Purandar Fort

Fort in Maharashtra, India

Purandar Fort

Pune district, Maharashtra

Purandhar Fort

Purandar Fort

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Purandar Fort

Show map of Maharashtra

Coordinates| 18°16′50.8″N 73°58′25″E﻿ / ﻿18.280778°N 73.97361°E﻿ / 18.280778; 73.97361
Type| Hill fort
Height| 1,374 metres (4,508 ft)
Site information
Owner| Government of India
Open to
the public| Yes
Condition| Ruins
Site history
Materials| Stone

Purandar Fort is a mountain fort in Pune district in Western Indian state of Maharashtra, India. The fort stands at 1,374 metres (4,508 ft) above the sea level in the Western Ghats, 50 kilometres (31 mi) to the southeast of Pune.[1]

The twin forts of Purandar (or Indraneel Parwat) and Vajragad (or Rudramal) of which the latter is the smaller of the two, is located on the eastern side of the main fort rising 1,347 metres (4,419 ft) above sea level.[1] The village of Purandar takes its name from this fort.[2] It is the birthplace of Dharmaveer Chatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.[3]

## History

[edit]

The oldest known reference of existence of the Purandar fort dates back to the Yadava dynasty in the 11th century.[citation needed]

After the defeat of the Yadavas by the foreign invaders,[citation needed] the territory surrounding the fort fell into the hands of the invaders who further fortified the Purandar Fort in 1350 A.D. During the early rule of the Bijapur and Ahmednagar kings, The Purandar Fort was among the forts directly under the Government rule and was never entrusted to Jagirdars.[4]

Under the rule of the Bahamani Sultanate, the fort was besieged several times. To prevent the Purandar Fort from ever falling again, a sacrificial ritual was performed where a man and a woman were buried alive under one of the fort bastions to appease its patron deity.[5] Another ritual was soon performed where the king ordered a minister to bury a first-born son and his mother into the foundation of the bastion which was promptly done with a further offering of gold and bricks. When the bastion was finished, The minister, Yesaji Naik, was given possession of the Purandar Fort and the father of the sacrificed boy was rewarded with two villages.[6]

To protest Adilshahi commander Fatehkhan In 1649 Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj took the charge of fort temporarly from Raje Mahadaji Neelkanthrao Sarnaik who was his father's friend and commander of Purandar for 4 generations. On the occasion of Diwali in 1656 after 2 years of death of Mahadajipant Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj took advantage of family disputes in Mahadajipant's 4 sons Neelkanth, Shankar, Tryambak/Pilaji and Vishwanath/Visaji and captured the fort. [7] In 1596 A.D, the Bahudar Shah of the Ahmadnagar Sultanate granted the territory of "Pune" and "Supa" to Malojiraje Bhosale, the grandfather of Shivaji.[citation needed] The Purandar Fort was included in the territory.

Vajragad Fort

In 1649 A.D, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, still in his youth, in one of his first victories for the Maratha Empire, raided and established control of the fort. In 1665 A.D, the Purandar Fort was besieged by the forces of Aurangzeb, under the command of Jai Singh II and assisted by Diler Khan. Murar Baji Deshpande of Mahad, who was appointed as the killedar (keeper of the fort), offered strong resistance against the Mughal forces ultimately giving up his life in a struggle to retain the fort. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, daunted at the prospect of the fall of his grandfather's fort, signed a treaty known as the First Treaty of Purandar with Aurangzeb in 1665. According to the treaty, Shivaji handed over twenty-three forts including Purandar, and a territory with a revenue of four lakh hons and was made the jagirdar of the territory. On 8th March 1670 the fort was recaptured by Neelakanth Sondev Bhadanekar, Amatya/Mazumdar of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.[8]

During the tenure of Chhatrapati Rajaram Maharaj (1689-1700) Mughal captured the fort once again but soon Marathas took the charge back under the leadership of Sachiv/Suranvis Shankaraji Narayan Gandekar.[9] Balaji Vishwanath's family took the shelter on this fort when Krishnarav Khatavkar attacked on Balajipant.[10] Peshwa Nanasaheb took the fort from Shankarajipant's descendants and gave it to Madahev Ambaji a.k.a. Baba Purandare. In 1674 A.D. old guardians Of purender named Ramoshi and Mahadev Koli people rebelled against Neelkanth Mahadev a.k.a. Aba Purandare and captured the fort. On the condition of deposing Aba Purandare and Shankar Ganesh a.k.a. Baba Sarnaik they return the fort to Peshwa.[11]

Under the Peshwa rule, the Purandar Fort acted as a stronghold whenever their capital city of Pune was under attack. In 1776 A.D, a treaty was signed between the British Raj and the Maratha States known as the Second Treaty of Purandar. Its conditions were never fulfilled, being overruled by the subsequent Treaty of Salbai in 1782 between the Bombay Government and Raghunathrao, at the close of the First Anglo-Maratha War.[4]

