Harihar Fort
Name : Harihar fort
Elevation : 1120 m
Type : Giridurg
Hiking Range : Easy
Venue : Nashik, Maharashtra
Nearby village : Take Harsh
Dongarrang : Sahyadri
There's a ghost temple in this Fort. If it's miles the month of might also, then the legumes of taxpayers are eaten. A unique function of Harihar is that there are steep climbs. After the climb, there's a small lake to the east. Hanuman's temple on the brink and Mahadev's pind and Nandi at the fourth facet. There are four to 5 waterlogged caves all round. move right down to the left and visit the financial institution. This citadel is located at the slopes of Chaufar Belag. To the east, fabric mountains and Brahmagiri may be visible. To the south is the Vaitarna valley. This is an option for mountaineering enthusiasts.
History :
Harihar alias Harshgad become built in historic times and changed into within the ownership of the Nizam Shah of Ahmednagar. when Shahaji Raja restored Nizamshahi in 1636, he conquered this castle together with Trimbakgad.
Ways to reach the Harihar Fort :
First direction : On the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar avenue, 3 km from Trimbakeshwar, on the left facet of the street, in case you take the street closer to Mokhada, Nirgudpada is a village at the foot of the castle.
Second way : At the way from Nashik-Trimbakeshwar to Jawahar closer to Sapgaon, after achieving Harshwadi that's 15 km from Trimbak, you could attain the citadel.
Approximately 20 km west of Brahmagiri in Nashik district. situated at a distance is Harihargad aka Harshgad. This fortress is constructed in historical times. The citadel changed into within the possession of the Nizamshah of Ahmednagar. In 1636, Shahaji Raja conquered the neighboring fortress of Trimbakgad. however later it handed to the Mughals. Later in 1670, Moropant Pingale conquered this fort and delivered cost to the Swarajya. The citadel changed into conquered on January 8, 1689 by way of the Mughal chief Matabbar Khan. finally, in 1818, the fortress changed into conquered by using the British from the Marathas. This fort is the second most important fortress in the records of the vicinity after the neighboring Trimbakgad. due to the fact even these days the forts at the foot of this citadel are referred to as Takeharsh, Akhali Harsh.
This triangular formed Harihargad is characterised by its directly stone stairway, the tunnel main to it and all of the castle remains at the fortress. The course of the stone stairs dug inside the stone to attain it's miles familiar to the pilgrims. In fact, the coverage of the British at that time was to wreck the fort and its entrances with guns. Following that approach, they demolished the forts of many forts (e.g. Alang-Madan-Kulang, Siddhagad, Padargad, Aundha etc.) however, he did now not contact the path of the ft. This indicates that Harihar is also well-known for his ft.
Places to see on Harihar Fort :
On this vicinity, you may see the unpleasant gods inside the middle of the hill with vermilion. A trident is also positioned inside the center of it and this court docket of nameless deities attracts the eye of passers-by way of. shifting on, we quickly come upon a large black hill of the fortress. there is absolute confidence on your mind that this path, which literally hits the sky, will provide you with a brilliant enjoy of ascension as quickly as you have a look at the path of the fort from the bottom of Harihar castle. Carved one step at a time in the black rock, this stone staircase is so slender that handiest one individual can climb it at a time. So be cautious. sooner or later, after mountain climbing the stairs of approximately ninety ft, we reach the first small but stunning front of Harihar fort. we'd stop here for a while and enjoy the cool breeze and the following climb would be fresh.
This first front gate of Harihar fortress and the two small bastions on both facet of it add to the beauty of the path carved into the rock. adjoining to the entrance of the castle, you may see a small idol of Ganaraya with its vertebrae torn off. After stepping in this path, after crossing doorways dug inside the rock, you come to a stone staircase of about a hundred thirty toes. There are grooves on both aspects of the street for paw plowing and with their help we breathe and sooner or later attain the very last entrance. After passing this remaining small gate of Harihar citadel, a touch similarly on, there is a cave on the lower left hand side. but to get there, you need the help of a rope. consequently, after seeing this cave from above, you could see the stays of the fortress's head. After seeing it, you may come across 3 water tanks and a large pond. there's a small temple of Hanumanta on the bank of this lake that is blocked by way of water with the aid of building a stone wall at the west aspect.
Pass down and visit the stone with a domed head in front, which is 30 toes long and 12 toes wide. the doorway of the room is like a small window and it is dark even all through the day. This barracks is the best intact building on the fort. The Brahma mountain in the front of right here looks very beautiful. this is in which your burial ends. It takes two hours to complete the entire gadfly nicely. but, you have to be careful while descending after seeing the fortress.
The way to pass Harihar :
To visit Harihar, we used to capture a bus from Nashik bus stand to Ghoti or Khodala. We wanted to get off the bus at Nirgudpada village. As quickly as you step out of the bus, you will see the feature hill of Harihar alias Harshgad on the proper hand aspect. From there, we attain the open plateau in the front of Harihar fortress in an hour. there may be any other manner for the castle enthusiasts who are coming here from Trimbakeshwar. He took a bus from Trimbakeshwar to Mokhada or Jawahar for about 15 km.
After travelling to the left hand, descend to Harshwadi fork. From here, after a four km lengthy pipeline via Kalamuste, we attain Harshwadi. From right here, after mountaineering a rock for about an hour and a 1/2 alongside the banks of a dam, we attain the open plateau in the front of Harihar fortress. in this picturesque street, you could see an ashram, an ancient stone pool and a Ganesha temple subsequent to it. From Nirgudpada or from Harshwadi, each of them take you to the open plateau in the front of Harihar castle after about an hour's walk.
Photographs of Lohgad :
