PANDAVGAD FORT

OVERVIEW

District : Satara
Height above sea level : 4200 feet
Difficulty rating : Medium
Base village : Menavali, Gundewadi
Google Map Co-ordinate : 17° 55' N, 73° 50' E
Approx. time to reach the top : 2 - 3 hours from the basee village
Duration: 1 Day
Hill Range: Mahabaleshwar

How To Reach

From Menavali : 
Buses ply regularly between Wai and Menavali. After crossing the canal of 'Dhom' dam near Menavali, we can see the spectacular "Pandavgad'. After walking for half an hour, we reach on the plateau. There are two ways from here to reach on the fort. One is a long route, which takes around 1 and ½ hrs. Second route is a straight ascent, which takes maximum one hour.

From village Gundewadi : 
There is another route from the village Gundewadi. (Wai- Dhawadi- Gundewadi). It is quite easy way to reach the top and takes nearly two hours.

Place to Stay / Eat

Mr. Sarvodaya Wadia's verandah, which accommodates 10 persons. Pandjai' temple, which accommodates 15 to 20 persons. Food needs to be arranged by trekker. Water is available throughout the year.

Places of Interest

On the first plateau, while ascending from Menavali village, there is a temple of Lord 'Bhairoba'. Here are remnants of ancient statues. At a distance of 15 minutes there are ruins of the main entrance. Ascending some rock-hewn steps we reach another 'Machi'. Here are a couple of cisterns. To the northern side of the fort we can see two tanks and a Parsee's Bungalow in front of it.

On the way to 'Balekilla' or the citadel there are six cisterns. One is quite bigger. Good observation indicates existence of seventh cistern, which is not distinct now. These resemble the seven cisterns on other forts like Chavand. Way ahead leads to the citadel. The entrance and the bastions here are still in good condition.

The ramparts have an approximate height of 25 ft. To the left there is beautiful carved statue of Lord 'Hanuman' and to the right is the temple of Goddess Pandjai. If we go ahead there are three grinding wheels, which were used for grinding a mixture of limestone, jaggery and lead. Two of them are in a better state. Next to this is a dried lake. There are remnants of old construction, neighbouring the temple, whose location near the temple is quite puzzling. There are a few cannon balls outside the temple.

The citadel is quite smaller in shape. A part here resembles the 'Vinchu Kata' of Lohgad. From the eastern side we can ascend to 'Dhawadi' village. On the way there are Pandavas' Caves.

The fort is a private property, owned by Mapco Company. The caretaker here is Mr. Sarvodaya Wadia. The fort was private property of a Sardar, who sold it to Mapco. The caretaker has contributed to some tree plantations here, and also protected a cistern here. Hence we get potable water. Moreover, he has also prohibited smoking and drinking here.

It takes 2 hours to see the fort completely.