Visapur

About:

It is 3500 feet high and situated between Lohagad and Bedse Caves. A huge cannon (almost 10 feet long) on Visapur is very vital as it has an impression of royal crown. One can see Purandar on south-east. Sinhagad as well as Tung and Tikona can also be clearly seen. Both these forts are of Satwahan Era and of great importance in Shivaji's period as to keep watch on Konkan and Bor Ghat. These two forts are historically very crucial and must be visited by trek lovers and history lovers.

Visapur is fort adjacent to Lohagad. Visapur fort can be easily identified by its "tat-bandhi"(fort walls) which can be seen prominently from the foot hills.Visapur is famous for the white stocking bisons and wild boars. On the way there are Bhaje caves which are worth seeing.

These two roofless buildings surrounded by outer or veranda walls said to have once been Government offices. The ruins of a large stone-built house are known as the Peshwa's palace. In addition to a huge carving of Hanuman, there are also several temple dedicated to him scattered all over the place. Hanuman (or Maruti) was likely the patron deity of Visapur fort.

There is a well which local legend says was built by the Pandavas. In 1885, near the north wall there was an iron gun ten feet long and of four-inch bore, marked with the Tudor Rose and Crown, flanked by the letters E. R. This is probably a gun of Queen Elizabeth's reign probably taken as bounty from an English ship and presented to the Peshwa by Kanhoji Angre or some other commander of the Maratha navy. Like other guns on the fort it has been disabled by breaking off its trunnions. Close to it are the remains of an old Mahadev shrine.

Unlike the inner structure, majority of its wall is still intact. At a moderate pace, it takes two hours to walk along the winding Visapoor walls. It is high and strengthened by towers along the west face. In other parts, the wall varies from 3 feet thick fortification, backed by masonry platforms where the slope of the hill is easy, to a mere parapet of dry stone where the plateau ends in a precipice. Two massive bastions still flank the ruined central gate.

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History:

The adjoining fort, Visapur, is larger and at a greater elevation than Lohagad.Visapur fort was built to guard Lohgad and has impressive fortification and plateau at its top. The way to reach Visapur fort top is interesting.

The height advantage was used and British troops in 1818 AD set up their canons on Visapur and bombarded Lohagarh, forcing the Marathas to leave the fort. Lohagarh has a long history. It was occupied by many dynasties: Satavahanas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Yadavas, Bahamanis, Nizamshahis, Mughals and Maarathas. Lohagarh was captured by Shivaji in 1648 AD. but by the Treaty of Purandar he had to surrender it to the Mughals in 1665 AD. It was recaptured by Shivaji in 1670 AD and was used for keeping the treasury. Then on, the fort remained with the Marathas. Ultimately Lohagarh-Visapur was taken over by the British in 1818.

Interesting things to do:

Interesting things to Visit:

• The Bhaja caves , situated in Bhaja village, are nearby and it is a 4 kilometer walk from Lohagad to these caves and so also from Lohagad to the main road. The nearest railhead is Malvali, 10 kilometers away.
• Caves at Lohagad
• Tikona Fort
• Visapur Fort
• Well at Lohagad Fort
• Extension of Lohagad Fort
• Water tank at Lohagad Fort
• Karle Caves near Lohagad- Visapur

Mobile range info:

How to reach?

Nearest Visiting places:

• Malawali railway station
• Mumbai-Pune Expressway (10 km)
• Bhaja Caves (2 km from Malawali), once home to Buddhist monks
• Karla Caves
• Lonavala hill station (20 km)
• Bushi Dam from Lonavala Market.
• Ambey Valley Around 22 km from Bushi Dam.

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Nearest Hospital:

Rajiv Ratan Hospital Wlc at Chandrapur
DR.MUNJE at Wani, Yavatmal, Maharashtra