Dharashiv Caves in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Dharashiv Caves are located in the Balaghat mountains in the Osmanabad district in Maharashtra.

Dharashiv Caves in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

Dharashiv Caves in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

After visiting the Paranda Fort, we took directions from google maps and reached here after travelling for around 75 KM.

Naldurg is another fort in Osmanabad district known for its fantastic fortification.

NOTE -  There is no provision for food and water here. Only mode of transport is private vehicles.

Information on Dharashiv Caves in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

History states that these Caves were built around 5th to 7th century.  They were discovered in the 10th century, by the Rashtrakuta Dynasty. These were originally Buddhist Caves which were later converted into Jain Caves.

Stone sculptures at Dharashiv Caves in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

Dharashiv Caves in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

A tar road, leads to the caves entrance.There are two sets of caves on two hill ranges, facing each other. We decided to start exploring the caves near the temple premises.

Dharashiv Caves in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

Dharashiv Caves in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

There is grinding stone at the entrance of the temple premises.

The temple wall looks like a fort wall, made of small sized rocks. There are two small entrances to enter the temple premises. The temple kalash (top of temple) had beautiful artwork on it. The temple is dedicated to Shivguru and had beautiful paintings on the inside of soldiers at the entrance of the Shivguru.

Dharashiv Caves in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

Statue of Mahavir at Dharashiv Caves in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

The caves are all of different sizes. Grafitti artists have left their impression on  the cave walls.

Dharashiv Caves in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

Some of the caves were huge, they has symmetrical carved pillars within them. with a sculpture of Buddha within it. 

The cave premises have been re worked upon as certain caves have been painted and also the pillars have been redone.

There are sculptures on rocks all over the place.

Temple near Dharashiv Caves in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

Temple premises of Dharashiv Caves in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

Temple top at Dharashiv Caves in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

The caves, which were later converted to Jain Caves, have statue of Mahavir within them and they are under lock and key. so one can only take photos from outside.

Temple premises at Dharashiv Caves in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

We then visited the caves on the other hill range, which are not in very good condition. I guess no one is looking after their well being. Though these set of caves looks more rustic in comparison to the ones near the temple, some of them have beautiful artwork near their pillars.

Dharashiv Caves in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

Dharashiv Caves in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

Both set of caves offer fantastic view of the surroundings, there is no civilization in a distance. No wonder the monks decided to mediate here.

Dharashiv Caves in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

That's us at Dharashiv Caves in Osmanabad district in Maharashtra

We then decided to visit Ausa Fort.

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

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.  

Dhotri Fort at Dhotri Village near Solapur

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Dhotri Fort is located in Dhotri village. The road to the village is not in good condition. Will test car and bike suspension. Deserted roads to reach the village. Farms on either side of the road.

Fortification of Dhotri Fort at Dhotri Village near Solapur

After visiting Solapur Fort we headed off to see Dhotri Fort. Finally reached Dhotri village. Directions to Dhotri Fort are tagged on google maps. There is a fort like entrance to visit the village.

The fort is surrounded by the village on one side and loose soil on the other. The fort walls are intact. A certain part of it has collapsed but the pattern is untouched. The same kind of stone is used to build houses of the locals around the fort. So not sure if the houses are also that old or it's just the fort.

Fortification of Dhotri Fort at Dhotri Village near Solapur

Apart from the stone that can see seen from the outside, it has walls of mud in it. The mud walls are around 10 feet broad.

A couple of children were playing cricket in the quadrangle of the fort. Again there is only one door to access the fort.

Entrance to Dhotri Fort at Dhotri Village near Solapur

They became out guide and showed us around the fort. The helped us up the stone stairs to climb the wall. Initially when Manohar tried to be enter bats came running out, reminded me of Indiana Jones.

Quadrangle of Dhotri Fort at Dhotri Village near Solapur

They also should us a small entrance in the wall. As per the kids there are 36 small rooms in there and also a secret underground road that leads to Akkalkot fort.

Fortification of Dhotri Fort at Dhotri Village near Solapur

There are also a couple of wells in the fort premises, but they are empty, plus there is dried wild grass growing all over the fort premises. The golden grass reminded me of my Peth Fort exploration. 

Fortification of Dhotri Fort at Dhotri Village near Solapur

It took us around 30 minutes to see the fort.

The locals themselves don't know as to who built the fort, strange.

Way to Akkalkot Fort from Dhotri Fort at Dhotri Village near Solapur

Also strange to hear that Kannada is the second language here.

Fortification of Dhotri Fort at Dhotri Village near Solapur

There are st buses and shared rickshaw available in village.

Entrance to Dhotri Village near Solapur

We then headed off to Naldurg in Osmanabad.