Ajinkyatara Fort an easy trek in Satara City
Ajinkyatara Fort
Basic information about Ajinkyatara Fort
Ajinkyatara Fort is a hill fort which is situated in Satara District of Maharashtra. Ajinkyatara Fort Trek is an easy trek. The height of Ajinkyatara Fort is 3300 ft i.e.1010 meters above sea level.
Following points we are going to see in this post:
- History of Ajinkyatara Fort.
- Basic time information.
- How to reach Ajinkyatara fort from different cities.
- Places to visit on Ajinkyatara fort.
- Places to visit nearby Ajinkyatara fort.
History of Ajinkyatara Fort
Shilhar King Bhoj two Constructed the fort in 1192 AD with other 15 forts in this region. He ruled Panhala region But couldn’t retain it, Bahmani Sultans renewed the fort and extended it. In 1673 AD the fort was used as the military base through which all military operations were controlled from this fort.'Shivaji Maharaj' made this fort as his fourth capital after Rajgad and Jinji.
'Shivaji Maharaj' stayed on this fort for around two months because of his illness. After the death of this great Maratha ruler 'Shivaji Maharaj' on 3rd April 1680, Aurangzeb took this chance and started invading Maharashtra in 1682, in 1689 he looted the fort.
When the fort was in the hands of Prayagji Prabhu mughals started their attempts to capture they used explosives to blast the bastion named "Manglai". At some scale they succeeded and many Marathas where killed in this explosion destroying major part of the fort, but anyhow Prayagji Prabhu escaped the fort with not many injuries on his body, they blasted another explosion which unevenly resulted in killing their own soldiers but at last the fort went in the hands of Mughals under the hands of Subhanji in 21st April 1700 they named the fort as "AZAMTARA" after the long four and a half months.
When the fort was in the hands of Prayagji Prabhu mughals started their attempts to capture they used explosives to blast the bastion named "Manglai". At some scale they succeeded and many Marathas where killed in this explosion destroying major part of the fort, but anyhow Prayagji Prabhu escaped the fort with not many injuries on his body, they blasted another explosion which unevenly resulted in killing their own soldiers but at last the fort went in the hands of Mughals under the hands of Subhanji in 21st April 1700 they named the fort as "AZAMTARA" after the long four and a half months.
Mughals once lost the fort in the hands of Tara Rani's army but they regained the fort from her. In 1719 mother of Shahu Maharaja's "Matosri Yesubai" was brought here before this in 1708 Shahu Maharaj took the fort by offering treachery to Mughals. But Peshwa's captured the fort from him. On 11th February 1818 Britishers took the fort after the death of Shahu Maharaj II.
Time to reach the top
It will take around 1 hour from the base village of the Ajinkyatara (Satara).
It will take around 1 hour from the base village of the Ajinkyatara (Satara).
Minimum Duration
1-2 days as there are many other spots nearby to Ajinkyatara fort.
Best time to visit the fort
One can visit the Ajinkyatara fort till the end of monsoon season, which is October to March.
Water Availability
Water is not available on Ajinkyatara fort in summer and winter but may be available in rainy season.
Accommodation Availability
One can stay on the Ajinkyatara fort in Hanuman temple which can accommodate around 12-15 peoples.
Places to visit on the Ajinkyatara Fort
There are two entrances from the Satara side. In which one of them as it is before. At the right side entrance there is Hanuman temple this place is best for staying, and left side of the entrance there is Shiva temple. Mangalai Devi temple, Tararani palace, Lakes near an entrance. Beautiful view of Satara City, Sanjjangad and other forts, Parali area.
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| Ajinkyatara Fort Entrance |
Let's find How to reach to Ajinkyatara Fort
The way from Pune to Ajinkyatara Fort
Pune to Ajinkyatara By Bus
From the Pune, there are ST(State Transport) buses are available from Swargate to base village Satara, which is around 118 km from Pune, from Satara to Ajinkyatara fort is around only 2 miles (3 km). There are buses available from Satara station. This goes through Adalat Wada, from the Adalat Wada there is a clear road which goes to the fort.
Pune to Ajinkyatara By Train
From Pune Junction there are trains available to Satara, which is 95 km from Pune, from Satara to Ajinkyatara fort is around only 2 miles (3 km), There are buses available from Satara station. This goes through Adalat Wada, from the Adalat Wada there is a clear road which goes to the fort.
Pune to Ajinkyatara By Road
From Pune reach Satara via Pune-Satara Highway (NH-4), from Pune, Satara is around 111 km. from Satara reach Ajinkyatara fort, which is 3 km from Satara.
Route of Pune to Ajinkyatara Fort
Pune – Narayanpur Phata - Shirwal – Surur – Satara – Ajinkyatara fort.
Route of Pune to Ajinkyatara Fort
Pune – Narayanpur Phata - Shirwal – Surur – Satara – Ajinkyatara fort.
