Poonch Fort

 POONCH FORT- With Glorious Past

(Poonch fort)(source- Google)

The ancient fort of the Jammu region Poonch fort is also called Poonch Qila of the Indian Union Territory Jammu and Kashmir. Poonch fort is located in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir. Between the years 1760 and 1787, the Poonch fort was built by Raja Rustam Khan. The architecture was very fond of Mughal’s architecture who constructed this huge fort of Poonch district and Raja Moti Singh was very impressed by the design of that architecture so he kept renovating the Poonch Fort for continuous 40 years.

ABOUT POONCH FORT

(Source- Google)

 Poonch fort adds more glory to the ancient city of Jammu and Kashmir. The Poonch Fort is documented and authentic that records a history of the Poonch District. Poonch fort is called the historic monument of Jammu and Kashmir. Poonch fort is sprawling around an area of 7535 square meters. This imposing historical edifice carries stories of periods under the rule of the Dogras, Sikhs, and Muslims within its thick walls. Raja Rustam Khan was the son of Raja Abdul Razaq Khan. The foundation of the Poonch fort was done by Raja Abdul Razaq Khan in 1713 AD. So, after his death, the construction of the Poonch fort was completed by his son Raja Rustam Khan. After several years Raja Moti Singh had hired the European architecture for the renovation of the Poonch fort and the architecture design the Poonch fort in European style. After that, the Poonch fort becomes the tourist destination spot in the Poonch district of Jammu. 

HOW TO REACH POONCH FORT

(Source- Google)

You can reach Poonch fort by Jammu airport or by Jammu railway station. From the airport or railway station, you can take a public transport bus and reach the Jammu bus stand. From the bus stand take the transport bus that will be going to Poonch or you can hire a private cab to reach Poonch fort. The distance from Jammu airport to Poonch fort is about 234 kilometers and the distance from Jammu railway station to Poonch fort is about 236 kilometers. 

Entry fees- None

Timings- From 10 am to 4 pm

Famous for- The different architectural styles and types.

Address- Poonch Fort, Poonch 185101, Jammu and Kashmir

Ratangad, Bhandardara, Maharashtra

           

District - Ahmednagar

State - Maharashtra

Distance from Bhandardara - 23 km

Best time to visit - 

• June to September ( Monsoon months )

• October to February ( Winter months ) 

Picture source - goibibo

Ratangad fort  

Ratan ( रत्न ) means Jewel in Hindi and Ratangad fort is aptly called the "Jewel of the Sahyadris".

Simultaneously, the fort is also named after Ratnabai Mandal,  one of the three sisters, the other two being Katrabai and Kalsubai.

There is a small temple in the fort dedicated to her.

The fort is 400 years old and is at an elevation of 4255 feet.

It was captured by Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and is believed to be his most preferred fort for leisure.

Situated  in the Ajoba mountain range of the Sahyadris, it is surrounded on all sides by great mountains like Kalsubai, Alang, Katrabai, Ghanchakkar, Ajoba and Kulan.

The top of the fort  provides a panoramic view of Chor Darwaza, Tryambak Darwaza, Bhandardara dam and the neighboring ancient forts , Harishchandragad, Kulang, Mandangad, Patta and Alang. 

The fort has four gates, named Konkan, Ganesh, Trimbak and Hanuman with the sculptures of Lord Ganesh and Lord Hanuman on the main gate. The top of the fort has developed a hole, perhaps due to soil erosion. The hole is 10 feet in height and 60 feet in width. It appears like the eye of a needle and hence is called Nedhe in Marathi.

There are a number of functioning wells on the fort with some providing potable water.

A couple of caves on the eastern side are functional and used for the purpose of overnight stopover by the trekkers. 

picture source -ahmednagar.nic.in

 Ratangad trek - 

Trekking up to the 400 years old fort is one of the most popular tourist activities in Bhandardara.The trek's base starts from the village, Ratanwadi, just opposite of Amruteshwar temple.  The twisting trail is fairly medium challenging and leads through lush and dense forest paths that provide coolness even in the summer season. There are a couple of iron ladders  installed by the forest department to climb up the fort.

The trail provides an opportunity to gaze at the scenic beauty of the surrounding peaks, the Pravara river, the Bhandardara dam and the Ratanwadi village.

There are no waterfalls on the way up to the fort. Though the trail is marked for guidance it is still preferable to take along a local guide from the village.

As regards availability of food items, the villagers do put up small stalls on the weekends with the local fare of poha, instant noodles, tea etc. Lunch and dinner orders can also be placed in the village, though the fare will be fairly simple and traditional Maharashtrian. 

Harishchandragad, Bhandardara, Maharashtra

 

Location - Bhandardara

District - Ahmednagar

State - Maharashtra

Situated about 4665 feet above sea-level, this fort is believed to be built in the 6 th century.

There are quite a few caves that seem to have been carved in the 11 th century. They have idols of Lord Vishnu.

