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
