This monsoon is going to be very special for me. It's the 6th straight weekend I am roaming around. A special thanks to my new friend. She's a travel bug and always ready to drift. Last year I visited Purandar and it was an awesome experience, but couldn't visit Balaji Temple at Narayanpur. So thought of giving a second visit to Purandar along with Balaji Temple. It's around 50km via Pune-Saswad Rd.
We started off around 8:00 am on my Panther. We went via Dive Ghat. Monsoon is little late this yaar. Last year we went, it was lash green.
We took some snaps on the way, and reached Narayanpur at around 10.15 am.
The Balaji Temple is built along the lines of the Tirupati Balaji Temple in the South. Its walls are made from white marble and its typical Gopur structure is aesthetically very appealing. The idol of the God stands majestically. The area surrounding the main temple also bears small temples devoted to Mahalakshmi, Padmavathi, Krishna and Kuber.
The temple is well maintained. After completing Darshan, they gave Laddoo prasad and coupon for Mahaprasad. Darshan timings are 5 am to 8 pm except few minutes in between, at the time of worship. Morning is the best time visit as the place become crowded on the later half.
We completed Darshan, had Mahaprasad and started heading towards Purandar at 11.30 am. You have to get back through the same way that took you to Balaji temple. After 5km, take the backward right turn for Purandar. You can ask localites for direction.
Once you reach the big banyan tree, you may trek through the way right up or can drive through the curvy road till the fort entrance.
Giving some quick info on the fort. It's basically a combination of two fort Purandar and Vajragad. The fort is at a height of 4472 feet from sea level. From trekking point of view, the fort is easy to trek while monsoon makes trekking a little challenging sometimes.
Purandar is named after the temple of Purandeshwar (Lord Shiva) on it. And thus the village is also named after it.
Purandar witnesses a lot of battles. The Bahamani Sultans in the 14th century built here some walls and bastions as the fort besieged several times. It is said that to prevent Purandar fort from falling, a man and a woman were buried alive under one of the fort bastions to appease its patron deity. From 1484 AD, for about a hundred years, the fort remained in the hands of the Nizamshahi rulers. In 1596 AD, the fort was given as Jagir to Maloji Bhosale, grandfather of Shivaji. However, Shivaji had to struggle very hard to establish his control over the fort in 1646 AD. In 1665 AD, Purandar was besieged by the mighty Mughal forces under the command of Jai Singh and Dilir Khan. In the ensuing battle Murar Baji Prabhu, the gallant commander of the fort, was killed. Shivaji, under a treaty, had to surrender to the Mughals his 23 forts, including Purandar and Vajragarh.
Purandar was recaptured by Shivaji in 1670 AD Later it became a favourite retreat of the Peshwas. Purandar was captured by the British in 1818 AD. During the Second World War, the British kept here the German war prisoners.
After Independence, a National Cadet Crops (N.C.C.) Training unit was made at the fort which is in operation till 1985. Still, you find few army guys on the fort.
There are several ways to top of the fort. It may seem confusing but you can take any of the way. These routes are made for NCC Trainings.
At the farthest end in the west (called balekilla), there's a temple of Kedareshwar (Shiva). It's the highest point of Purandar. There's stairs to the temple.
The high winds at the top will make you feel to fly like birds. The hill-top was covered with clouds. We waited for long time to get a glimpse of the top view and finally when the clouds are gone, it's spectacular all the way.
I must say this place is a very good one for the photographers. Following are some of my shots.
It was almost 4 o'clock. We thought of getting back as we had more plans for the next day.
It's surely an astounding fort to visit, which is neither surrounded by rivers nor by backwaters. This could have been the reason that the fort falls into several attack from all the side.
We didn't went to Vajragad. But, next time I will surely count on this.
We started off around 8:00 am on my Panther. We went via Dive Ghat. Monsoon is little late this yaar. Last year we went, it was lash green.
 |
| Panorama view from Dive Ghat |
We took some snaps on the way, and reached Narayanpur at around 10.15 am.
The Balaji Temple is built along the lines of the Tirupati Balaji Temple in the South. Its walls are made from white marble and its typical Gopur structure is aesthetically very appealing. The idol of the God stands majestically. The area surrounding the main temple also bears small temples devoted to Mahalakshmi, Padmavathi, Krishna and Kuber.
The temple is well maintained. After completing Darshan, they gave Laddoo prasad and coupon for Mahaprasad. Darshan timings are 5 am to 8 pm except few minutes in between, at the time of worship. Morning is the best time visit as the place become crowded on the later half.
We completed Darshan, had Mahaprasad and started heading towards Purandar at 11.30 am. You have to get back through the same way that took you to Balaji temple. After 5km, take the backward right turn for Purandar. You can ask localites for direction.
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| Vajragad Fort |
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| Dilli Darwaja - Entrance for the trekkers |
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| Panorama View of Purandar Fort from the entrance |
 |
| Entrance for 2 wheelers & 4 wheelers |
Giving some quick info on the fort. It's basically a combination of two fort Purandar and Vajragad. The fort is at a height of 4472 feet from sea level. From trekking point of view, the fort is easy to trek while monsoon makes trekking a little challenging sometimes.
Purandar is named after the temple of Purandeshwar (Lord Shiva) on it. And thus the village is also named after it.
Purandar witnesses a lot of battles. The Bahamani Sultans in the 14th century built here some walls and bastions as the fort besieged several times. It is said that to prevent Purandar fort from falling, a man and a woman were buried alive under one of the fort bastions to appease its patron deity. From 1484 AD, for about a hundred years, the fort remained in the hands of the Nizamshahi rulers. In 1596 AD, the fort was given as Jagir to Maloji Bhosale, grandfather of Shivaji. However, Shivaji had to struggle very hard to establish his control over the fort in 1646 AD. In 1665 AD, Purandar was besieged by the mighty Mughal forces under the command of Jai Singh and Dilir Khan. In the ensuing battle Murar Baji Prabhu, the gallant commander of the fort, was killed. Shivaji, under a treaty, had to surrender to the Mughals his 23 forts, including Purandar and Vajragarh.
 |
| Abandoned Church of Purandar |
Purandar was recaptured by Shivaji in 1670 AD Later it became a favourite retreat of the Peshwas. Purandar was captured by the British in 1818 AD. During the Second World War, the British kept here the German war prisoners.
After Independence, a National Cadet Crops (N.C.C.) Training unit was made at the fort which is in operation till 1985. Still, you find few army guys on the fort.
There are several ways to top of the fort. It may seem confusing but you can take any of the way. These routes are made for NCC Trainings.
At the farthest end in the west (called balekilla), there's a temple of Kedareshwar (Shiva). It's the highest point of Purandar. There's stairs to the temple.
The high winds at the top will make you feel to fly like birds. The hill-top was covered with clouds. We waited for long time to get a glimpse of the top view and finally when the clouds are gone, it's spectacular all the way.
I must say this place is a very good one for the photographers. Following are some of my shots.
It was almost 4 o'clock. We thought of getting back as we had more plans for the next day.
It's surely an astounding fort to visit, which is neither surrounded by rivers nor by backwaters. This could have been the reason that the fort falls into several attack from all the side.
We didn't went to Vajragad. But, next time I will surely count on this.
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