Overview:
| Type: | Hill Fort |
| Location: | Base village Valkuli / Kolhapur / Chandgad, Maharashtra, India. |
| District: | Kolhapur |
Gandharvagad is a hill fort which is situated in Kolhapur district of Maharashtra.
History:
According to Sabhasad Bakhar, Gandharvagad is one of the 111 forts restored by Shivaji Maharaj.
On 15 January 1666, Shivaji Maharaj went on to take this fort in the conquest of Panhalgad with an army of 5000. On 28 July 1687, Desai’s of Kakti Karyati and Hukkeri Pargana captured this fort from Marathas, for which they were promised the Deshmukhi of Ajamnagar / Belgaon and Chandgad / Ajra respectively. Adilshah controlled the fort for many years. Sadashivrao Bhau Peshwa stayed here for some time during his Karnataka campaign. Later the British destroyed this fort in 1844.
Places to Visit on Fort:
Temple of Lord Chaloba, remnants of old palace of the Sawant, Remmainings of the fort and a well.
On reaching the entrance, there is a Hanuman Temple on the right side of the road. There are residences on the fort. Further on this way there is a temple of Lord Chaloba.
Ahead is an antiquated well, which has consumable water. There is a ground before Chaloba Temple, where there were remainders of old royal residence of the Herekar Sawant. Nothing can be seen now. In the eastern piece of the fortress, we can discover a few plinths. The defenses on the southern side are in place and roomy. There are 3 mystery sections in the dividers here.
How to reach:
By Bus:-
Pune to Gandarvagad by Bus
From Pune there are ST (State Transport) buses and Volvo buses available to Kolhapur, distance between Pune to Kolhapur is 267 kms, from Kolhapur there are ST (State Transport) buses and local transport available to Belgaum, from Belgaum there are local transport available to Valkuli, which is 40 kms from Belgaum.
Mumbai to Gandarvagad by Bus
From Mumbai there are ST (State Transport) buses and Volvo buses available to Kolhapur, distance between Mumbai to Kolhapur is 380 kms, from Kolhapur there are ST (State Transport) buses and local transport available to Belgaum, from Belgaum there are local transport available to Valkuli, which is 40 kms from Belgaum.
By Train:-
Pune to Gandarvagad by Train
From Pune junction to Kolhapur there are trains available, Pune junction to Kolhapur is around 280 kms.
Mumbai to Gandarvagad by Train
From Mumbai to Kolhapur there are trains available, Mumbai to Kolhapur is around 455 kms.
By Road:-
Pune to Gandarvagad by Road
Route of Pune to Gandarvagad Fort :- Pune – Narayanpur Phata – Shirwal – Khandala – Bhuinj – Wadhe – Satara – Kashil – Umraj – Karad – Islampur – Yelur – Kolhapur – Belgaum – Valkuli – Gandharvgad fort
Mumbai to Gandarvagad by Road
Route of Mumbai to Gandarvagad Fort :- Route of Pune to Gandharvgad fort – Mumbai – Panvel – Khopoli – Lonavala – Dehu Road – Chinchwad – Pune – Narayanpur Phata – Shirwal – Khandala – Bhuinj – Wadhe – Satara – Kashil – Umraj – Karad – Islampur – Yelur – Kolhapur – Belgaum – Valkuli – Gandharvgad fort.
Best time to visit:
Any time you can visit the Gandarvagad fort.
