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Travel / Previous Page / Next Page
Lohagad
Lohgad was one of the most important forts of Satwaahan Period, which takes us to 2000 to 2500 years
back. Bhaje & Bedse caves where used by Buddhist monks to stay. These caves are situated in the mountain of Visapur.
Sage Lomesh had been meditating on Lohgad, and this is why the fort is called so. It had been built with a primary intention to keep a watch on Nane Maval, Korbaarse Maval and Andhra Maval.
After the downfall of Bahmani kingdom, the fort went into the hands of Nizamshahi in 1489. Thereafter it remained with them
till 1630. When the brother of seventh Nizam named second Burhan ruled here (1590-1594), he was imprisoned on this
fort. In 1630, the fort went under the control of Adilshah. Shivaji Maharaj captured it in 1648, two years after he captured
Torna. Netaji Palkar was appointed to look after the fort and the surrounding region.
In 1665, Mirza raja Jaysingh invaded Purandar, and launched a major attack on the forts in Pune region. Villages nearby
Lohgad became a victim of that. In March 1665, Kutubuddin attacked and looted the villages here. About 1500 soldiers
came down from the fort, but could not sustain, and returned back. According to the treaty of Purandar, the fort went into
the hands of Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb broke the treaty, and Shivaji Maharaj got it back in 1670. Aurangzeb recaptured it in
1700. Shahu Maharaj gave the fort to Kanhoji Angre. In 1720 it was under the control of Balaji Vishwanath. Nana
Phadnis was an important personality amongst the Peshwas. He developed the fort a lot. He renovated the first, second
and the fourth entrance of the fort. Jaavji Bomble and later Dhondopant Nitsure ruled under Nana Phadnis. He shifted his
entire treasury on this fort, which was kept in Laxmi Kothi. Nana Phadnis passed away in 1800. His wife came here in
1802. Bajirao-II was an inefficient ruler who was pro-British. General Wellesley was the person who insisted Dhondopant
to be loyal to Bajirao. But it did not last long and Dhondopant Nitsure,s man attacked Bajirao. Wellesley decided to
capture the fort. In 1818 colonel Prother came here and captured Visapur. Lohgad came into his hands without firing a
single bullet.
Location: Lonavala
Distance from major cities:
Mumbai - 120 km
Pune - 90 km
Lonavala - 10 km
Villages at Foothills: Bhaje, Lohagadwadi
Altitude:4320 ft (1317 m)
Latitude: 18°70'93"N
Longitude: 73°47'65" |
Attractions:
The fort houses many old constructions and much of its fortification is very intact. This becomes clear as
we move. The entrances and the ramparts are as they were 200 years ago. As we enter the Ganesh Darwaaja, we come
across an inscription on a rectangular stone. If it is not stone, one has to check every stone there. The inscription on it tell
that the construction was initiated and done by Dhondopant under Nana Phadnis. Here are the galleries for guards.
Between Narayan & Hanuman Darwaaja there are two godowns. These were used for storage of granary. After entering
the Maha Darwaaja we come across an old 'Dargah'. Besides the Dargah we come across the remnants of the court.
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Each and every fort built had a purpose mainly confined to war times, but the basic aim behind fort building was to guard
the important routes on which trade takes place. Each and every fort is built to protect the 60 ghats in Sahyadri. Those,
which belong to ancient times, include Shivneri, Rajgad, Lohgad and many others. Of them, Lohgad and Visapur, two
forts are situated near Lonavala, a famous place near Pune. Lohgad is 2000 years old, and this is proved by the
existence of Bhaje and Karla caves in its vicinity. The Buddhist followers who traveled all over to spread Buddhism
carved these out. These were the places where they could get peace of mind, far from people, on high mountains. Thus
the forts played a major role in preserving a great culture.
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