In 1790, it was conquered by a Koli chief Kuroji Naik and a Victory Bastion also erected here.[12][13][14]

In 1818, the Purandar Fort was invaded by a British force under General Pritzler. On 14 March 1818, a British garrison marched into Vajragad (the smaller fort). As Vajragad commanded Purandar, the commandant had to accept terms and the British flag was hoisted at Purandar on 16 March 1818. During the British Raj, the fort was used as a prison. During World War II, it was an internment camp for enemy-alien (i.e. German) families. Jews from Germany were interned. A German prisoner, Dr. H. Goetz was held here during World War II. He studied the fort during his stay and later published a book on it. The fort's major use however, was as a sanatorium for the British soldiers.[3]

The thousand-year-old Narayaneshwar temple [citation needed] of the Hemadpanthi architecture built by the Yadavas still exists at the base village of the fort called Narayanpur.

Temple of the Purandeshwar deity from which Purandar takes its name

It is believed that Purandar is the broken part of the Dronagiri Parvat, which Hanuman carried in the Ramayana.[4]

## Structures

[edit]

Cannon at the top of the fort

The fort has two distinct levels. The lower part of Purandar is called the machi. North of the machi is a flat area where the cantonment and hospital was housed.

There are many temples dedicated to Purandareshwar (the fort's patron god, from which it also takes its name) and Sawai Madhavrao Peshwa here. There is a statue of Murarbaji Deshpande, the commander (killedar) of the fort who gave up his life in order to protect the fort from the Mughals. The northern part of the machi has a low fall with several bastions and an imposing gate with two towers.[4]

Statue of Murarbaji Deshpande

From the lower level of the machi, a staircase leads to the upper level called Ballekilla. The first structure of the Ballekilla that comes into view is the Dilli Darwaja (Delhi Gate). This area also houses an ancient Kedareshwar (Shiva) temple. The BALLEKILLA is also surrounded by steep drop on three sides.

## Current use

[edit]

The Purandar Fort is a popular tourist destination and is also used by the National Cadet Corps academy for training purposes. The fort is a hotspot for paragliders and trekkers.[3][additional citation(s) needed]

## Gallery of Purandar Fort

[edit]

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

## See also

[edit]

* Chivhe Koli
* List of forts in Maharashtra

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Survey of India - Scale 1:50K Map sheet number 47F/15
2. ^ This monsoon visit Purandar fort
3. ^ a b c Maharashtra state tourism site
4. ^ a b c d Hunter, William (1886), The Imperial Gazetteer of India, London: Trubner and Co., retrieved 18 January 2009
5. ^ Sholapur District Gazetteer
6. ^ Toy, Sidney (1965). The Fortified Cities of India. London: Heinemann Educational Books Ltd. p. 51.
7. ^ "Shivcharitrya Sahitya Vol-3". 1930.
8. ^ Jedhe Shakavali.
9. ^ Marathyanche Swatantrya Samar Chhatrapati Rajaram (PDF).
10. ^ Govind Sakharam Sardesai. Marathi Riyasat Madhya Vibhag.
11. ^ Krishnaji Vasudev Purandare. Purandare Daftar Volume 3.
12. ^ Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Poona (2 pts.). Government Central Press. 1885.
13. ^ "Maharashtra Gazetteers".
14. ^ Transactions of the Medical and Physical Society of Bombay. 1862.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Purandar Fort.

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Pune district topics

History|

| Battles|

* Maratha Empire
* Battle of Koregaon
* Battle of Khadki

|

Forts|

* Korigad
* Lal Mahal
* Lohagad
* Malhargad
* Mangalgad
* Purandar Fort
* Rajgad Fort
* Sangram Durg
* Shaniwar Wada
* Shivneri
* Sinhagad
* Tikona
* Torna Fort
* Tung Fort
* Visapur Fort
* Vishalgad

Terrorism|

* 2010 Pune bombing

Geography|

| Ghats|

* Bhor Ghat
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* Malshej Ghat
* Naneghat
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|
|

Water bodies|

* Bhima River
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Conservation|

* Baner-Pashan Biodiversity Park
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Dams|

* Khadakwasla Dam
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Caves|

* Bedse Caves
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Monuments|

* Aga Khan Palace
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Important parks|

* Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park
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Sports venues|

* Nehru Stadium
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Cities
and towns|

| Major|

* Pune
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|

* Alandi
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Transport|

| By road|

* Golden Quadrilateral
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By rail|

| Systems|

* Pune Suburban Railway
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Stations|

* Pune Junction
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* Khandala railway station
* Lonavala railway station
* Malavli railway station
* Pimpri railway station
* Shivajinagar railway station
* Talegaon railway station
* Vadgaon railway station

