Type                      Chandan-Vandan is a hill fort.   

Difficulty level     Chandan-Vandan fort is easy to trek. .

Height                   Chandan-Vandan is 3800 ft (1159 mtrs) above sea level.   

Base village / District / Taluka    Belmachi / Satara / Wai, Maharashtra, India.

As per the confirmations of copper inscriptions (tamralekh) of 1191-1192 B.c., these fortresses were assembled up by ruler Bhoj II of the Shilahar administration. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj overwhelmed Chandan-Vandan alongside Kalyangad, Sajjangad, and Ajinkyatara amid the fight of Satara in 1673. Later, amid the administration of Sambhaji, Amanullah Khan assaulted the troop of Maratha warriors on Chandan-Vandan.

25 steeds, 20 firearms, 2 ensigns, and 1 pot drum were lost in the hands of the Mughals in this fight. Marathas ruled this district up to 1689 B.c. Thereafter Mughals ruled this fortification. In 1707, Chatrapati Shahu Maharaj won this area amid the stormy season. In 1752, Dadopant was joined by troopers by Balaji Vishwanath to keep close watch on Tarabai. Later, the British administered these forts.

Fort Chandan

Previously, the path close to the door of Chandan was hard to get to. Anyhow as of late the way has ended up more extensive in light of the mosque arranged at that place. 

There are two bastions at the passageway door which are shortly in a half-crushed state. Roughly around 15 steps in front of this on the left-hand side lays a decimated structure.

There is a banyan tree at the upper side of this structure which is known as 'Panchvad', as it includes five banyan trees. There is a sanctuary of ruler Shiva close to the tree. Both the "Pindis" in the sanctuary are contained five "Lingas".

In the month of 'Shravan', the fifth month of the Hindu year, there is a journey consistently in this sanctuary. Villagers have repaired the sanctuary. 

Colossal stones organized one over the other, can be seen at around 10 steps ahead from the sanctuary.

There is a mosque in the fortress. A divider-like structure can be seen near the mosque. Remainders of a few structures are found behind the mosque. It is by all accounts a neighborhood of those days. 

An in-place bastion can be seen at the north end of the fortress. An immolation toward oneself lies on the path to this bastion. There is a "Shivalinga" and a statue of lord Hanuman over the bastion. 

Three rooms without material can be seen in the southern piece of the fortress. As indicated by villagers, it was a storage space for ammo. There is a huge quadrangular raised stage, ordinarily known as SADAR, at the focal point of the fortification.

Fort Vandan

There are two door entryways for this fortification. The principal passage entryway is strong having bastions that are still in place. There is a symbol of ruler Ganesha on the left bastion. There were around 25 decently developed steps ahead, which were crushed in the skirmish of 1818. The second passageway entryway has totally tumbled down. Persian engravings can be seen on the curve of this entryway.

There are five yards inside this doorway entryway which together structure the L-shape. Rock-slide has obstructed the path ahead. Further on there are few steps, the drawback of which lies a course along which one can navigate around the fortification totally. 

'GHANA', an instrument where cementitious material is blended and ground to be utilized for the development of structures, can be seen on the lower side of the steps. We achieve the post best by scaling around 25 steps.

Time to reach the top

2-3 hours from the base villages.

Minimum Duration

1 day.

Best time to visit the fort

You can visit Chandan-Vandan in the monsoon season as it is best to explore the fort and water is easily available.

Water Availability

Water is only available in the rainy season otherwise it is not available in any of the seasons.

Accommodation Availability

Yes, available in the mosque were around 30-40 peoples can stay.

On Chandan fort:

A banyan tree which is known as the ‘Panchvad’ as it holds 5 banyan trees, a Temple of Shiva, platform called as SADAR, at the center of the fort & a storage room for ammunition at the southern part of the fort.

On Vandan fort:

Two entrance doors and a ‘Ghana’ where material is mixed for construction.

way from Pune to Chandan-Vandan Fort

Pune to By Bus

From the Pune there are ST (State Transport) buses are available from Swargate to Satara, which is around 118 kilometers from Pune, from Satara there are ST (State Transport) buses are available to Kikali village, Belmachi village is situated near Kikali village, from Belmachi village a way heads up to col between Chandan and Vandan. On the left side lays Chandan and on the right side lies Vandan.

Pune to By Train

From Pune junction there are trains available to Satara, Pune junction to Satara is around 146 kilometers, and then follow the same route from Satara mentioned above.

Pune to By Road

Route of Pune to Chandan-Vandan Fort

Pune - Narayanpur Phata - Shirwal - Khandala - Surur - Satara - Kikali - Belmachi Village - Chandan-Vandan fort.

Way from Mumbai to Chandan-Vandan Fort

Mumbai to By Bus

From the Mumbai there are ST (State Transport) buses, and local buses are available from Mumbai to Satara, from Satara there are ST (State Transport) buses are available to Kikali village, Belmachi village is situated near Kikali village, from Belmachi village a way heads up to col between Chandan and Vandan. On trhe left side lays Chandan and on the right side lays Vandan.

Mumbai to By Train

From the Mumbai to Satara trains are available, Mumbai to Satara is around 330 kilometers, and then follow the same route from Satara mentioned above.

Mumbai to By Road

Route of Mumbai to Chandan-Vandan fort

Mumbai - Dadar - Vasai - Khopoli - Lonavala - Dehu Road - Chinchwad - Pune - Narayanpur Phata - Shirwal - Khandala - Surur - Satara - Kikali - Belmachi Village - Chandan-Vandan fort.

Temples of Wai

Because of the expansive number of sanctuaries and its structural engineering, Wai is likewise called as 'a town of temples' and otherwise called 'DAKSHIN KAASHI'. Sanctuaries implicit in the "Hemadpanti" style of structural planning, including the accompanying three, are placed in and around Wai. 

Utilization of gigantic stone sections is the real normal for Hemadpanti structural engineering.

There are four sanctuaries Chakreshwar, Chimneshwar, Kaunteshwar/Harihareshwar and Kaleshwar close to Brahmanshahi ghat. At Govardhan Sanstha, there is Krishna Mandir. Close to Brhmanshahi there are Vitthal and Ganpati sanctuaries.

Ramdoh Ghat has Rameshwar sanctuary, Ramkund and Chilavali Devi sanctuary. On Gangapuri ghat there is Lord Shiva, Dwarka, Bahiroba, Dattatray Temple. On Ganpati Aali, there is Ganpati Sanctuary and Kashi Vishveshvar Sanctuary. In Dharma Puri, there are Lord Vishnu Sanctuary and Mahalaxmi Sanctuary.

Rokdoba Sanctuary (Maruti) is assembled by Ramdas Swami. Dholya Ganpati Sanctuary is one of the prime sanctuaries in Maharashtra. The icon of Lord Ganesh is amazingly enormous and is arranged on the delightful ghats of Waterway Krishna. There is a Hanuman mandir arranged close to Mahaganpati ghat. Vhyahali town is likewise well known in Wai.