Bibi ki masjid in Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh

Monday, February 13, 2017

Bibi ki Masjid is located in Monin Pura in Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh.

Closed entrance to Bibi ki masjid in Burhanpur

Directions to it are tagged on Google maps.

The Masjid is currently closed and not accessible to public. We were disappointed once again. The first time at Kundi Bhandara,and the second at this place.

Another photo of Bibi ki masjid in Burhanpur

By the look of it, from the outside was quite a old structure.
Begum Ruquiyawife of King Azam Humayum built the first Jama Masjid in Itwara Burhanpur , it was also called as Bibi ki Masjid.

We then asked a couple of locals who informed us that certain portions of the Masjid are in need of repairs and hence it is kept closed. Repair work is being conducted inside. Also the local Muslims have asked for the Masjid to be kept open so that they can offer prayers. As this monument is under the ASI, they have been advised to offer prayers in Kali or Jama Masjid located close by.

The walls of Bibi ki masjid in Burhanpur

There are a couple of shops around so one can find food and water. Though we didn't go searching as we had our provisions.

We then headed off to see the tombs or Nadir shah and his brother Adil Shah of the Farooqi Dynasty, located a couple of KM away.

Solapur Fort aka Bhuikot Fort near Siddheshwar Temple and Lake in Solapur

Monday, January 9, 2017

Solapur Fort also known as Bhuikot Fort (Land Fort) is located very near to the Shri Siddheshwar Temple in Solapur.

Wrestling arena near the Solapur Fort aka Bhuikot Fort walls

After visiting Machnur Fort and SiddheshwarTemple in Machnur we traveled on the Sangola - Mangalwedha - Solapur Road to reach Solapur. It took us around an hour's time to reach. Distance is 45 KM away. The directions are tagged on Google maps.

Manohar parked the car outside the fort premises and then we walked to get the entry ticket to visit the fort. The fort is open all 7 days a week. Timings are 9 AM to 5 PM. Entry fee is Rs.5.

Fortification of Solapur Fort aka Bhuikot Fort

Near the fort walls is a small ground. In its glory days wrestling matches were conducted there. Wrestling was a form of entertainment then. The wrestlers were called Pehelwans. When I had been to Kolhapur, I had visited a Talim. It was built by Shahu Maharaj to promote wrestling as sport.

History of Solapur Fort aka Bhuikot Fort

The fort walls were built of stone. The fort walls were not very tall and they reminded me of fort walls of AhmednagarFort in Ahmednagar.

The fort was built by Adil Shah, it was conquered by many rulers post then.

Bastion at Solapur Fort aka Bhuikot Fort

There are two ways of exploring a fort, one is walking on the walls and the other is walking within the fort premises.

Bastions at Solapur Fort aka Bhuikot Fort

We decided to explore by walking on the walls. The walls of the fort were very broad. Four people could walk hand in hand atop it. The second and the third walls have bastions on them. Though certain portions of the walls are not in good condition. They have developed cracks in them. I guess it might have happened during the earthquakes. But one can still walk atop it.

Fortification of Solapur Fort aka Bhuikot Fort

The fort has three levels of fortification. Something similar to what I had seen at Vijaydurg near Malvan and Naldurg in Osmanabad.  

The walls on all three levels were on different heights.

From the fort premises one can see the Shri Siddheshwar Temple in the middle of the algae infested Siddheshwar Lake.

Fortification of Solapur Fort aka Bhuikot Fort

After exploring the surroundings of the fort, by walking on the main wall we then decided to explore the fort from within.

Fortification of Solapur Fort aka Bhuikot Fort

On the inside, there are gardens all over the place. There is a beautiful mosque in the fort premises. The mosque though short in height, it had beautiful pillars carved within in. The design on all the pillars was uniform. Something similar to the Qutub Minar Complex in Delhi and the Daulatabad Fort near Aurangabad.

Fortification of Solapur Fort aka Bhuikot Fort

Temple within Solapur Fort aka Bhuikot Fort

There is another structure in the fort premises, not sure if it is a temple. It is in broken state, but it was surrounded by water. The remains of it were beautiful.

Structures on Solapur Fort aka Bhuikot Fort

There were two huge cannons in the fort premises. The cannons had the seal of the maker, year of production and the batch too. 

Something similar to the ones I saw at St. Jerome Fort in Daman, DaulatabadFort, Diu Fort and Naldurg Fort in Osmanabad.

Siddheshwar Temple and Lake from Solapur Fort aka Bhuikot Fort

Mosque within Solapur Fort aka Bhuikot Fort

Mosque within Solapur Fort aka Bhuikot Fort

There are a couple of other structures on the fort but not sure what they are as there are no signboards near them.

As the fort is located in the city of Solapur and very near to Shri Siddheshwar Temple, boarding and lodging is easily available.

Another Darwaza to enter Solapur Fort aka Bhuikot Fort

Cannon within Solapur Fort aka Bhuikot Fort

We then headed off to see Dhotri Fort in Dhotri village near Solapur

Mandangad Fort aka Chitradurga Fort in Ratnagiri district in Maharashtra

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

I had explored Alibag, Murud Janjira and Malvan on the coast of Maharashtra. But this time I wanted to explore the remaining beaches. We decided to explore Harnai Beach and its surroundings. 

