Ajatshatru Fort - It Is One Of The Most Ancient Fort In India

AJATSHATRU FORT

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NALANDA

Source: Travelnewsindia

Ajatshatru Fort located in rajgir was built by the king Ajatshatru during his rule over the magadh empire around 2500 years ago in 6th century BC. He was contemporary to Lord Buddha. It was built in a rectangular shaped with four corners and each corner is covered with stone tower & walls is about 60 Meter long & 2 Meter broad square. Ajatshatru fort is regarded as one of the most ancient forts in india.

According to popular legend, Ajatshatru had imprisoned his father in a jail built inside this fort after succeeding his throne known as bimbisar jail today. Bimbisar was a great admirer of buddha and he chose the place for imprisonment so that he could see Lord Buddha ascending the gridhakuta peak to deliver his sermons every morning.

The Ajatshatru fort as it’s popularly known today is having its existence in ruins and hardly seems to be a fort in first glance. However, it’s a great place to visit and a major tourist attraction in rajgir.

By Air

Nearest Airport is Patna is connected by flights to major cities in India.

By Train

Rajgir is connected to Patna, Kolkatta, and Delhi 

By Road

Rajgir is connected by good motorable roads to all places in India. Rajgir is 107km from Patna 54km from Bakhtiyarpur 62km from Gaya 149km from Vaishali 39km from Nalanda 212km from Bhagalpur.

Kondapalli Fort - It Was Used As A Military Base By British Rulers

KONDAPALLI FORT

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VIJAYAWADA

Kondapalli fort is located in Kondapalli village of Krishna District In Andhra pradesh state of India. This Fort was constructed in the 14th century and has served many dynasties ruling the region and it is about 16 kilometres from Vijayawada. The fort was used as trading centre and during the colonial rule, it served as a base for military training. The area around the fort is a relaxing picnic spot.

Kondapalli Fort saw many rulers in its heydays. After the Reddy Kings, came the Qutub Shahi rulers, the Gajapathis, the Mughals and Nizams and finally the British troops who took over the fort and made it their base in 1767. It served as a commercial hub in the olden days, as it lay on the Machilipatanam-Golconda trade route. Some historians claim that the fort dates back to the 7th century, built by King Krishna Deva Raya. The fort got renovated later under the control of the Qutub Shahis. Today, its broken and dilapidated facades give you a glimpse of its past glories.

The fort has three entrance gates. The main gate is known as Dargha Darwaza and is made from a single granite block. It is about 12 feet wide and 15 feet high. The gate gets its unique name from Gulab Shah's tomb. The other notable gate of the fort is the Golconda Darwaza, which is fortified with battlements and towers. This gate functions as a gateway to the neighbouring village of Jaggaiahpet.

Kondapalli Fort, built in the year 1360 by the Hindu King Prolaya Vema Reddy of Kondaveedu, was at one time a very handsome fort. Built as a provision for recreation and leisure, the Kondapalli Fort, over the subsequent years, changed many hands. It came to be ruled by the Bahmani Rulers for some time and then the Gajapati Rulers of Orissa took over followed by Krishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagara Empire. The Muslim rulers of the Qutub Shahi Dynasty captured the fort and the surrounding areas in the 16th century.

Hamvira (son of Gajapati Kapilendra Deva) of Orissa fought against the Reddy’s. He waged a massive attack and occupied the whole of Kondavidu territory by 1454. In the meantime, Hamvira had to fight against his brother Purushottam too, who sought the help from the Bahmani Sultans. Hamvira thus became successful in winning the war and occupying the throne of Orissa in 1472. Subsequently, Purushottam defeated Hamvira in 1476. That same year the revolution at Kondapalli began. 

The garrison of Kondapalli revolted against the Bahmani King and gave possession to Hamvira (Hamer Oriya). This did not deter Purushottam from trying to get back Kondapalli and Rajahmundry and he did succeed in winning the throne once again. In 1481, the Bahmani kingdom was in complete disarray after Sultan Muhammad’s demise. Seeing an opportune moment, Purushottam defeated the Sultan’s son, Muhamad Shah and captured Rajahmundry and Kondapalli Fort.