Many diverse constructions and structures  point to the existence of diverse cultures down the centuries.

 The  creator of the epic TatvaSaar, Rishi Changdev used to meditate in these caves in the 14th century.

Historically the fort was of much significance as it played a major part in guarding as well as controlling the surrounding region. 

Trekking up to the top of Harishchandragad is one of the most popular treks and trekkers have the option of multiple routes to choose from. Needless to say, the views along the way are absolutely mesmerizing.

Harishchandeshwar Mandir 

Built by Zanz belonging to the Shillar dynasty, this temple was built in the 6 th century. Its height is about 16 metres and it has been carved from a single rock.

It has entrances from all the four sides.

Dedicated to Lord Shiv, the temple has a typical North Indians architectural design.  There are many water tanks, one of which is the origin of the river Mangal Ganga.

Saptatirtha Pushkarni

To the east of the Harishchandreshwar temple is the lake, Sapta Tirtha Pushkarni.

There used to be temple-like constructions with Lord Vishnu idols. These have now been shifted to the caves near the Harischandeshwar temple.

Kedareshwar Cave

This cave is situated to the right of Harishchandreshwar temple and is filled with ice cold water with 5 feet Shivling submerged partly in it. The uniqueness of the cave is that water seeps in continuously from the walls. 

On top of the Shivling is a structure that was originally supported by 4 pillars.Now only the fourth pillar is intact and the local belief is that the world will end when the fourth pillar also crumbles.

The cave is not accessible in the monsoon months. 

Taramati peak ( तारामती माची )

Ranked as the sixth highest peak in the state of Maharashtra it gives an amazing view of the whole range of Nanhe ghat, Malshej ghat, Kalsubai and many forts near Murbad like Ghodishep, Kulang, Alang ,Napta twin peaks, Siddhagad.

Trekking up to the peak is truly an enjoyable and unforgettable experience.

Nageshwar Mandir 

An ancient temple very much well-known for its artistic carvings and sculptures  on the ceiling, the most prominent being that of a sleeping Lord Vishnu which is 1.5 metres in length.

Konkan Kada 

Kada means cliff in Marathi and this cliff faces the Konkan, hence its name,  Konkan Kada.

This western facing cliff provides a spectacular  view of Konkan and the surrounding regions. A couple of unique features of this cliff are The Circular rainbow and the vertical cloud burst .

The sunset from the cliff is also a not to  be missed sight due to its beauty. 

In conclusion, a trip to Harishchandragad is a unique and unforgettable experience.

Pictures - wikipedia

Bahu Fort - Jammu

 BAHU FORT- The walls that have survived

(Bahu Fort)(source- Google)

An important addition to the sightseeing session in the Jammu region is the Bahu Fort. Bahu Fort has situated in the opposite old town of Jammu at an elevation of 325 meters. The thick secured walls of the structure are constructed using Black lime and mortar. The Bahu Fort is one of the historic forts in the Jammu region of the Indian Union Territory Jammu and Kashmir. Bahu Fort is situated on the bank of the River Tawi. Around 3000 years ago; this ancient fort is considered to be constructed by Rajput Raja Bahulochan. It is believed that the first renovation of Bahu Fort was tackled during the Dogra Rule in the 18th century. The Bahu Fort is a religious place and within its boundaries has a shrine that is committed to the Hindu Goddess Kali. The temple is locally called the Bawe Wali Mata Temple.

(Bahu fort)(source- Google)

A famous Hindu Festival which is called Bahu Mela is held during the time of Navratris in the area of that fort. Navratri is celebrated twice a year from March-April and September-October. This fascinates a very large amount of devotees to the fort and the temple situated within it. Sunday and Tuesday of every week are the special days of worship at the shrine. Special counters are opened near the fort area during the main festival time which is selling paraphernalia like flowers, red cloth, incense, sweets, coconuts, and so on, to make special contributions to the deity in the shrine.

Weather- 27 degrees Celsius 

Entry Fee- For Adults- INR 10, and For Child- INR 5

Timing- From 5 am to 10 pm

Famous for- the Goddess Kali Temple inside the Fort.

Address- Bahu Fort, Gorkha Nagar, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, 180006

(A complete view of the fort from the Sanasar road)(source- Google)

(Another view of the fort)(source- Google)

(View of right flank of the fort)(source- Google)

(View of the garden and the lake around the fort)(source- Google)

Forts of Maharashtra

 

To say that Maharashtra is a land of historical forts won't be wrong when one finds that there are about 360 forts in the State showcasing the history and rules prevalent since centuries ; the Rashtrakutas, the Chalukyas, the Bahamani, the Gonds, the Satvahanas, the Kadambas, the Afghans, the Siddis, the Sultanate Of Berar, Bijapur and Ahmednagar, the Portuguese and the British , and last but by no means the least, the mighty Marathas.

