Trekking in Maharashtra, India : 150 Forts

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Sajjangad fort has temples and many monuments on top. It was home of Swami Ramdas, the spiritual guru of Shivaji from 1608, when he lived in Parali and later from 1673 to 1681 on the fort. It had a small history and the Mughals controlled it from 1700 after the death of Shivaji and Swami Ramdas.

Buses ply directly to the fort from Satara ST stand (10 km). The fort has three temples (pilgrim centre), ashrams, accommodation and ruined buildings. Swami Ramdas samadhi is visited by many and is a good temple with a gopuram and an underground chamber for meditation.

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The Peshwa fort's construction was started and completed on a Saturday. So it is named as Shaniwarwada. The fort has five entrances, four cannons, water reservoirs, palace in ruins (foundation), good fountains, bathing tubs, Durbar hall etc and is rectangular in shape. The fort is well preserved and there is wall paintings near the main gate. Above the main gate, there is a balcony made of wood with carvings.

Balaji Bajirao (1740 -1761) the third Peshwa constructed the Diwan Khana (Main hall of audience) for celebrating Ganapati festival in 1755. Later on Nana Phadanwis, Prime minister to Sawai Madhavrao (1774 -1795), constructed a few more rooms. Captain Moor who visited Pune when Peshwa's power was at its height described the splendor of this hall. He had seen more than a hundred dancing girls in the palace at one time.







Pune has 25 forts, more than 100 rock cut caves and 125 ancient temples.

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Patta is one of the most interesting and towering forts with a huge plateau on top. It was also called Vishramgad ('fort for rest' as Shivaji has stayed to recover from an illness). The weather is always very pleasant here, even in summer due to breeze.

Travel from Igatpuri near Nashik to Konkanwadi phata via Taked by Sinnar bus (30 km, 1145 am). On the way one can see around 40 windmills. The road from Konkanwadi phata bifurcates (left) and climbs to Avandh (1322 m). The right road leads to Konkanwadi (7 km). The Patta hill range has a summit on the left and the range breaks at right with a separate hill. The road further goes to base of the fort via this gap.

From the road one can see a small domed temple. Follow the easy 'kachha' road to the temple, 2 caves, a cave cum water tank, a small tunnel and to the top plateau. On the extreme southern end, there is a hall - Muslim style (domed) construction in - fairly good condition. One km flat walk leads 12 water cisterns in series and two fairly large caves near the summit. The summit is having an grant view of Avandh fort, windmills and lakes. The to and fro trek from Konkanwadi phata takes 4 hour. If one is having vehicle, it is an easy fort to climb (1.5 to 2 hour trek).