The year 1497 saw the demise of Gajapato Purushottam Deva who was succeeded by Gajapati Prataprudra Deva. Much later in 1519, Krishnadevaraya once again defeated the Orissa ruler and married Gajapati Prataprudra Deva’s daughter, Kalinga Kumara Jaganmohini. A treaty was also signed for restoring all the land, up to the southern boundary of Krishna River, which included Kondapalli. In 1531, Kondapalli came under the rule of the Sultan of Golkonda.

It was under Lord Clive’s governance that the Mughal emperor, Shah Alam granted five Circars or Sarkars (term used in the Muslim states of the Indian Subcontinent) to the British. This was an Indian coinage, to define the part of a Subha Province. During the British rule, under Madras Presidency, the districts of Guntur, Godavari, Krishna, Ganjam and Vishakapatnam were included. The Kondapalli Fort came to rest with the British. In 1823, the East India Company wrested total control of the Sarkars under an outright purchase from the Nizam.

By Air

The nearest airport is at Gannavaram, situated 24kms from Vijayawada city. It is a mid-sized domestic airport and flights are available to Hyderabad and Chennai, thrice a day.

By Rail 

Vijayawada is the largest and most important railway junction of South Central Railway. A number of express and superfast trains connect Vijayawada to the rest of the country. It lies along the Chennai-Howrah and Chennai- Delhi route.

By Bus

Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) buses connect Vijayawada to all places within the state as well as to all major cities in India. Tourist Taxis, Metered Taxis, Auto rickshaws are available for local transport.

Tringalwadi Fort - Its Height Offers A Scenic View Of The Entire Area

TRINGALWADI FORT

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NASHIK

Tringalwadi Fort is located at Tringalwadi village in Igatpuri taluka of Nashik district. Behind the Ghatandevi Temple lies the Tringalwadi Fort, situated at an altitude of 3000 ft above sea level. The height of the fort offers a scenic view of the entire area.The Tringalwadi Fort is one of the main attractions in Igatpuri region. The presence of the caves indicate that the caves and the fort might be constructed around 10th century. The fort was built to overlook the trade route which connected Konkan to Nashik area.

 There is no evidence regarding the period during which it was under control of Marathas, however, during the year 1688 AD Mughals took control over the fort. It is one of the 17 forts which were surrendered to British in 1818 AD.The fort attracts hikers and trekkers mainly during the monsoon. The top of the fort looks like a turban and overlooks the entire mountain range. 

At the foothills of the fort is a cave with beautifully carved entrance and a stone idol of Rishabhanatha in the sanctum. The cave has a large sabha mandapa. The fort also has a small Hanuman temple. One can see the ruins of old buildings and a small Bhavanimata temple on the fort. From the fort, travellers can also have a view of Kalsubai and Kulang mountain ranges. The village Tringalwadi is the base village for the Tringalwadi Fort trek, which is about 3 km from the fort. The climb is very easy and takes about 1.5 hours to reach the top of the fort from the village. 

The best time to visit this place is during the monsoon.This fort attracts trekkers and hikers. The top of the fort looks like a turban and overlooks the entire mountain range. A Hanuman temple is located at the foot of the hill next to the Tringalwadi Lake. The Talegaon Lake formed by the small dam and is a few kilometers away from the area.

One is expected to reach Igatpuri railway station, which is well connected by rail route from Mumbai and Nasik. After exit from the station towards the S.T. stand end, there is a junction called Ambedkar Chowk before the S.T. stand. From this junction proceed along the route towards Vagholi col which is at a 30min. of walk. After moving down the col, a left turn takes us to the Tringalwadi village within half-an-hour. Hiring jeep from Igatpuri to Tringalwadi village via Ghoti is also a good alternative to reach Tringalwadi village.

Behind Tringalwadi village lies the Tringalwadi dam. After crossing the entire length of the dam wall a road on the right leads us to the foothills of this fort. We come across ‘Pandav leni’ as we approach the foothill of the fort. It takes about half-an-hour to reach the top of the fort.

