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
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