Harishchandragad

Harishchandragad

Harishchandragad is a big hill at the left facet of Malshej Ghat at the border of Thane, Pune and Ahmednagar districts. The height here is one of the maximum peaks in Ahmednagar district.

Name : Harishchandragad

Elevation : 4000 feet

Type : Giridurg

Hiking Range : Medium

Venue : Ahmednagar District, Maharashtra

Nearest village : Pachanai, Khireshwar

Mountain variety : Harishchandra's range

Current Condition : Good enough

Harishchandragad is a beautiful instance of how you can still observe a place or a fortress in such a lot of special ways. The history of this fortress is interesting and the geography is wonderful. like every different forts, it belonged to the tribal Koli Mahadev community. The fortress has a heritage inside the records of this network, however also in the records of the Mughals or the Marathas, whilst Harishchandragad has a mythological background of to four thousand years ago. Harishchandragad is cited in historical Agni Purana and Matsya Purana, which is greater than 3 and a half thousand years vintage and has got the natural safety of the broken Raudrabhishan Kadekpari. The fort turned into taken over by way of the Mughals from the tribal Koli Mahadev community after which in 1747-48 the Marathas took over the castle from the Mughals and appointed Krishnaji Shinde because the fort keeper. The castle changed into conquered with the aid of the British in 1818.

Because the peaks here are named after Harishchandra, Taramati and Rohidas, the fort is immediately related to King Harishchandra by using nearby legends. Changdeva had executed penance in the caves at Harishchandragad.

Description of the fortress :

Tea and meals are available on the fortress. The splendor of this castle is something else within the rainy season. The variety of plants is unequalled anywhere else. plants like Karwand, Karvi Jali, Dhayati, Ukshi, Madvel, Kuda, Pangli, Hekal, Panfuti, Garvel etc. are discovered right here. The wildlife in the place, but, has been substantially dwindled through poachers. but, animals like foxes, taras, buffaloes, bibals, rabbits, bhekar, ranmanjre and so on. are located. Naneghat, Jeevdhan, Ratangad, Katrabaichi Khind, Ajobacha Dongar, Kalsubai, Alang, Madan, Kulang, Bhairavgad, Hudsar and Chavand can be visible from the highest height of Taramati fortress. Harishchandragad, that's full of awesome natural beauty, turns into the 'Pandhari of trekkers'. Harishchandragad is 1424 meters above sea degree.

The way to reach the fort :

There are currently 3 or 4 methods to attain the fort. As the perimeter of the castle could be very huge, there are  many  approaches to reach the fort.

As the road from Junnar taluka / Pune district to Khireshwar is simple, people generally take this route to reach Harishchandragad. The Mumbai-Junnar motorway passes through Malshej Ghat. Khubifata is on the pinnacle of this ghat. Khubiphata can be reached from Pune through Alephata or from Kalyan via Murbad-Malshej Ghat. After walking over the dam from Khubi fork, 5 km. Khireshwar village is at a distance. additionally from Pune to Khireshwar ST. Buses also are to be had. there is an ashram faculty on the manner from Khubiphata to Khireshwar. In case of problem, lodging can be organized on request. at the manner to Harishchandragad, about one km from Khireshwar village. in the distance is the historical Shiva temple of Khireshwar. it is an 11th century Yadav temple. there is a sculptural plaque at the roof of the sabhamandap outside the temple. on the pinnacle of the door with the inner gabhara is an top notch carving of the rest of Vishnu and his family. Many such carved images of the rat-service Makar-Rati are located on the rocks here. This temple is also called 'Nageshwar's Temple'. From this village, two elements visit the citadel. 1) One way takes about 3 hours from Tolar gorge to the temple at the citadel. 2) the second manner results in Junnar Darwaza at the castle. This direction became previously used. Now, but, one ought to now not go to the citadel by using this street without a street. The wells inside the village have to be packed with water as there's no water at the manner.

Tube wait :

The pipeline passes via Belpada (Murbad taluka, Thane district) to Harishchandragad. This course includes a ten-to-twelve-hour marathon trek that involves mountaineering.

Savarne-Belpada-Sayle ferry path :

There is a Savarne-Belpada-Sayle ferry direction to Gad Sir. but due to the fact this path could be very difficult, simplest individuals who are privy to the technique of mountain climbing must comply with this path. To attain this course, one has to get off at Savarne village earlier than beginning Malshejghat via Kalyan-Murbad. From here, come to the village on the foot of Konkankada called Belpada. From here, you can actually attain the Konkankada plateau with the assist of a easy ghat drawn from a ridge. It takes approximately a day and a half to reach the temple by way of this route. This direction is also called 'tube route'.

One way to reach Harishchandragad is thru Pachnai from Ahmednagar district. For this, you have to move right down to Ghoti village on Mumbai-Nashik motorway. From there visit Rajur village on Sangamner road. There are approaches to climb the citadel from Rajur.

Rajur-Pachanai bus provider is available. This distance is set 29 km. Fills. Pachanai is a village on the foot of the citadel and it takes about three hours to reach the castle from right here. The wait may be very clean. The distance from Pachanai to Harishchandreshwar temple is four km.

