Paranda Fort in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

Monday, November 13, 2017

Paranda land Fort is located in Paranda a small town in the Osmanabad district in Maharashtra.

Fortification of Paranda Fort in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

After visiting the Karmala fort, we took directions from google maps and traveled for around 40 KM to reach the Paranda Fort.

Another amazing land fort we visited in Osmanabad district is Naldurg fort.

Entrance to Paranda Fort in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

That's me at Paranda Fort in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

The entrance to Paranda fort is very near to the Paranda ST bus stand. The fort walls can be seen from the ST bus stand. One can board buses plying  to nearby cities here. The ST bus stand also has a Sulabh Sauchalaya (wherein one can attend to nature's call and bathing)

Fortification and moat area of Paranda Fort in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

As the fort is near the ST bus stand there is provision for food and water near the ST bus stand. But not inside the fort. 

Fort timings on the Fort Darwaza at Paranda Fort in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

Way to the fort walls at Paranda Fort in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

Paranda is a land fort, the fort bastions and fort walls were intact, which made me even more eager to visit the fort from the inside.

As Paranda is a land fort, the walls were a little more than a storey tall, so how would they protect the fort from the enemies. They built a moat around the fort premises.

Well in Paranda Fort in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

There is no entry fee, but the fort timings are from 9 AM to 5 PM all days of the week.

Fortification of Paranda Fort in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

History states that this fort was built by Mahmud Gawan of the Bahamani Sultanate in the 15th century. 

Fortification of Paranda Fort in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

Structure at Paranda Fort in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

The main door of the fort has been redone. Once you enter the main door, you have walls on either side and they have jarokha (overhanging enclosed balcony) from wherein one could see whoever is entering the fort premises.  

Jarokha on fort walls at Fortification of Paranda Fort in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

Ammunition room at Paranda Fort in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

Mosque within Paranda Fort in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

A little history of the fort.

Information on Paranda Fort in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

The fort has got two walls for fortification, the outer wall is slightly smaller in height in comparison to the inner wall.  Need to say that the walls and bastions are intact. There is a newly constructed Shiv Temple between the fort walls.

We decided to climb over the inner wall to get a good view of the fort both from inside and outside. Placed on each of the fort bastions are these beautiful cannons. The cannons had beautiful art work on them.

Another Darwaza to Paranda Fort in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

The cannons at Uparkot Fort in Junagadh, Forts of Daman and Diu, Solapur Fort, Murud Janjira, Daulatabad Fort, Ausa Fort, Kandhar Fort and Udgir Fort too have beautiful cannons.

Rooms at Paranda Fort in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

As it is land fort, the fort area is not much, the entire fort can been seen in entirety in around 45 minutes.

Two fort walls at Paranda Fort in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

We then got down from the fort walls and decided to take a stroll within the fort premises, there were a couple of unnamed structures, not sure what they were.

Temple in Paranda Fort in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

We can across this storage room for ammunition, it housed cannons and cannon balls. Interesting. Haven't seen that before in the forts I have visited so far.

Within Paranda Fort premises in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

There is a huge water well in the fort premises. The water is not portable. But one can go a level below ground level via the stairs.

Beautiful cannon at Paranda Fort in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

Beautiful cannon at Paranda Fort in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

Beautiful cannon at Paranda Fort in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

Beautiful cannon at Paranda Fort in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

Beautiful cannon at Paranda Fort in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

There is also a Masjid in the fort premises, It is under renovation, not sure if it is still in use.

Fortification of Paranda Fort in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

Structure at Paranda Fort in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

Looks like the Govt or the ASI has finally taken some initiative to look after the maintenance of the fort.

Structure at Paranda Fort in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

Structure at Paranda Fort in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

We then headed back on the road, our next pitstop was Dharashiv Caves.

NOTE: Please click on the highlighted words in the blog to read about them.  

Karmala fort in Karmala city in Solapur District in Maharashtra

Saturday, November 11, 2017

Karmala fort is a land fort located in the city of Karmala. Karmala is located in Solapur district of Maharashtra.

