Nanded Fort in Nanded district in Maharashtra

Monday, November 27, 2017

Nanded Fort is located in Nanded district on Maharashtra. It is located very close to the River Godavari.

View of River Godavari from Nanded Fort in Nanded district in Maharashtra

Directions to the fort are available on Google maps. From Kandhar Fort we drove for around 45 KM to reach this fort.

Refer to this board for information on the fort.

Information on Nanded Fort in Nanded district in Maharashtra

We parked our car near the main road and then walked it out to the fort. There is provision for food and water here.

Nothing much to see in the fort premises. The fort offers a fantastic view of River Godavari.

The two huge yellow painted water tanks, provide water to the neighboring areas.

Water tanks at Nanded Fort in Nanded district in Maharashtra

The  Water Supply System of Nanded is located here. Refer to this photo for information on the same. This is the place where it is houses. Sadly it is not open for public anymore.

Information on Water Supply System in Nanded Fort in Nanded district in Maharashtra

There are a couple of ruined structures on the fort premises.

Ruins at Nanded Fort in Nanded district in Maharashtra

There are a couple of new built structures, but they are not open to public, not sure if they are Govt offices. The watchman was not aware of it either.

New Structures built within Nanded Fort in Nanded district in Maharashtra

Sadly the Nanded Fort didn't meet our expectations after exploring fantastic forts like Paranda Fort, Ausa Fort and Udgir Fort.

We then set our GPS to Dharur Fort, it was around 165 KM away from Nanded Fort. The time was now 5PM on my watch, we decided to brake for the night at Ambajogai.


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

Buddhist Caves in Uparkot Fort in Junagadh in Gujarat

Sunday, October 8, 2017

The Buddhist Caves are located in the Uparkot Fort premises in Junagadh.

Buddhist Caves in Uparkot Fort in Junagadh in Gujarat

 Unlike the fort there is a entrance fee to see the Caves. "What is so special about these caves, that there is fee to see it?" is the question, I had in my mind. The ticket would provide me with some answers. We bought tickets at a cost of Rs.15 each for Indian citizen. The price is different for foreigners. There is also a QR code which is scanned by the person at the door when entering the cave premises.

Information on Buddhist Caves in Uparkot Fort in Junagadh in Gujarat

To know more about these caves, please read this photo.

Buddhist Caves in Uparkot Fort in Junagadh in Gujarat are underground

I have been to Buddhist Caves in Maharashtra, but these were nothing like them. These caves are underground, now this is interesting. Three storey's underground, made it even more interesting. How did they manage to built these caves and why were they built underground? there was no one there who could answer this question. Certain portions of the caves have been worked upon to maintain the caves. No wonder there is a charge to see the caves.

Buddhist Caves in Uparkot Fort in Junagadh in Gujarat

The caves were beautifully carved from within, entry is allowed to all the caves below. The resting places are also carved out of stone. Some of the pillars were symmetrical and that the common Buddhist Caves logo atop them.

Buddhist Caves in Uparkot Fort in Junagadh in Gujarat

There are huge openings atop so that sufficient light can be provided to all the three levels below. 

Buddhist Caves in Uparkot Fort in Junagadh in Gujarat

Buddhist Caves in Uparkot Fort in Junagadh in Gujarat

Refer to this signboard for a little more info on the Buddhist Caves.

More Information on Buddhist Caves in Uparkot Fort in Junagadh in Gujarat

There is no food or water available here.

Fathima and Me at Buddhist Caves in Uparkot Fort in Junagadh in Gujarat

As we had already explore Jama Masjid, we then walked to the Adi Kadi Vav, a couple of meters away.


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

Jama Masjid in Uparkot Fort in Junagadh in Gujarat

Friday, October 6, 2017

After visiting the Neelam and Manek Guns which are pointed towards Jungadh city, we decided to visit the Jama Masjid located closeby.

Jama Masjid in Uparkot Fort in Junagadh in Gujarat

Inside Jama Masjid in Uparkot Fort in Junagadh in Gujarat

The Jama Masjid was  a old structure made of stone. Certain parts of it are painted white from within, the Pillars within it were in symmetry. It reminded me of the Qutub Minar complex around Delhi. It had a opening in the centre and one could access the top of with via a inbuilt staircase. The Masjid also had a small Jarokha (small balcony) in one of its walls. We sat there and felt refreshed with the cool breeze. No wonder everyone wanted to sit here. LOL.