View from atop Mandangad Fort

 After our successful Wai trip, I decided to do a overnight trip at Harnai too. BTW it is around 230 KM away from Mumbai so it is best to stay overnight here. 

I had planned the Light House at Kanak Durga, Fattegad, Goa Fort and Suvarnadurg at Harnai on Day 1 of our trip and Panhalekaji Caves and Unavare hot water springs on Day 2 of our trip on my itinerary. I shared the same with Manohar and Neha, who had accompanied me to Jawahar and Zenith Waterfalls and they agreed to accompany me. Three's Co. it was. 

Ganesh Temple atop Mandangad Fort

How do we travel was the question, Public transport i.e ST bus and Tum Tum or take the car. I was not in favor of taking the car along as Manohar would have to drive all the way, and the journey, was for sure tiresome for him. End of Day I had to give in and we decided to travel by car, when Neha told me that there is not proper transportation to take us to our destination in two days time. 

400 year old cannon atop Mandangad Fort

As decided we meet up at Ghatkopar Railway station on the Eastern Side and boarded the Swift to go to Harnai Beach. Now Harnai Beach is located around 230 KM away from Mumbai. So it would take us around 5 to 6 hours to reach there (taking into consideration breakfast and pullover breaks). 

Like always we switched on the GPS and followed instructions on Google Maps. We usually take the most trodden path not realizing that it can sometimes be the longest one. We exited out of Panvel, moved to Khopoli and then to Mangaon. 

View from atop Mandangad Fort

It is at Mangaon, that the itinerary changed after we was a signboard with distances to Mandangad, Harihareshwar and Shrivardhan. 

Neha told us that there are forts at Mandangad and Bankot, which are nearby. We immediately decided to visit them. As we love visiting forts. 

Artifacts atop Mandangad Fort

Switched of the unreliable GPS and started asking locals for directions to reach Mandangad in Ratnagiri district. ST depot in Mandangad is located in the market area from where buses and tum tum are available to travel around Mandangad.  Irrespective of the signboards we still decided to ask the locals to visit the Mandangad Fort as we didn't want to waste time nor waste fuel driving on wrong roads. 

We soon started climbing over the narrow and curvy roads surrounded with thick vegetation on either side. To reach the top. There is a white gate under lock and key. Car can't go inside but humans can.  

Road leading to Mandangad Fort

History states that Mandangad Fort aka Chitradurga Fort was captured by Shivaji from Adil Shah. 

The hill offers a wonderful view of the other hill ranges around us. The weather was just right, not sunny but breezy so it felt really good standing atop the hillock and seeing the narrow roads leading. to the top of the fort. 

Directions to Mandangad Fort from ST Bus Stand at Mandangad

Greenery was soothing to my eyes. Thanks to the rains that it is green all over. But it hasn't rained here in the last couple of days time. We were hoping rains on this trip :(

There is no fortification remaining on the fort. There is a Ganesh temple, a orange colored cannon which is said to be around 400 years old, two water tanks or ponds, a dilapidated house and a podium atop the fort. It took us around 30 minutes to explore the fort, we then headed off to have some lunch post that we were to explore Bankot Fort.  

Directions from Ghatkopar East to Mandangad ST Bus Stand

Goa - Gate to the Palace of Adil Shah in Old Goa

Friday, April 10, 2015

This is again all that stands.

This beautifully sculptured stone structure was the  Gate to the Palace of Adil Shah. 

It is located within the premises of St. Cajetan Church.

History states that here stood Adil Shah summer palace cum fortress. It was conquered by the Portuguese and used it as rest house by the Portuguese Viceroy's. As per Portuguese Tradition the new Viceroy who came down from Portugal stayed here. He got the ceremonial keys to the city of Old Goa at Viceroy Arch from the exiting Vicery. The exiting Viceroy too stayed here  before he shipped off to Portugal. 

This palace was also called as Idalcaon Palace. The Palace was abondaned due to an epidemic in the 18th century. The Palace was demolished somewhere in 1820. 

Again, if anyone has photos of how this palace used to look prior to its demolition, please share with me. Thanks

Goa - Chapel of St. Catherine in Old Goa

Thursday, March 26, 2015

St Catherine Chapel is located very close to Church of St Francis of Assisi.

Entrance to St Catherine Chapel

Chapel built of Chire. Stone used in the construction of houses across Goa. The Front of the church is painted white in portions, rest is chire so it has the color of stone, Red. 

No services are held here. 

The Chapel is dimly light on the inside, hence the photos are dark.

Interiors made of Chire, the place where once stood the Altar

This Chapel was built in 1510 by Afonso de Albuquerque the then Portuguese Governor. The day he conquered this part of Goa from Adil Shah of Bijapur, it was the feast of St Catherine, so the Chapel was built to commemorate the same. 25th November 1510 is the feast of St. Catherine. 

Another entrance to the Chapel

On the opposite side of the road, I saw a small portion of the wall. Not sure what it was though we landed to explore it. But history states that it was the fort wall.  Afonso de Albuquerque entered the fort via this wall, after conquering this fort from Adil Shah he demolished the mosque and built the Chapel in its place.