8 hours Ago By Sandip Dighe
1 2 Pune: The state govt has declared Rohideshwar Fort in Bhor tehsil a protected monument. The fort was built during the Yadav period and handed over to the Mughals in the Treaty of Purandar in 1666. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj recaptured the fort on June 24, 1670.
Bhor tehsil is around 70km from Pune. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune The fort has a total of three gates, all at right angles to each other. It also has multiple water tanks and six bastions on the fortification wall.
Vilas Wahane, the assistant director of the state archaeological department, told TOI, "It is a crucial development from a conservation point of view. Now, we will be able to propose conservation works at the fort to maintain the ancient structure. The fort was under the management of Pant Sachivs, the ruling family of Bhor state.
" The wall near the fort collapsed in 2023. Many cracks developed on the bastions over the years. Intense rainfall and strong winds in Bhor have also caused collapse of the stone spill and limestone rampart built on the route to the fort.
Pandurang Balkawade, the noted historian who visited and studied several forts of the Maratha Empire, said, "This fort was one among the first which Maharaj won when he started building his empire. It was strategically a crucial fort as it is located on the boundary of Pune and Satara district. Then, several Sardar families living on the foothills of the fort contributed immensely to its various operations.
" The conservation of this fort should have been done long back, said Balkawade, "Many history lovers have worked in their individual capacities to conserve the fort over the years. Now, the state archaeological department will have dedicated funds to carry out big projects like they have done on other forts of the empire." There are intriguing rock-cut scriptures in Persian and Marathi on the outer side of the main entrance to the fort.
Moreover, several rock-cut water cisterns are found on this fort only. This water is used for drinking purposes also. Keshav Tengle, a history lover who participated in several cleaning drives at the forts over the years, said, "It is sad to see the fort in a dilapidated state.
The state govt should maintain them properly. Also, it should create a dedicated cell at each fort to provide information about the fort and its crucial contributions. This would certainly make a difference in thinking of young generations.
Rohideshwar is one of the favourite forts in the district. It is connected to the Raireshwar fort also.".
