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Location: South west of Pune
Distance from major cities:
Mumbai - 277 km
Pune - 117 km
Satara - 7 km

Villages at Foothills: Satara
Altitude: ft ( m)
Latitude: 17°40'17"N
Longitude: 73°59'44"E
Best time to visit: Throughout the year. Best during the monsoon

Ajinkyatara was the fourth capital of Marathas; the first being Rajgad, followed by Raigad and then the fort of Jinji. Shilahar King Bhoj-II constructed it in the year 1190. This fort was initially surmounted by Bahamani King and then by Adilshah of Bijapur. In the year 1580, the queen of Adilshah-I, Chandbibi was imprisoned here. Bajaji Nimbalkar is also said to be locked up at the same place. During the expansion of Swarajya, Shivaji Maharaj ruled over this fort from July 27, 1673. Raje is said to have stayed on this fort for two months due to ill health. After unfortunate death of Shivaji Maharaj, Aurangjeb invaded Maharashtra in 1682. In 1699 he beleaguered the fort. Prayagji Prabhu was the chief of the fort then. On April 13, 1700, the Mughals dug trenches and used explosives to blow the bastion of Mangalai devi. They succeeded as the ramparts were destroyed and some Marathas were killed. Fortunately Prayagji Prabhu escaped with minor injuries. At that moment there was another explosion and the broken ramparts fell on the Mughals. The war progressed and Subhanji took the fort on April 21, 1700. It took four and half months for the Mughals to win the fort. It was renamed as Azamtara. Tararani & her army again won this fort and named it Ajinkyatara. Mughals took back the fort again. In 1708 Shahu took the fort by treachery and declared himself as the ruler. In 1719, mother of Maharaj Shahu, Matoshri Yesubai, was brought here. Later the fort was inherited by Peshwas. After death of Shahu-II, the British captured the fort on February 11, 1818.

Attractions: There are two entrances on Satara side of fort. One entrance is in good condition. Both bastions still exist. At the right side of the entrance there is Hanuman temple. This is the best place to stay for. Water is not available on the fort. On the way towards left side we see Mahadev temple. Opposite to it there is office of Prasarbharati and two towers. After moving further, we see a board reading way towards Mangaladevi temple, on the left side. Here we find the palace of`Tara Rani, and one big storeroom. At the end of this road there is Mangaladevi temple. Opposite to it is the Mangaladevi bastion. Many sculptures are found around the temple. There are two entrances at the North. The way to these entrances is from Satara-Karad road. Near the entrances there are three lakes. After seeing the fort we can come down by same way. From fort we can see plateau of Yavateshwar, forts of Chandan-Vandan, Kalyangad, Jaranda and Sajjangad. It takes one and the half hours to see the fort.

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