Information on Vasota Fort (Satara, Maharashtra) - History & Architecture

Vasota Fort is an ancient beautiful hilltop fortress in Satara. It is now a favorite place for trekking. This is one of the forts came under the loot and destruction by the British colonialist. What is now seen here is the ruined fort. It is situated at the base village of Bamnoli, Satara District of Maharashtra State in India.

Vasota Fort Architecture

Vasota Fort is more than 1000 years old built in a remote area in the dense forest. It was not visible much and stood very great in the top of this hill. This fort was a defensive and a residential fort before the medieval era in India. It is built in the ancient fort type found in the India sub continent; these were mostly found in the Hindu art forms. With the present ruins of this fort and the Maratha records of this fort before its destruction by the British, mention it a great fort with many complexes. It had very good fortified walls all around its cliff areas at an altitude of 1173 meters above the sea level. These walls are built with curved bastions all around this main wall areas. This makes it a natural defense with a vast great deep slopes surrounded by this fort, making invaders very difficult to access. More over this is situated in a dense forest, where wild animals are there. It has a very unique rock carved steps to reach its hill top. One the way to the fort one can find many beautifully carved caves here. There are also few temples found here to take blessing for these gods and reach up this fort as a good omen. There are two manmade water tanks found here near to the Babu Kada falls. This was the main source of water to this fort. It has got few temples named as he Hanuman Mandir, Madhava Mandhir and Nageshwar Mandhir. The only temple is perfect stage is the Madhava temple. This is a classic model of the Hindu Temple. It looks very beautiful in the hill top.

Vasota Fort History

Vasota Fort is also known as the Vyaghragad Killa in the Marahta Regim. Its first records in history are known from the 12th century AD when this area was under the Boja Raja II. This place was known as the Phanahala Province in those days. This fort is more than a 1000 years old and was built in a forest area and was left ignored for centuries. It was known from the medieval periods, when the local clans of the south and western parts were trying to conquer more territories to their empire. In the 16th century, the Maratha Empire was expanding under the rule of Shavaji Maharaj. This fort was found by them and named it as tiger fort due to the presence of a Jungle and the risk found in accessing this fort. The Maratha clan Baji Roa Peshwa was successful in throwing out the Mughal invasion here. With the decline of Maratha Empire the British took advantage and destroyed this fort with heavy cannon fires and ateliers. This fort was totally damaged and looted by them. The loot estimated a treasure worth of 5 Lakhs Rupiah in that time. After this destruction the fort was deserted for centuries. Now it is developed as tourist and trekking spot by its state tourism board.

Vasota Fort Tourism Significance

Vasota Fort is a best place for trekking in the Jungles. It has got panoramic view of the Shyadri ranges surrounded with dense forest, lakes, rivers and natural waterfalls. This is becoming an adventure area now in trekking expedition sports. This fort is graded as hard one due to its Jungle route to reach its summit. Accessing the fort itself considered to be an exciting affair as the visitors to the fort can enjoy the trekking with outmost fun and excitement as well as get to enjoy the picturesque appeal of the nature that abound the fort. One would surely fall in love the beauty of the local as well as get struck with the marvel that is situated in the far corner amid the grace of the Mother Nature.