Mumbai to Ajinkyatara By Road
From Mumbai you can reach first Pune, which is 148 km from Pune, then from Pune reach Satara via Pune-Satara Highway (NH-4), from Pune to Satara is around 111 km, from Satara reach Ajinkyatara fort, which is 3 km from Satara.
Route of Mumbai to Ajinkyatara Fort
Mumbai – Lonavala – Chinchwad – Pune – Narayanpur Phata - Shirwal – Surur – Satara – Ajinkyatara fort.
Route of Mumbai to Ajinkyatara Fort
Mumbai – Lonavala – Chinchwad – Pune – Narayanpur Phata - Shirwal – Surur – Satara – Ajinkyatara fort.
The way from Mumbai to Ajinkyatara Fort
Mumbai to Ajinkyatara By Bus
From Mumbai, there is ST (State Transport) / Volvo buses available. These buses are regularly playing between Mumbai to Satara. There are also local transports (Private cars and cabs) available from Mumbai to Satara, from Satara to Ajinkyatara fort is around only 2 miles (3 km). There are buses available from Satara station. This goes through Adalat Wada, from the Adalat Wada there is the clear road which goes to the fort.
Mumbai to Ajinkyatara By Bus
From Mumbai, there is ST (State Transport) / Volvo buses available. These buses are regularly playing between Mumbai to Satara. There are also local transports (Private cars and cabs) available from Mumbai to Satara, from Satara to Ajinkyatara fort is around only 2 miles (3 km). There are buses available from Satara station. This goes through Adalat Wada, from the Adalat Wada there is the clear road which goes to the fort.
Mumbai to Ajinkyatara By Train
From Mumbai CST there are 13 trains available to Satara, which is 182 km from Mumbai, the minimum time a train takes to reach Satara from Mumbai is 4 hrs 15 mins, from Satara to Ajinkyatara fort is around only 2 miles (3 km). There are buses available from Satara station. This goes through Adalat Wada, from the Adalat Wada there is the clear road which goes to the fort. From Mumbai there is train.
Photo Credit: Chinmay
Places to visit nearby the Ajinkyatara Fort
Sajjangad fort (Aswalyagad)
This fort was named as Asvalya as here many bears which are called "Aswals" in Marathi hence they used to call this fort as" Aswalyagad". Sajjangad is a hill fort which is 3500 feet above the sea level with the minimum duration of 1 day required Sajjangad offers Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj darwaja and Sant Ramdas Swami math. Sant Ramdas Swami math was a saint who wrote "Dasbodh", He was a teacher to Shivaji Maharaj on his request Sant Ramdas Swami set up a permanent monastery.
This fort was named as Asvalya as here many bears which are called "Aswals" in Marathi hence they used to call this fort as" Aswalyagad". Sajjangad is a hill fort which is 3500 feet above the sea level with the minimum duration of 1 day required Sajjangad offers Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj darwaja and Sant Ramdas Swami math. Sant Ramdas Swami math was a saint who wrote "Dasbodh", He was a teacher to Shivaji Maharaj on his request Sant Ramdas Swami set up a permanent monastery.
Now the fort is maintained by Trust of Sant Ramdas Swami they take morning prayers and Pujas to the devotee's trust offers food to the devotees who visit here daily they built dharmashalas for peoples to stay on the fort every year on Shiv Jayanti this place is crowded by devotees of Shivaji Maharaj.
Kalyangad (Nandagiri) fort
Kalyangad is hill fort which is 3500 feet above the sea level it is easy to trek on this fort it is also known as "Nandagiri" fort this fort was won by Shivaji Maharaj in 1673 from the Shilahar kings while capturing the surrounding regions of the Satara after Shivaji Maharaj the fort went in the hands of representatives who are also called as Pratinidhis but Peshwa's also fought for the fort and they successfully got the fort and in 1818 British took control over the fort under the command of General "Prisler".
Kalyangad is hill fort which is 3500 feet above the sea level it is easy to trek on this fort it is also known as "Nandagiri" fort this fort was won by Shivaji Maharaj in 1673 from the Shilahar kings while capturing the surrounding regions of the Satara after Shivaji Maharaj the fort went in the hands of representatives who are also called as Pratinidhis but Peshwa's also fought for the fort and they successfully got the fort and in 1818 British took control over the fort under the command of General "Prisler".
Chandan-Vandan
Balapur, a taluka town, is 26kms from Akola, the area base camp. Arranged at the intersection of the waterways Man and Mhais, Balapur is a recorded town and has a hugely constructed post, presumably the strongest in Vidarbha and Khandesh districts of Maharashtra.
This fort is a hill fort which is 3800 feet above the sea level it is an easy trek these forts are twin forts which were captured by Shivaji Maharaj along with Kalyangad and Ajinkyatara, during the campaign of Satara but Shivaji Maharaj could hold this fort until 1689 BC from there after Mughals captured the fort in 1707.
But Chatrapati Shahu Maharaj won this fort back and used as a watchtower on the region Tarabai After 1818 British ruled the fort.
Ajinkyatara Fort
History of Ajinkyatara Fort
Places to visit nearby the Ajinkyatara Fort