Vasota Fort - It Is Surrounded By Water On Three Sides

VASOTA FORT

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SATARA

Vasota is to the south of Pune near Satara. Vasota Fort is an ancient hill fort situated at an altitude of 1171 m near Bamnoli in Satara district of Maharashtra. The fort is situated in the deep forests and valleys of Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary. It is one of the best places to visit in Satara and also one of the popular places of trekking in Maharashtra apart from being an ideal picnic spots near Pune for one day trip.

Situated on the banks of the Shivsagar Lake, Vasota Fort is surrounded by water on three sides. The Fort was built by King Bhojraj II of Shilhara dynasty in 1178-1193 AD. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj captured the fort in 1655 AD and renamed it as Vyagragad. In 1818 AD along with other forts of Marathas this fort also came under British control.

Vasota Fort, now in ruins, is famous for its traditional Maharashtrian architectural style. The fort comprises of three main sections - Old Fort, New Fort and Nageshwar. The bastions of the fort are still in well condition. There are two temples on the fort, the Mahadev temple and the Nageshwar temple. The temple of Lord Hanuman is placed at the entrance. Babu Kada is a huge U shaped cliff lies next to the Vasota Fort. From this point one can view the Old Vasota Fort which is closed for trekkers due to the presence of wild animals. Nageshwar is a cave carved in the pinnacle with Mahadev temple inside. It is clearly visible from Vasota Fort and needs 2 more hours trek to reach the Nageshwar Cave from the fort. 

Vasota is an ideal destination for adventure lovers. The fort offers trekking, mountaineering, and rock climbing. One can see the backwaters of Shivsagar Dam and the mountain range of Kas Mahabaleshwar from the top of the fort.

Bamnoli is the nearest station for Vasota which is 38 km away from Satara. Vasota Fort is under Sahyadri Tiger Reserve so visitors need to take permission from forest office of Bamnoli before commencing the trek. Backwater of Koyna Dam has interrupted direct connection between Bamnoli and Vasota Fort. From Bamnoli one needs to travel to base village Met Indavali by boat which takes around 1.5 hrs. There is a check point of Forest Department at Met Indavali. From here the forest path leads to the top of Vasota which takes about 3 hours to reach. It is a gradual climb through dense forest. 

Bamnoli Forest office opens at 8 AM and the first boat from Bamnoli to Met Indavali starts at 8.30 AM. Visitors need to complete their trek before 5.30 PM, because it is not allowed to stay in the forest after 5.30 PM. The trek remains closed from June to October.

.It is at a distance of 110 kms from Pune Station. The State Bus Transport has many buses plying on this route, so the bus frequency to Satara from Pune is high.  Once you reach Satara bus station, you need to reach the village Bamnoli which is the base village and at a distance of approx 40 kms from Satara.

From Bamnoli there are boats which will take you to the base of the fort.  1 to 1.5 hrs boat ride from Bamnoli, in the SHIVSAGAR LAKE water will take you the fort base to start your trek. The boat ride will cost you Rs. 3000 [+taxes] [1-12 persons]. Get a larger group for trekking as Rs.3000 is the default rate for 1 to 12 persons. Along the way you would get some breath taking views of the mountains surrounding the lake.

Vellore Fort - Its Prime Attraction Is Completely Made In Granite stones

VELLORE FORT

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TAMILNADU

Vellore Fort is a large Fort situated in the heart of the vellore city, in the state of Tamil Nadu State Of India. The Fort was at one time the Headquarters of the Aravidu Dynasty of the Vijaanagara Empire.

Vellore is popularly known as the Fort City of Tamil Nadu. Now a very calm and understated place, it was once a battleground and has seen many wars. The name Vellore also means a City of Spears. Vellore has an enriching legacy reflecting the early Dravidian culture. It has been ruled by the Pallavas, Cholas, Vijayanagara Empire, Rashtrakutas, Carnatic kingdom and the British. 

Vellore has many historic and religious attractions. The famous Sripuram Srilakshmi Golden Temple is situated near Vellore. The Vellore Fort is prime attraction in the town completely made of granite stone. The Fort might have been built during the rule of Chinna Bommi Nayak (1526 to 1595 AD).