Currently, non-public transport services have end up to be had from Rajur to Tolar bypass. This path takes a detour to the hills of Rajur, Ambit, Pachanai, Mula river basin, Ghanchakkar, Baleshwar range and reaches Tolarkhindi in one hour the road up from right here is breathtaking. The temple on the castle may be reached in 2 hours from right here. It takes an hour and a half from the bottom to attain Tolar pass. there's no water anywhere along the manner. consequently, you need to bring water bottles with you whilst you arrive. The entire place is forested. A stone sculpture of a tiger has been erected within the Tolar gorge, suggesting that there's also a tiger enclosure inside the place. From the gorge, the direction leads to Kothala. The path to the west of the gorge takes you to the pinnacle of Harishchandra. Steps are dug within the rock at the way up the gorge. In half of an hour from here we reach in the ramparts.

Tolar Gorge :

The pinnacle of Harishchandragad may be very wide so it appears very grand from beneath. To its east is the English 'U' formed ravine. This gorge is the well-known Tolar gorge. This gorge is the hyperlink between Pune and Ahmednagar districts. The history of tribal innovative Raghoji Bhangare continues to be glorious here.

From right here to the west with the aid of Dhopat road 3-4 km. I ought to walk. Directional arrows also are painted in lots of places in this path. this is the manner to reach Taramati peak.

Locations to See at Fort :

Here is the temple of Harishchandreshwar. Caves are carved on the northern foot of Taramati top. there may be a pond at the door of Harishchandreshwar temple. within the corners of it have been idols. there may be Nandi in front of the temple. it's far one of the 12 temples constructed by using King Zanj in the 10th and 11th centuries. there may be a carved cave at the temple. To the north of the temple is a stream of water. There are caves of Kedareshwar on this dhali. It has a big lump. The aspect of the pindi is packed with water.

Konkankada :

The largest enchantment of this fort is the Konkan side to the west of the castle. The cliff, which falls 3000 toes underneath the Konkan, is about seventy five feet inland in the middle. It has to be visible at the same time as slumbering (and watching) on ​​the top of the hoop. If there is clean air, the vicinity from right here to Kalyan can be seen. This ridge is the highest ridge in Maharashtra. This area is shaped like the letter 'U' in Roman script. not like different jewelry, it is not  ninety degree in form however concave. seen from the the front, it looks like a cobra's fang.

From Harishchandragad, forts like Shivneri, Hudsar, Chavand, Nimgiri, Sindola, Jeevdhan, Gorakhgad, Machhindra, Siddhagad, Mahuli, Kaladgad, Bhairavgad, (Moroshi), in addition to Bhairavgad (Shirpunje), Kunjargad are visible.

even though the traces of Gadpana are disappearing, we are able to see the unfastened glide of nature, its dryness, diverse inventions of nature within the wanderings of Harishchandra. however to see and enjoy all this, you need to have as a minimum two days to spare. In 1835, Colonel Sykes noticed Indravajra at the Konkankada.

Dangerous a part of Konkankada :

This famous Konkankada on Harishchandragad has a huge crack on its head, so this aspect has grow to be dangerous. If this element isn't repaired at once, the top part of the hoop is likely to disintegrate inside the next few days. travelers do not have the concept that this part of the ridge is putting. If this element collapses, the splendor of Konkankada may be shattered.

there's an opening of about five to 10 toes from the stop of the cliff, and the rock a part of it's been dug from the inside. a median of five thousand millimeters of rain falls on Konkankada. the speed of the wind flowing thru the valley is also massive. Wool, wind and rain are probably to widen the gap.

Taramati peak :

Taramati top is the very best top within the citadel and in Pune district. the peak is set 4850 ft. There are seven caves within the belly of the peak. In one of the caves, there is a big and beautiful idol of Ganesha of approximately 8 and a half of toes. there are many caves round this Ganesh cave. It also had lodging. After status in the front of the cave, the path going to the left leads you to the pinnacle of Taramati after a half of hour climb. From this peak, you will see the forests, ghats and the Konkan place. at the way to the summit, there are many gomukhs. There are or three Shivlings on the head.

Historical Importance :

This citadel isn't the same as other conventional forts in Maharashtra. The ramparts discovered in other forts are not visible here (Henry Pattinger, District Collector of Ahmednagar in 1818, demolished Harishchandragad on 14 June - Sudhir Jorvekar). The fortress has historical caves and a Shiva temple courting lower back to the 12th century. it's far called the maximum far flung fort in the Sahyadri. The temple here is the kulak of the Koli Mahadev tribe and the tribe is thought by way of the name of Mahadev. all the Mahadev temples in the complete Sahyadri belt are the image of this tribe. it is also a image of the battle of the Mahadev Koli network towards the British, moneylenders and landlords. In 1747-forty eight, the castle changed into taken over by means of the Marathas from the Mughals and Krishnaji Shinde of the Mahadev Koli network changed into appointed because the fort keeper.

There's a type wall within the courtyard of the temple. there may be a stone bridge in the front of this kind of wall. underneath this bridge, a movement flows from the Taramati peak, which is also referred to as the 'source of Mars'. Later this river flows thru the foothills of Pachanai village. additionally the rivers Pushpavati and Kalu originate at the south aspect of the fortress. there are many caves within the temple premises. some caves are appropriate for residing at the same time as some caves have water. The water in those caves is cool and prefer nectar. there is a rectangular inside the cave behind the temple. there may be a room underneath the ground in this sector. there's a massive rock on it. in step with the local villagers, 'Changdev Rishi' had executed penance in this room for fourteen hundred years.

Photographs of Harishchandragad :