad, Visapur, Bedse caves and Tikona can be done. On such a trek, Tikona can be reached from the Bedse caves.

From Kevre-Bramhnoli-Tikona Peth :

A combined trek of Tung and Tikona can also be done. For that, climb down to Tungawadi after visiting fort Tung. From here reach the village of Bramhnoli with a launch available from the village of Kevre. It takes about 30 minutes' to walk from Bramhnoli to Tikona Peth.

Caves

2009-02-04T04:50:00.000-08:00

Karla caves:

The Buddhist Karla Caves lie in the western ghats, about 114 kms. away from Mumbai. They are carved out almost 2,000 years ago - and have large collection of Chaityas (halls). The beautifully carved Chaityas and Viharas (monasteries) take you on a journey back in time, narrating stories of the past. The Wooden Umbrella above the Chaitya is unique in the Buddhist caves around the world. There is absolutely no sign of any corrosion. It is the finest example of the kind perhaps in the world.
At the entrance of the principal cave is the temple of Goddess Ekvira visited by thousands of devotees from the coastal region around Mumbai during the annual fair falling in April (chaitra) and also during Navratri. Ekvira temple is on the right side of the main cave while at the left side is a lofty column with three lions on its top.
The caves with Viharas were excavated for the Buddhist monks, who used to gather here during the monsoons. Built in the time of the Hinayana sect, during the Satavahanas rule, these caves do not actually show the Buddha. A steep 350-step climb leads to the caves. At the entrance is a recently built temple; accompanied by a pillar from the Buddhist period. The facade of the caves is formed by carved temple screens, sculpted with railing ornaments and human couples. Outer and inner screens form an antechamber to the main cave. The panels of the wooden doors and windows are finely decorated with intricate sculptures of couples embracing. You will also come across a 45-meter (148 foot) long Chaitya, possibly the finest of its kind in the country.
By the seventh century AD, the Mahayana sect took over and representations of Buddha became more common. By the central doorway, you'll find sculptures of the Buddha preaching while seated on a lion-supported throne, along with magnificent carvings of three elephants, On each side, fifteen pillars separate the narrow aisles from the central arch. The pillars are adorned with motfs of elephants, men and women riding, etc.

How to reach :

By Air
Nearest airport is Pune, 56 Kms.

By Rail
Nearest railhead is Malavi, 2 Kms. on Central Railway but the more convenient railhead is Lonavala, 10 Kms.

By Road
Karla is 114 kms. from Mumbai and 56 Kms from pune on Mumbai - Pune road.

State Transport buses ply from Mumbai, Pune to Lonavala and Lonavala to Karla.

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Bhaja Caves :

Bhaja, a famous Buddhist rock cut shrine of 2nd century is situated 6 kms away from Lonavala in Maharastra.

The caves, lying 60 km from Pune city, are believed to date back to as far back as the 2nd century, when the Theravadin phase of Buddhism was still in its earliest stages. The time when the caves were chiseled coincided with the period when the Mauryans were still ruling over India. The caves found at Bhaja are approximately eighteen in number and have been dedicated to Lord Buddha.The caves are also interesting for the fact that they are one of the oldest among all caves in India. There are stupas, a common feature to all the caves, also adds to the fact that these caves, at different places, were motivated by the same motifs.

You are to climb almost half a km to reach this beautiful scenic spot where Viharas (hostel) and a huge Chaitya hall (worship place) were chiselled for Buddhist monks and devotees in pre Chistian era. A village of the same name is located at the foothills of this mountain.Although the facade of a grand structure has almost collapsed the Chaitya is still the most remarkable structure over here.

The entrance room of the attention drawing Vihara No.12 has on its right side, sculptures of Surya and Indra with a Yaksha below Surya. Pillars here have centaurs. A scene below on the left side - narrating Buddhist story also draws ones attention. Below this mountain at the pre historic Mother Goddess site Mukkai, the villagers offer sacrifices here once a year even now.

How to reach :

Rail - Malavil is the nearest railway station, at a distance of 3-km from the Bhaja village. Malavil is also the first stoppage in the Lonavla, Pune railway route.

Road - The caves could be reached easily from Lonavla, which is 11 km from the caves.

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Bedse Caves :

Bedse Caves also known as Bedsa Caves are situated in Maval taluka, Pune District, Maharashtra, India. Bedse Caves can be reached from Pune via Kamshet. They can also be reached via Paud - Tikona Peth - Pawananagar. Alternate route is from Somatne-Phata on the Pune-Mumbai NH4 Highway. Bedse Caves is one of the few places less crowded and worth visiting. People do know about the Karle-Bhaje caves near Pune but have hardly heard of Bedse Caves. Bedse Caves are not more than a 20-25 minutes of walk from village Bedse. The caves can be traced back up to 1st century B.C. There are two main caves. The main cave which is the Chaitya (prayer hall) has a beautiful Stupa. Both the caves have some carvings also. The caves are facing eastwards,

They are facing east so it is obviously advisable to visit the caves early morning as in sun light the beauty of carvings is doubled. The period can be traced back up to 1^st century b.c. A very famous incidence is told about the caves. Till around 1861 the details in paints, the carvings on the walls and the stupas were in proper stage. A British officer after hearing about this arranged his visit there. When local officer came to know about this, he urgently employed labour and clean the caves and painted the walls. The Caves today are not well cared of. But still their beauty definitely catches hold of an aesthetic mind. A very famous incident is told about the caves. Until around 1861, the carvings on the walls and the Stupas were in proper condition. A British Officer, after hearing about this arranged his visit there. When the local officer came to know about this, he urgently employed labour to clean and paint the walls of the caves.

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2008-11-10T01:35:00.000-08:00