My Photography: 09/01/2009

Well the images you are about to see are not clicked on any SLR or any digital camera. All the images are clicked on 2 MP VGA cameras so please do not expect much from these images. (LOL)

Well these pictures are clicked on fort Purandar which is about 50 km from Pune city. This fort stands 4,472 ft. above the sea (1,387 m) in the Western Ghats, 50 km southeast of Pune. It actually consists of two forts - Purandar and Vajragad (or Rudramal). The latter is the smaller of the two and is on the eastern side of the main fort.

The fort has two distinct levels. The lower part is called the machi. North of the machi is a flat area where the cantonment and hospital was housed. There are many temples dedicated to Purandeshwar (the fort's patron god, from which it also takes its name) and Sawai Madhavrao Peshwa here. There is a statue of Murarbaji Deshpande, the fort-keeper (killedar) who gave his life to protect the fort from the Mughals. The northern part of the machi has a low fall with several bastions and an imposing gate with two towers.

From the lower level a staircase leads to the upper level or Ballekilla. The first structure of the Ballekilla that comes into view is the Dilli Darwaza. This area also houses an ancient Kedareshwar temple. The higher level called Ballekilla is surrounded by steep drop on three sides.

Apart from this I was not able to collect any other significant information about this fort. I can tell you one thing for sure tough, this fort is under military as of for now. The military will not allow you to enter the fort after 6 pm in the evening till 6 am in the morning.

We came across many abandoned barracks, deserted old churches, muddy bunkers and other typical army stuff. The entire level 1 of the fort looks like a haunted village which you will very well realize after seeing the pics.

This fort is more of a hike than a trek. It will take approx take 2 hours for any fit person to climb to the top of the fort from base of the fort Narayan Peth. As usual there are few temples on the fort and on the top we have very nice Mahadev temple. Approx the height of the topmost point is 1,000 M from the base (Narayan Peth) I would say.

The best season to visit this place is probably winter or rainy season as summer will give you a sun stroke for sure. Vegetation is limited on the fort. Only drinking water we came across on the fort is at the entrance gate of the fort from a well. You will come across different species of birds and insects on the top. Near the Mahadev temple you better be careful with your bags. We came across one real scary, stubborn and bold monkey. On our way back to the base he followed us all the way down in hope of food, finally some stray dog helped us get rid of him. Trust me these monkeys are real bold and smart. If you throw a stone at him he will disappear for a while. Off a sudden he will appear and throw a stone on us. He will stare at your back pack like a hungry lion staring at its pray, just kidding.

Over all its fun. :)

Tip please do not click on the images to enlarge them, they will not look good if enlarged. This tip is limited to this post :-P.

This picture was taken at 6:30 am in the morning after heavy rain. I don't know what this pond is called but the water is clean. You can actually swim in it. Looks spooky with the fog around but makes you feel refreshing on a sunny afternoon, experienced it.

This is just one bf the spooky barrack from old British times. They are abandoned now. Fo some reason I cannot enlarge this picture.

Same barrack from another angle with less fog more colors lol. Please don't go on the picture quality, these ones are shot on 2 MP VGA :).

Ya thats me .

It looks like a weired structure at the beginning right. Trying to guess what this is? its an abandoned bunker . Sorry did not click from the other side.