Trains|

* Hazrat Nizamuddin–Pune Duronto Express
* Ahmedabad–Pune Duronto Express
* Pune–Secunderabad Shatabdi Express
* Pune–Bhusaval Express
* Deccan Express
* Deccan Queen
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* Pune–Solapur Intercity Express

By air|

* Pune Airport
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Culture|

* Chikki
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* Osho
* Pune International Marathon
* Puran poli
* Royal Connaught Boat Club
* Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Festival
* 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games

Constituencies|

| Lok Sabha|

* Pune
* Baramati
* Shirur
* Maval

|

Vidhan Sabha|

* Ambegaon
* Baramati
* Kasba Peth
* Kothrud
* Maval
* Pune Cantonment
* Shivajinagar
* Pimpri
* Chinchwad

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Forts in Maharashtra

Ahmednagar district|

* Ahmednagar Fort
* Bahadurgad
* Bhairavgad
* Bitangad
* Harishchandragad
* Kaladgad
* Kharda
* Kunjargad
* Madan Fort
* Manjarsumbha fort
* Pabargad
* Patta Fort
* Ratangad

Akola district|

* Akola Fort
* Balapur
* Narnala

Amravati district|

* Amner Fort
* Gawilghur

Aurangabad district|

* Antur Fort
* Daulatabad Fort

Chandrapur district|

* Chandrapur Fort
* Ballarpur Fort
* Bhadravati Fort
* Manikgad

Dhule district|

* Bhamer
* Laling
* Thalner

Kolhapur district|

* Bhudargad
* Gandharvgad
* Panhala
* Pargadh
* Pavangad
* Samangad
* Vishalgad

Latur district|

* Udgir

Mumbai City district|

* Bombay Castle
* Dongri Fort
* Fort George
* Mahim Fort
* Mazagon Fort
* Riwa Fort
* Sewri Fort
* Sion Hillock Fort
* Worli Fort

Mumbai Suburban district|

* Castella de Aguada
* Madh

Nagpur district|

* Sitabuldi

Nanded district|

* Kandhar Fort

Nashik district|

* Aavandhagad
* Achala Fort
* Ahivant Fort
* Alang
* Anjaneri
* Ankai Fort
* Bahulagad
* Bhaskargad
* Chandwad
* Chauler Fort
* Dermal
* Dhodap
* Hargad
* Harihar fort
* Hatgad
* Indrai
* Kanchangad
* Kanhergad
* Kavnai fort
* Kulang
* Madangad
* Malegaon
* Mangi-Tungi
* Moragad
* Mulher
* Nhavigad
* Rajdher fort
* Ramsej
* Salher
* Salota
* Saptashrungi
* Tankai fort
* Tringalwadi
* Waghera

Osmanabad district|

* Naldurg Fort
* Paranda Fort

Palghar district|

* Bassein
* Kaldurg
* Tandulwadi

Pune district|

* Anghaai Fort
* Bhorgiri Fort
* Chawand
* Dhakoba
* Ghangad
* Hadsar Fort
* Induri Fort
* Jivdhan
* Kailasgad
* Kawla
* Korigad/Koraigad
* Lohagad
* Malhargad
* Manaranjan
* Mangalgad
* Morgiri Fort
* Narayangad
* Nimgiri
* Purandar
* Rajgad
* Rajmachi
* Rayri Fort
* Rohida
* Sangram Durg
* Sindola Fort
* Shaniwar Wada
* Shivneri
* Shrivardhan
* Sinhagad
* Tikona
* Torna
* Tung
* Vajragad Fort
* Visapur

Raigad district|

* Agarkot
* Avchitgad
* Bhimashankar Fort
* Birwadi
* Chambhargad
* Chandragad
* Dhak Bahiri
* Dronagiri
* Gadad Bahiri
* Ghangad
* Ghosalgad
* Irshalgad
* Karnala
* Khaderi
* Khanderi
* Kondhawi Fort
* Korlai
* Kothaligad Peb fort
* Kulaba
* Kurdugad
* Lingana
* Maangad
* Madgad
* Malanggad
* Mangalgad (Kangori)
* Manikgad
* Mirgad
* Mrugagad
* Murud-Janjira
* Padargad
* Padmadurg/ Kasa Fort
* Prabalgad
* Raigad
* Ratnagad
* Revdanda
* Sagargad
* Samrajgad
* Sankshi Fort
* Sarasgad
* Sarjekot
* Songad
* Songiri Fort
* Sudhagad
* Surgad
* Talagad
* Underi
* Vikatgad Peb fort

Ratnagiri district|

* Aambolgad
* Anjanwel
* Bankot
* Gowalkot
* Jaigad
* Kanakdurg
* Mahipatgad
* Mandangad
* Prachitgad
* Prunagad
* Rasalgad
* Ratnagiri (Ratnadurg)
* Sumargad
* Suvarnadurg
* Yashwantgad

