BAHADURGHAD FORT

OVERVIEW

District : Nagar
Hill Range: Ahmadnagar
Height above sea level :
Difficulty rating : Easy
Base village : Pedgaon
Nearest City :
Approx. time to reach the top : Land Fort
Google Map Co-ordinate : 19°19'15"N 76°39'39"E

How To Reach

This fort is situated around 20 Km away from Shrigonda village in Ahmednagar. This fort was built by Bahadurkhan in Pedgoan village.

Pune-Daund
First you have to reach Daund Phata which is 90kms. away from Pune on Pune-Satara Highway. Just before Daund, there is a way to Shreegondh village. On the way you have to cross a bridge on Bhima river to reach Pedgoan village. It will take around four hours to reach Pedgoan village from Pune. It will take approx 4hrs(Approx 120 km) to reach Pedgaon through this route by bus or car.

Pune-Bhigavan
Bhigavan village is situated on Pune-Satara Highway. From Bhigavan move towards Rasshin-Siddahtek road. Pedgoan village is 25km away from Rasshin village. It will take approx 4hrs(Approx 120 km) to reach Pedgaon through this route by bus or car.

Place To Stay / Eat

Besides monsoon season, 15-20 people can accommodate themselves in the temple
One should make arrangements for foodstuffs.
Water facility is available in front of the Goddess Temple.

Places Of Interest

There are two doors for the fort. One which opens in the village itself; which is still in a good condition, while the other is at the end of the fort. We should enter the fort from the village itself. As we enter we can see 5 feet tall statue of Maruti standing proudly as well as a temple of Bhairavnath.

Among the objects of interest in the village may be mentioned the temples of Lakshmi-Narayan, Baleshvar, Mallikarjun or Mundeshvar, and Bhairavnath and are situated in the fortifications. Except the temple of Lakshmi-Narayan all the temples are in a dilapidated condition. Of Baleshvar's temple which is closely situated in front of the Lakshmi-Narayan temple only the shrine is left with a linga. Of the twelve pillars eight are lying on the ground. The side stones of the door of the shrine bear ornamental designs. What is left of the pillar capitals is ornamented with well-carved cobras. Of the Mallikarjun temple only the shrine containing a linga and two pillars of the hall or mandap remain. The only carvings are broken cobras on the pillar capitals. The temple of Bhairavnath facing south is also in a ruined condition. It has a mandap of 20' X 30' with two doors. The inner shrine or gabhara admeasures about 6'X10' and contains a simple image of Bhairavnath. In front of the temple many structures are seen like Virgal, Satigal, several Cannon Balls, a Deepmal and a statue of Shiva. The side stones of the door of the shrine have elaborate carvings. The temple is surrounded by a wall with three doors and the one in the south bears beautiful carvings.

The Lakshmi-Narayan temple, rectangular in size, is a fine specimen of the Hemadpanti style. Every stone of it bears carvings. Its hall or mandap is covered by good domes, of which the centre dome and the shrine dome are carved. Three doors lead to the hall with fine pillars. The shrine is on a lower level than the hall and is filled with earth. It does not contain any image of the god. Outside and inside many elaborate carvings have been wilfully broken. The outside carving consists of elephants in the lowest panel, tigers in the next, and figures of men and women in the succeeding panels.

There is a 2 storied palace of Aurangzeb. It is said that Aurangzeb and Sambhaji Raje meet at this palace. You need around 3 hours to see the fort completely.