Tikona fort and Pavana Dam_24 Nov 2007

Tikona - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tikona (also known as Vitandgad) is the dominant hill fort in Maval in western India. It is located near Kamshet around 60 km from Pune The village nearest the fort is called Tikona-Peth. The 3500 ft high hill is pyramidal in shape and the name Tikona means "triangle".[1]
The fort is a trekking destination noted for the large doors, the temple of 'Trimbakeshwar Mahadev', a water tank and some Satvahan caves. Trek organisers also commend the the views of Pawna dam and the nearby forts of Tung, Lohagad and Visapur.[2] There is a lake at the summit.[3]

Malik Ahmed Nizamshah of the Nizam dynasty conquered the fort in 1585 and aanexed it to the Nizam territory. In 1657 Shivaji brought the whole of Konkan, which had been Nizam territory, under his control when he conquered Tikona along with the forts of Karnala, Lohgad, Mahuli, Songad, Tala, and Visapur. This fort was a strategic nexus: the centre of control for the entire Pawana Mawal region. In 1660, Netaji Palkar was charged with ensuring the security of fort Tikona. Jaysingh invaded the regionn in 1665 and the local villages were by Dilerkhan but the forts held out. Tikona fort was surrendered to the Mughal warrior Kubadkhan, who had attacked the region together with Halalkhan and others, according to the Treaty of Purandar signed on 12 June 1665. Kubadkhan took over the fort on 18 June but it was later recaptured by the Marathas.[4]
The fort can be reached using the routes.
1. Pune > Kamshet > Pawananagar > Tikona-Peth
2. Pune > Paud > Tikona-Peth
3. Pune > Somatane-Phata > Pawananagar > Tikona-Peth


I took the first route. Reached Kamshet by Pune-Lonavala local train and there are jeeps available on sharing basis till Kale Colony. Reach Kale colony and change to other jeeps which goes towards Tikonapeth. (They take Rs10 from Kamshet to Kale Colony and Rs. 6 to Tikonapeth from Kale Colony). Once reaching Tikonapeth one can take the road leading towards the fort and there is a way on right to go up the fort. It takes approximately 30-40 mins to reach the summit. This is a small fort and can be seen in an hour. There is a Shiva temple on top and also a big Hanuman statue. the view of the whole mawal region from the top is too good..Below is a collage of few snaps I took on my trek to Tikona and Pavana Dam.

I met two other trekkers from Pune (Amit and Sameer) on way to Tikona and we climbed the fort together. After decent from Tikona, we went to Pavana dam and sat by the river for some time and looking at the villagers fishing. I was swimming and my friends Amit and Sameer were busy bird watching. There is a restaurant nearby the Dam where we had lunch and got a bus back to Kamshet and then the local train towards Pune.

Tikona and Tung fort can be covered in a day, but, due to non-availability of launch to reach base of Tung we decided to go to Pavana dam. Tikona is a small fort, but worth visiting for beautiful view of the Pawana dam, and the whole region of maval.

Anil

Bhaje Caves, Lohgad and Visapur Fort - 17 Nov 2007

Bhaje Caves

Bhaja Caves, near the Karla Caves, are a group of 18 rock-cut caves dating back to 200 BC. located near Lonavala, a hill station, and Karli in the western state of Maharashtra between the cities of Mumbai and Pune in India. It is on a major trade route that runs from the Arabian Sea eastward, into the Deccan in a region that is the division between North India and South India..[1] Viharas make up ten caves, and one is a chaitya, stylistically similar to the Karla Caves. There is also group of 14 stupas, five inside and nine outside the caves. One of the caves has some fine sculptures. Near the last cave is a waterfall which, during the monsoon season, has water that falls into a small pool at the bottom

Lohagad - The Iron Fort

Lohagad ("the Iron fort") is one of the many hill forts of Chatrapati Shivaji. It is situated 52 km from Pune in western India. Lohagad is at an elevation of 3,450 feet (1,052 m).