Nestled in the high mountains of the Sahyadris,  , by the winding western ghats,  in the deep forests full of wild beasts or the rough waves of the Arabian sea, they are a rich and important source of the life and times of the people and the rulers who built them; they provide us with much information of the culture, lifestyle,  the architecture and engineering used in the building of a particular fort,  the administration and the skill of the ruler , their foresightedness in the wars against the prevalent enemies by equipping the forts with survival measures for the population residing in them, their battle - readiness, their defence strategies and topographical superiority against the invading enemy armies. 

Each and every fort is unique in itself and a paradise to explore for a lover of history.

Following is a compilation of a few of them worth a visit in your trip to Maharashtra :- 

1. Akola

2. Andheri

3. Arnala

4. Ambolgad

5. Balapur

6. Belapur

7. Bitangad

8. Daulatabad

9. Ghangad

10. Ghodbunder

11. Gavilgad

12. Harishchandragad

13. Kolaba

14. Kandhar

15. Kalavantin Durg

16. Korigad

17. Kenjalgad

18. Lohagad

19. Mandangad

20. Malhargad

21. Murud - Janjira

22. Murud - Harnai

23. Pratapgarh

24. Panhala

25. Prabalgad

26. Purandar

27. Raigad

28. Rajgad

29. Rajmachi

30. Sindhudurg

31. Suvarnadurg

32. Sinhagad

33. Shivneri

34. Sewri

35. Shaniwarwada

36. Sarasgad

37. Sudhagad

38. Tikona

39. Tung

40. Torna

41. Vasota

42. Vasai

43. Vijaydurg

44. Yashwantgad

             

               Source - mapsofindia.com 

Ahmednagar Fort - Maharashtra

The Ahmedna
The 500 year old fort is oval in form and has a 18m high wall. The fort is surrounded by a deep trench. It is a wellgar Fort or the Ahmadnagar Fort is located in the city of Ahmadnagar, Maharashtra built by Malik Shah Ahmed in the year 1427. He built the fort to defend the city against invaders from his neighbours. The fort is built of Stone. This fort moved from one dynasty to another, right from Mughal Empire, Hyderabad Empire, Maratha Empire, then to East India Company. Currently it is owned by the Armoured Corps of the Indian Army.
planned fort The fort was used as Prison during the British rule in India. The fort is comparitively smaller than the forts of Golkonda or the Kumbhalgarh but this

fort was considered to be impregnable one. The fort stands as the historic remains of Chand Bibi's stand against the Mughals. The fort had 24 bastions and the main gate reaches only the moat and one can enter the fort only by the wooden bridge over the moat.
The fort is situated about 120 kms north east of Pune. The entry to the fort is restricted and photography is strictly prohibited. Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru was imprisoned in this fort for 3 years and he wrote "The Discovery of India".

Forts of India

For a very long time, India had been ruled by so many kings and emperors. There wer dynasties and the kings lived in styles. To safeguard their palaces and their people, the kings build huge forts. Many forts are seen in Rajasthan as there were Rajputna kings and these forts are symbols of their grandeur living. The forts depict their architecture and the colours of the past. Most of the Indian forts are mainly castles and fortressess. But it was British people during their rule gave the common name fort to all of them. Though many of the ancient forts have become old and have become mere rampages, still there are some forts that are strong enough and stand as icons of past.

The 16th century saw a lot of fort constructions due to the muslim invasion. The forts that were built during this period were built to withstand the gun powder attack. The gates of the forts were decorated intricately and artisticly, (Lintel design for Hindu or Rajput forts or the arch design for Mughal forts. Most forts have sharp iron spikes to stop the gates being broken by the elephants.

The British too built forts in India. The famous forts built by British are the Fort William in Kolkataand Fort St. George in Chennai.

Two of the Indian forts - The Redfort and Agra Fort have been named the Unesco World Heritage sites.

Alorna Fort, Pernem, Goa

Located at a distance of 31 kms from the capital city of Goa, Panaji, the Alorna fort is on the banks of the Chapora river. Dated back to the 17th century, this Alorna Fort is said to be built by Bhansales of Sawantwadi. The fort is built with high defense mechanisms and to withstand the invasions by the Marathas from the north. It was captured by Marquis of Castello Novo who was later knows as Marquis of Alnora. The fort was in his possession till 1746, then it was captured by Dom Frederico Guilherme de Souza and then it came to the possession of the Portugese in 1781.

 

There were 4 gun barracks and only 2 can be seen. The Alorna fort is in ruined condition but the scenic beauty enroute and also from the fort is breath taking. One can see fields and mountains alone from the fort. There is only one building inside the fort and no other inhabitants near by though there is a local panchayat.

Alorna Fort is 10kms away from the NH17 and so it have to be reached only by road. Cabs and taxis can be hired from the airport and railway stations.

For more information about Alorna Fort, the village Panchayat can be contacted at - 91-0832-2205221


Alorna fort is a protected monument of India.