The Fort is one of the most perfect specimens of Military architecture in South India. The Jalakandeswarar Temple inside the Fort is a very fine example of Vijayanagar architecture. The other important attractions of Vellore include the Clock Tower, the State Government Museum, the French Bungalow, Science Park, Vainu Bappu Observatory, Amirthi Zoological Park, Big Mosque, St. Johns Church and the Pearl Palace.

Vellore is a popular and one of the oldest cities of South India. It is the administrative headquarters of Vellore district in Tamil Nadu situated on the banks of Palar River. Vellore along with Sripuram is among popular weekend getaways from Chennai for a 2 day tour and it is a major historical site in Tamilnadu. Vellore is also one of the top Tourist places in Tamilnadu.

Vellore has very good connectivity with major towns in Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Katpadi Junction on the outskirts of Vellore has frequent train connectivity with cities like Chennai, Bangalore, Tirupati, Vijayawada, Mangalore, Trivandrum, Coimbatore, etc. Vellore Bus Station is connected with frequent buses to above cities along with nearby towns like Kanchipuram, Pondicherry, Chittoor, Tirupathi, etc.

The best time to visit Vellore is between the months of October to March. It usually takes a full day to visit important places in Vellore.

By Air

Nearest Airport: Chennai - Menmbarkam Airport (131 Kms)

By Train

Nearest Train Station: Vellore Town Railway Station (0 Kms)

Katpadi Junction (6 Kms)

By Bus

Nearest Bus Station: Vellore Central Bus Station (2.5 Kms)

Chandragiri Fort - It Was Built On Huge Rock

CHANDRAGIRI FORT

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TIRUPATI

Chandragiri Fort is Under the control of Archaeological Survey Of India, and it is situated in Chandragiri near Tirupati  of Chitoor District in Andra pradesh state of India.

Chandragiri Fort was built on huge rock by Vijayanagar Rulers in 1000 AD. Surrounded by eight ruined temples, the fort complex has Raja Mahal, Rani Mahal and other ruined structures. The Archaeological Museum houses in three storied Raja Mahal and displays good collection of artifacts and sculptures relating to Chola and Vijayanagar period.

The Chandragiri Fort is located at Chandragiri which was once upon a time the Capital city of the Vijayanagara Empire and is linked with the Aravidu dynasty. The Chandragiri Fort dates back to 1000 AD. Overtime, more and more improvements were made to it to make it more beautiful and elegant to look. 

The fort is strategically located over the top of a small 183m hill. The southern side of the hill is enclosed by strong walls, surrounded by a ditch so as to prevent any intruder from entering into the fort. The remains of the lower fort contain the two Mahals, the lower portion of which is built in stone and the upper in brick. The main building known as the 'Raj (Chandragiri) Mahal' is majestic in appearance and with the modern colorful lighting system introduced, the Mahal is a delight to the eyes and gives a nice view to the eyes during night. The modern town of Chandragiri lies to the east of the hill on which the fort stands.

The Raja Mahal palace is now an Archaeological museum, which houses a great collection of metal and stone sculptures dating back to 2nd BC. The museum can be categorised into Bronze Gallery, stone Gallery, Model Gallery and Yaganti Gallery.

Bronze Gallery host articrafts that wer made out of Pancha loha, a mixture of Copper, brass white lead, silver and golder metals. The gallery hosts a collection of utensils, coins, temple ware, dating back to 10th centure A.D. The highlights of the bronze collection are the bells, harathi plates, idols of Lord Vishnu, Navaneetha Krishna, Sita and Ram, Lord Vishnu with Sridevi and Bhudevi, Veerbadra incarnation of Lord Shiva with four hands. There is also a lion leg which is made out of Bronze.

Sound & LightShow is conducted here:

1st Show (Telugu): Nov-Feb: 6.30 pm to 7.15 pm; Mar-Oct: 7.00 pm to 7.45 pm

2nd Show (English): Nov-Feb: 7.30 pm to 8.15pm; Mar-Oct: 8.00pm to 8.45 pm

Ticket Cost: Adult: Rs.20/- Child: Rs.10/-

By Air

Nearest airport is Tirupati with 57 km.

By Train

Nearest railway station is Chittoor. 

By Bus

Buses and private vehicles are available from other cities to Chittoor.