Inside Jama Masjid in Uparkot Fort in Junagadh in Gujarat

Jama Masjid in Uparkot Fort in Junagadh in Gujarat

From the top, one gets a good view of the city of Junagadh, the Girnar Hill range, the temple situated atop the hill. Not sure about the purpose of the rooftop. Maybe it was in use then.

Jama Masjid in Uparkot Fort in Junagadh in Gujarat

Jama Masjid in Uparkot Fort in Junagadh in Gujarat

The minarets around the Masjid a very different from the ones I have seen so far.  Around the mosque are placed a Chhatri. Not sure as to whom it belongs as there were no signboards around. There were also unknown tombs around the Jama Masjid.

Girnar Hill from Jama Masjid in Uparkot Fort in Junagadh in Gujarat

Jama Masjid in Uparkot Fort in Junagadh in Gujarat

Jama Masjid in Uparkot Fort in Junagadh in Gujarat

There is provision for food and water here.

We then headed over to see the Buddhist Caves. 


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

Akbari Sarai in Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh

Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Akbari Saari is located in Monin Pura in Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh. It was around 450 metres away from Kali Masjid. The route is tagged on Google maps , so you just can't get lost.

Within Akbari Sarai in Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh

The entrance to Akbari Saari has been re plastered. Again It had a Darwaza to enter its premises. It had only one door to enter and exit. 

The Sarai was rectangular in shape, with the door placed on one of the sides. 

Akbari Sarai in Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh

The history of the Sarai, is put up on this board, if you can read and understand then do post the same in the comments section. This place was built by Abdul Rahim Khan-e-Khana. Not sure when it was constructed.

Entrance to Akbari Sarai in Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh

There were identical looking rooms with small domes all around the walls of the Sarai. These are currently not occupied and in ruins.   

Newly constructed door to Akbari Sarai in Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh

  

Within Akbari Sarai in Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh

Currently pigs have made them their home. 

History of Akbari Sarai in Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh

I am sure ASI will surely work on the re development of this place and make it tourist destination.

Akbari Sarai in Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh

Goats in Akbari Sarai in Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh

There is no provision for food and water at this place.

Junnar Caves : Tulja Caves in Junnar in Maharashtra

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Junnar Caves:

There are around 200 Buddhist caves in the hills of Junnar. The largest collection of caves at a single place in the whole of India. These caves belong to the Hinayana (Theravada) phase of Buddhism. They were built between 3rd century BC to 3rd century AD. The Junnar Caves are furthur divided on the hill ranges. The  Tulja Caves, The Shivneri Caves near the Shivneri Fort, The Manmodi Hills (comprising of Amba Ambika Caves, Bhimashankar Caves and Bhutalinga Caves) and Lenyadri Caves aka Ganesh Caves. 

Tulja Caves

After visiting the Gumbad and having a hearty lunch at Hotel Dilip, we decided to visit the Tulja Caves. It had now started drizzling, the weather was nice, due to poor lighting, I had to shoot my photos in HDR mode.

Tulja Caves

The route to Tulja Caves is tagged on Google Maps. We had to travel on a kacha (muddy path) to reach the base of the Tulja Caves. 

From there a series of step will lead you to the top. The steps are made of stone though not uniform. Due to the drizzle they had become extremely slippery. We still managed to reach the caves. 

Hill range around Tulja Caves

One of the caves is converted into a temple dedicated to Goddess TuljaBhawani. A couple of locals were sitting next to the temple. With a donation book. Thank God they didn't ask us for donations.

There is a Stupa behind the carved  pillar near the Tulja Bhawani Temple. The Stupa is decorated with graffiti. How dumb can some people be? It angers me to the core when they deface a national monument. 

Tulja Caves

There are a couple of caves here. Due to the drizzle and the water dripping from the hills, the floor had become extremely slippery. We decided not to venture further as it might turn hazardous to us. 

Again nothing much to see in these caves, they are not in good condition either. 

Stupa at Tulja Caves

We then headed down the slippery steps to the car.

Tulja Caves

It took us around 20 minutes each to climb up and down. Had the floor been dry it would have taken us around 30 minutes to explore it. 

Tulja Caves

Next pitstop was Shivneri Caves.