Information on Salher Fort (Nashik, Maharashtra) - History & Architecture

Salher Fort is a hill fortress found in the greater heights of Shyadri Mountains in Maharashtra State. This is an historic fort with an ancient Hindu Temple on its top. It is situated in Waghamba Village, Nasik District in Maharashtra State of India.

Salher Fort Architecture

Salher Fort is found in very ancient fort model in India. It has no such defensive fortification as found in the medieval era. But this is believed to be a holly fort and built in the mythical believes of the Hindu god Parashuram in the ancient times. It was more or less as temple fort. What is seen today is a ruined one and its temple is the only long lasting structure. From the base village of Waghamba, one can find a main gate. This is the entrance route towards the hilltop fort. Its steps are built in granite stone with lime stones mix as bonding paste. The entire structure found here is built by granite blocks only. There are very fine stone block steps found here which are medium in size and are able to access by all age of peoples. It does have few stone carved steps, which are very beautiful. On the top of the hill one can find a Hindu Temple named as Parashuram. This is built in a small stone block in square type with a triangular dome on its top. A temple flag is also found on its top. There is also a goddess temple nearby it named as the Renuka Devi Shetra. The deities found inside are made of single stones and looks very unique in its stone carvings. There is a manmade lake found here, it is called as the Ganga Sagar and is a perennial source of water. These are built on a peak, which is having an altitude of 1567 meters. It is the highest peak in Maharashtra in the Shyadri mountain ranges.

Salher Fort History

Salher Fort has very significant history in Maharashtra. There is a mythical belief, that Parashuram; a Hindu god lived in this fort area in Vedic times. This place is also considered as holly and auspicious for the Hindus living in India. The Ganga Sagar lake found here is believed to ascertain its color of the water to change in to white color as the milk once in 12 years. From the medieval era this fort was in to lime light by the Maratha Kingdom. The Mughals of North India under their Empire expansion plans required this fort to have a control over the Baglan region. In 1671 AD a great war was fought with Mughals by the Maratha King Shivaji. It is said that more than 1 lakhs soldiers fought here and many life were lost in this battle. The Shivaji won this battle the same year and pushed back the Mughal army from this region. This battle of Salhar is the greatest and largest solders involved in a local war in the Maratha region. It does have a record of highest loss of life in a local war for the Mughals and the Marathas. Under the Shivaji's rule this area was flourishing well. But after his death, the Peshwas conquered this fort in the 18th century and kept it till it was invaded by the British troops. The British used it as watch tower to look activities on this valley for centuries.

Salher Fort Tourism Significance

Salher Fort is one of the best hike forts in Maharashtra. Its risk level is medium. To visit here will be a record of reaching the highest peak of Shyadri ranges of the Western Ghats Mountains and also to visit an ancient place of Vedic Era.