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Purandar Fort is located 4472 ft. above sea level in the Western Ghats. Purandar is just 40 kilometers from southeast of Pune. Tourists find the fort riveting because of its structure. Purandar has two distinct levels. The lower part is called ‘Machi.’ Purandar enshrines many temples dedicated to Purandareshwar. In fact, Purandar has received its name from this Holy Spirit.
The fort located near Narayanpur, of Pune district, is known as the birthplace of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Another attraction is the statue of Murarbaji Deshpande who was the fort commander and sacrificed his life to protect me from the Mughals.
There are several bastions towards the north along with a grand gate with two towers. The upper level of Purandar Fort is known by the name of ‘Ballekilla.’ Tourists are mesmerized by the beauty of Dilli Darwaza, an archaic and odd structure, also known as Delhi Gate. Purandar Fort has a beautiful Shiva temple as well.
History of Purandar Fort
The historical significance of Purandar Fort is very intriguing as it came into existence as long as in the 13th century. There were some walls and bastions built around the fort in the 14th century by the Bahamani Sultans. The great Maratha ruler Shivaji Maharaj established control over the Purandar Fort in 1646 A.D. However, the mighty Mughals besieged it in 1665 A.D. and took control over the Fort. Shivaji Maharaj then recaptured the Purandar Fort in 1670 A.D.
Purandar Fort Trek
The tourists love to trek to Purandar. The best part is that the trekking is not so difficult and it takes only a couple of hours to reach Purandar Fort. This is a fun time for the trekkers as they experience some of the adventurous moments while trekking. Once they reach the top of the Purandar Fort, they get stunning views of the surrounding areas including the forts of Raireshwar, Torna, and Rajgad.