Entrance to Karmala fort in Karmala city in Solapur District in Maharashtra

After exploring Bahadurgad Fort aka Fort of Pedgaon aka Dharmaveergad and Unknown Tombs near Jagdamba Devi Temple in Rashin  we traveled here. Directions to the fort are tagged on google maps.

From a distance I saw a bastion, it was in good condition, but I was not able to see fortification near it.

Bastion at Karmala fort in Karmala city in Solapur District in Maharashtra

We then asked the locals the way to enter the fort premises. They kept asking us as to who we would like to meet in the fort premises. I told them that we are here to see the fort and not meet anyone. To this they replied that the fort is occupied by people and that there is nothing much to see apart from the bastions, broken fort walls and the main entrance.

They were right, the fort has houses all within, I guess people have made it their home. Not sure how someone can built a house within the fort premises. Government property hai. Looking at the condition of the houses looks like they have been settled here for decades.

Structure near Karmala fort walls in Karmala city in Solapur District in Maharashtra

As Karmala fort is a land fort, It too has a main entrance to enter its premises. It has two bastions near the entrance. The door of the fort is made of wood. It had nails on the door and also a chor darwaza within it.  There is also a temple just outside the entrance of the fort.

The fort walls are not intact either, they are collapsed or are on the verge of collapsing at certain places.

Wooden door at the entrance of Karmala fort in Karmala city in Solapur District in Maharashtra

As Karmala is a city, it has plenty of hotels for refreshments and stay, it has a ST bus stand and also rickshaw stand nearby the fort premises. Walking distance.

Karmala fort walls in Karmala city in Solapur District in Maharashtra

Karmala fort walls in Karmala city in Solapur District in Maharashtra

History states that in the 18th century, this land of Karmala was given to Rao Rambha Nimbalkar as a jagir. He settled here later. He also built the fort and temples in the nearby areas.

Chinese food for dinner near Karmala fort in Karmala city in Solapur District in Maharashtra

The time was now 6 PM on  my watch, we had to search for a place to stay. We got lucky and got a place to stay at a Govt Guest House at the cost of Rs.200 each. This is one of the best Govt Guest House I have stayed so far. As the directions to the same are not located on google maps, just to inform you that there is a huge ground near it.

Govt House near Karmala fort in Karmala city in Solapur District in Maharashtra

Govt Guest House near Karmala fort in Karmala city in Solapur District in Maharashtra

We then had chinese cuisine for dinner, at a local eatery in the Karmala market.

The next day we had Paranda Fort on our itinerary. 


Solapur fort and Akluj fort are the other forts we have explored around Solapur. 
NOTE: Please click on the highlighted words in the blog to read about them. 

Unknown Tombs near Jagdamba Devi Temple in Rashin in Maharashtra

Thursday, November 9, 2017

As we were travelling from Bahadurgad Fort to Karmala Fort we came across these Unknown Tombs near Jagdamba Devi Temple in Rashin.

Kalash of Jagdamba Devi Temple in Rashin in Maharashtra

Directions to the temple are tagged on google maps.

Unknown Tombs near Jagdamba Devi Temple in Rashin in Maharashtra

Though we didn't enter the temple premises, I did go to see the three tombs. Tombs were made of stone. Some of the tombs had beautiful artwork near the dome. There was artwork near the entrance and also on the walls of the tomb.

Unknown Tombs near Jagdamba Devi Temple in Rashin in Maharashtra

Unknown Tombs near Jagdamba Devi Temple in Rashin in Maharashtra

Currently the tombs are used as a dumping ground, also there is no signboard as to who these tombs belong too. I did ask the shops on the main road, they told me that they migrated here from the nearby villages and towns for business purposes and were not aware of the history of the tombs.

Unknown Tombs near Jagdamba Devi Temple in Rashin in Maharashtra

We then headed to see Karmala Fort. 


NOTE: Please click on the highlighted words in the blog to read about them.