Satara district|

* Ajinkyatara
* Bhairavgad
* Bhushangad
* Chandan-Vandan
* Dategad
* Gunavantgad
* Jangali Jayagad
* Kalyangad
* Kamalgad
* Kenjalgad
* Mahimangad
* Pandavgad
* Prachitgad
* Pratapgad
* Sajjangad
* Santoshgad
* Vairatgad
* Vardhangad
* Varugad
* Vasantgad
* Vasota

Sindhudurg district|

* Aasavgad
* Bharatgad
* Rajkot Fort
* Sanrjekot
* Sindhudurg
* Vijaydurg

Thane district|

* Aasawa
* Arnala
* Asherigad
* Ballalgad
* Balwantgad
* Belapur Fort
* Bhairavgad
* Bhandargad
* Bhavanigad
* Bhupatgad
* Chanderigad
* Dahanugad
* Daulatmandal
* Dharavi
* Durgadi Fort
* Gambhirgad
* Ghodbunder Fort
* Gorakhgad
* Gotara
* Jivdhaanigad
* Kamandurg
* Kelwegad
* Kohojgad
* Mahuli
* Malang gad
* Palasgad
* Tahuli
* Shirgav Fort

Jalna district|

* Jalna Fort(Mastgarh)
* Rohilagarh
* Jafrabad Qila

* v
* t
* e

Maratha Confederacy

Chhatrapatis|

* Shivaji
* Sambhaji
* Rajaram I
* Tarabai
* Shahu I
* Rajaram II
* Shahu II
* Pratap Singh

Peshwas|

* Moropant Trimbak Pingle
* Moreshvar Pingale
* Ramchandra Pant Amatya
* Bahiroji Pingale
* Balaji Vishwanath
* Baji Rao I
* Balaji Baji Rao
* Madhavrao Ballal
* Narayan Rao
* Raghunathrao
* Sawai Madhavrao
* Baji Rao II
* Amrut Rao
* Nana Sahib
* Bhat family

Amatya & Pratinidhi|

* Ramchandra Pant Amatya
* Pralhad Niraji
* Parshuram Pant Pratinidhi (hereditary)
* Shripatrao Pant Pratinidhi
* Jagjivanrao Pant Pratinidhi

Women|

* Ahilyabai Holkar
* Anandibai
* Gopikabai
* Jankibai
* Jijabai
* Kashibai
* Lakshmibai
* Mastani
* Parvatibai
* Putalabai
* Ramabai
* Saibai
* Sakvarbai
* Soyarabai
* Umabai Dabhade
* Baka Bai
* Tulsi Bai Holkar

Maratha Confederacy|

* Bhonsle of Nagpur
* Gaekwad of Baroda
* Scindia of Gwalior
* Holkar of Indore
* Patwardhan dynasty

Battles|

* Pratapgarh
* Kolhapur
* Pavan Khind
* Umberkhind
* Chakan
* Surat
* Purandar
* Sinhagad
* Salher
* Kalyan
* Bhupalgarh
* Bijapur
* Raigarh (1689)
* Jinji
* Satara
* Khelna
* Raigarh
* Torna
* Palkhed
* Malwa
* Mandsaur
* Bhopal
* Vasai
* 1st Trichinopoly
* Katwa (1st)
* 2nd Trichinopoly
* Katwa (2nd)
* Invasions of Bengal
* Burdwan
* Narela
* 2nd Delhi
* North-west India
* Peshawar
* 3rd Panipat
* Alegaon
* Rakshasbhuvan
* Capture of Delhi
* Pachgaon
* Saunshi
* Wadgaon
* Adoni
* Badami
* Savanur
* Gajendragad
* Bahadur Benda
* Lalsot
* Chaksana
* Patan
* Kharda
* Poona
* 3rd Delhi
* Assaye
* Laswari
* Farrukhabad
* Bharatpur
* Khadki
* Koregaon
* Mahidpur

Wars|

* Maratha-Mughal War of 27 years
* Maratha–Mysore War
* First Anglo-Maratha War
* Second Anglo-Maratha War
* Third Anglo-Maratha War

Adversaries|

* Adil Shahi
* Qutb Shahi
* Mughal Empire
* Durrani Empire
* British Empire
* Portuguese Empire
* Nizam of Hyderabad
* Kingdom of Rohilkhand
* Mysore

Forts|

* Mangad
* Panhala
* Pratapgad
* Purandar
* Raigad
* Rajgad
* Shaniwar Wada
* Shivneri
* Sindhudurg
* Rajgad
* Torna

Coins|

* Shivrai

18°17′N 73°59′E﻿ / ﻿18.283°N 73.983°E﻿ / 18.283; 73.983
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