Forts Of India: Purandhar Fort

Purandhar was in the reign of the first Bahmani king, Hasan Gangu. When he obtained possession of Maharashtra,he fortified Purandhar in 1350.

Sometime under the Bedar kings (1347 -1490) the fort was besieged several times.

The fort has two distinct levels.The lower part is called the machi. North of the machi is a flat area where the cantonment and hospital was housed....

There are many temples decicated to Purandeshwar(the fort's patron god, from which it also takes its name) and Sawai Madhavrao Peshwa here.

In 1646, a 19-year-old Shivaji in one of the first victories of his legendary career, established control in the fort. In 1665, it was besieged by the forces of Aurangzeb, under the command of Raja Jai Singh, a Rajput general, assisted by Diler Khan, an Afghan. The defense of Purandar by Murarbaji Deshpande of Mhar, the killedar (keeper of the fort) was obstinate and he lost his life in the struggle to retain the fort.

Shivaji daunted at the prospect of the fall of his grandfathers fort, signed a treaty (the first Treaty of Purandar) with Aurangzeb.

Type : Giri Durga
Distance From : Approximatly 47Km form Pune, 10Km from Saswad
District : Pune

--------------------------------------------------------------------------