Information on Lohagad Fort (Pune, Maharashtra) - History & Architecture

Lohagad Fort (Iron Fort) is an ancient amazing hilltop fort built in the Shayadri Mountain ranges in Maharashtra. It has got a unique architecture and a natural scenic environment around it. This for has many historical and cultural significance from the 15th century AD. This is a rear and unique kind of fort to see in India. One can feel some sort of enigma attached here that you can't take away your eyes from these fort areas. It is built over the top of Lohagad Hills, Malawli Village, 11 km from Lonavala, 66 km from Pune of Maharashtra State in India. It is a noteworthy fort from both historical as well as architectural point of view.

Lohagad Fort Architecture

Lohagad Fort is a great and splendid structure standing on the Hill top of Shyadri Ranges. Its altitude is 1050 meters. This fort is a complete stone mason works. It has the ancient Indian architectural pattern found in its structure. But few historians believe it to be the Iron Age Architecture. This fort is built of granite stones cut from the same hills. There are lime stones visible in the bonding works in between the stones. The first structure was a simple fortification with very few structures in it. Since there are many cave like living areas found here. These were very older than the forts. It seems there were tribal peoples lived here. There is also a pond found here which is manually carved by humans. This pond and caves shows it were very ancient in time. In the medieval period there were many complexes added in to this fortress. These were built by the various occupiers of this fort in the passage of time. This fortification is built over a plan terrain on the top of this hill in a large rectangular shape. It has a unique bridge like extension extending towards its edge of a cliff, this makes it more differentiated among the other forts found here. There are two gateways found here which are huge and magnificent. It has stone bloc made steps to reach here with rock cut path way, it will be amazing to go in these rock cut ways towards the nearing of the fort gateway. On the inside of this fort there are great stone made structures, these are roofed with stone cut slabs. It has a pillared courtyard, considered to be the major complex. There are few small structures also found here which were built in the later years of this fortification. There are also a few cannons projected towards the land. This fort also had many look up holes built all around this fort.

Lohagad Fort History

Lohagad Fort history is known after the medieval period only. The founder or the builder of this fort is still unknown and believed to be built by local tribes. But this fort stood as a great garrison for the Vidharba and the Maratha region from the medieval era. Few inscriptions and record found by the historians say's that this portion was ruled by the Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas and Satavahanas in the ancient times. The neighboring province like the Bhamanis and Marathas were mostly in aggression to conquer this fort. The Marathas took a longer period of procession of this place and this fort was an important place for vigil. Soon after the decline of the Maratha Empire the Mughals of the north took under its control. Its historical importance carries much weight and more of all, how the fort was carried out under the different rules can also be seen distinctively.

Lohagad Fort Tourism Importance

Lohagad Fort is a magnificent stone marvel. This fort and its surroundings have a breath taking picturesque views of the Shayadri Ranges, which has many natural water falls, dense green vegetations rivers and lakes around it. One can have a very good trekking experience to reach this hilltop fort. This is a protected monuments and a heritage site of touristic importance. More of all, visitors would surely relish the beauty of the surrounding as well as experience the historical importance that this fort carry. It would truly be a lifetime experience at the same time to see the beauty of nature as well as the glorious architecture and the past glory that is well protected by this fort even today.