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

Siddheshwar Temple near Machnur Fort near Mangalwedha on the way to Solapur

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Siddheshwar Temple in Machnur is located around 37 KM away from Pandarpur. One has to travel on the Bijapur Umadi Pandarpur Road to reach Mangalwedha. From Mangalwedha one has to travel on the Sangola - Mangalwedha - Solapur Road to reach the temple

Siddheshwar Temple and Machnur Fort are both located in Machnur.

Entrance to Siddheshwar Temple in Machnur Village

The temple premises was flocked with devotees who had come from all over Maharashtra.

As I entered the Temples premises, I heard a megaphone playing devotional songs.

Old temples in Siddheshwar Temple premises in Machnur Village

There are many small temples in the Siddheshwar Temple premises. All the temples are historic.

I located four diya stands and they were very beautiful. I have seen beautiful diya stands at Achara near Malvan too. And the tallest of them all at Shankaracharya Mandir in Vasai.

Diya Stand at Siddheshwar Temple premises in Machnur Village

Diya stand at Siddheshwar Temple premises in Machnur Village

At the other end of the Siddheshwar Temple premises there is another door. there are stairs leading to the riverbed. River Bhima. As it had dried up, one can visit the temple premises. This temple is also historic, most of the time I believe it is submerged under water, like the Palasdeo Temple.

Old temple in Siddheshwar Temple premises in Machnur Village

Nandi wilt horns of Gold atSiddheshwar Temple premises in Machnur Village

There are no hotels here. Most people who visited the temple travel in private vehicles. Could not spot shared rickshaw nor State transport bus here.

The temple is made of black stone The same stone is used in the construction of the Machnur Fort.

Old temples in Siddheshwar Temple premises in Machnur Village

Of of Siddheshwar Temple premises in Machnur Village, from River Bhima

The Siddheshwar temple walls are designed like a fort walls. The carving on the temple was beautiful. I saw a statue of Nandi, but the horns of which where made of Gold like metal. I have seen statues of Nandi, but this one was quite unusual.

Devotees at Siddheshwar Temple premises in Machnur Village

We then headed off to see the Solapur Fort in Solapur. 

Please do click on the highlighted words above to read about those explorations. 

Machnur Fort near Mangalwedha on the way to Solapur

Saturday, November 19, 2016

Machnur Fort is located around 37 KM away from Pandharpur. One has to travel on the Bijapur Umadi Pandharpur Road to reach Mangalwedha. From Mangalwedha one has to travel on the Sangola - Mangalwedha - Solapur Road to reach Machnur Fort.

Machnur Fort and Siddheshwar Temple are located in the village of Machnur.

Fortification of Machnur Fort near Mangalwedha on the way to Solapur

Machnur Fort is tagged on google maps, so just follow the directions and you won't get lost. There are no signboards, but you can rely on the locals for help.

Fortification of Machnur Fort near Mangalwedha on the way to Solapur

We decided to visit the fort first.The moment we parked the car near the fort entrance it started drizzling. But it stopped soon there after.

Main Entrance to Machnur Fort near Mangalwedha on the way to Solapur

The fort walls were very short in height. There was a small door like structure to enter it. The fort walls were made of stone. The fort was square in shape it had fortification on three sides. There was no fortification on the side facing River Bhima. There is a  sheer drop there. So be careful. Due to the drought situation in Maharashtra, the riverbed was dry.  

Structure within Machnur Fort near Mangalwedha on the way to Solapur

There is nothing much to see in the fort premises, except for a mosque like structure near River Bhima. There is a unknown tomb near the mosque like structure. The Siddheshwar Temple can be seen from the fort premises.  

Fortification of Machnur Fort near Mangalwedha on the way to Solapur

The fort can be viewed by walking on the fort walls. Since they are small in height, one can easily climb them. It took us around 30 minutes to see the entire fort. There is plenty of wild vegetation in the fort premises along with ant farms. So beware for the red ants. You might just be invading their homes.

River Bhima riverbed from Machnur Fort near Mangalwedha on the way to Solapur

This fort was built by Aurangzeb in around 1615 AD to protect himself from his enemies.

Siddheshwar Temple from Machnur Fort near Mangalwedha on the way to Solapur

Ant hills at Machnur Fort near Mangalwedha on the way to Solapur

We then walked to the Siddheshwar temple located near the Machnur Fort.

Please do click on the highlighted words above to read about those explorations.