It divides the basins of the Indrayani and Pavna rivers and is situated on a side range of the Sahyadris. Another fort called Visapur is located close to Lohagad, on its eastern side. The four large gates of Lohagad are still in good condition and reasonably intact. Historical records show that in the later Peshwa period, Nana Phadnavis (1742-1800 AD) built several structures in the fort such as a big tank and a step-well (bawali).

On the west side, there is a long and narrow wall-like fortified spur called Vinchukata in Marathi (scorpion sting) because of its natural shape.

Visapur Fort (from http://trekshitiz.com/)

The forts of Lohgad and Visapur have played an important role in guarding the ancient trade routes and being the savior of Bhaje and Bedse caves. Among them, Lohgad is related to many significant historical events. Much of it is known. Unlike that, much less is known about Visapur. In spite of being a very big fort, protected by a highly impregnable fortification and presence of a large plateau, less is written about it, or much less records could have added to information about it.

Lohgad and Visapur lay in Nane Maval. This region came under Nizamshahi after dissolution of Bahmani rule. It went into the hands of Mughals in the treaty of Mahuli, between Shahajiraje and Mughals. Seeing that the Mughals were not able to keep a control over the region, Shivaji Maharaj captured almost all the forts here till 1660. However, he lost the fort again to Mughals in the treaty of Purandar in 1665. However Aurangzeb broke the treaty. In 1682, Shahbuddin, a Mughal Sardar invaded the region, and killed 60 Marathas in an anguish. However Marathas escaped to Visapur. They were chased, but moved in time to the village of Kusapur. On 4th march 1818 Colonel Prother captured Visapur, and the next day Lohgad fell into his hands.The mountain of Visapur is significant, as Bhaje caves have been carved out in the same mountain. The destruction caused by Mughals and English is clearly evident from the injuries on the Bhaje caves. These beautiful caves could have been bombarded by cannon balls, because much of their part has been broken.

The above information is taken from http://trekshitiz.com/ visit this site for more details, maps and photos of forts in Maharastra. They also conduct treks and the website provides good information and history of many forts in Maharastra.

Further information
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhaja_Caves
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lohgad
http://trekshitiz.com/ (search for information on Lohgad and Visapur on this page)

One can start early and can finish the trek to Lohgad and Visapur in a day. Many visit the Lohgad fort, but very few visit the nearby Visapur fort which is very big and has a wide plateu compared to Lohgad.

I started from Pune by Pune-Lonavala local train and reached Malvali station around 7AM. From this station one can take the bridge crossing over the pune-Mumbai expressway and walk towards Bhaje village. Bhaje caves are very close to the village and in in the same range of hills on which Visapur fort is built. There is a ASI post near the caves and a entry fees also (very nominal) to see the caves. I was too early there, hence could not get a very closer look at the caves, as the caretaker was not yet there. May be they open gates around 9AM.

From Bhaje village there is a jeep track which goes till Lohagaon, the village at the base of Lohgad fort. As you approach near the Lohgad fort, there is a small deviation of tracks to Lohgad and Visapur, this place is called Gomukh Khind. Visapur is to your left and you see Lohgad in front of you from this place. All four entrences to Lohgad are in good condition and one can see two large tanks, a tomb, dargah of Haz. Umar and also Vinchu Kaata.

Returning from Lohgad to Gomukh khind and taking a right takes us to the base of Visapur fort and one can climb up the fort following the waterway on left, which goes dry after monsoon. Visapur is a very huge fort and similar to Lohgad has good fortification and water fecility. One can see a big canon (may be 10ft long) on the fort with impression of 'A1780' on it. May be a British canon used in those days to capture Lohgad. The canon also directs the way down to Bhaje village. While coming down, we see a hanuman temple and rock cut caves nearby. I reached Bhaje village by 7PM and from there till Malvali by 7:45PM (after a tea break) to catch the local train back towards Pune.

Views from both these forts are very good and best season would be during monsoon till 15Oct. After mid October, the vegetation goes dry, but still beautiful to watch.

Below are collages of few photos took during this trek....Anil