HADSAR

On foot on the way to the prominent area in front of the cistern leads us to three huge stores carved in the rock butting the precipice. These are not suitable for a stay, though. The rock also has images of lord Ganesh carved on it. Headed for the right, there is a big pond with a Mahadeo temple and a huge Nandi. The hall of the temple has six corners, three of which have idols of Lord Ganesh, Garuda and Lord Hanuman correspondingly on them. The pond in front of the temple gets finally filled in the cloudburst. A stonewalled well-like construction can be seen at the centre of the pond. Adjacent to the temple lays a strong bastion. Immediately after the second gate water cistern, with potable water can be seen. Its nearby Junnar Dist. PUNE and base village is Hadsarwadi Downward from the right of the bastion-wall, a cistern now filled up with sand soil can be seen. Proceeding little ahead leads us to a carved-out cave in the rock. This was meant for surveying purposes. There are two major ways to reach the fort Hadsar. One of them is the royal entrance whereas the other one is made by the villagers by carving steps in the rock.

Both these ways start from the village of Hadsar. From Junnar any bus going towards Nimgiri, Rajur or Kewada takes us to Hadsar within 45 minutes. There is a well on the way where one starts ascending the hill from village Hadsar. Walk for a short while towards left on the plateau and a pass between two hillocks can be seen after traversing for about 15 minutes. Moving straight ahead in the direction of this pass brings us to the bastion in about half an hour. A simple climb on the rock will take us to the fort entrance.

Two water cisterns dug in the rock can be seen on the way. To take the other route, instead of moving in the direction of the pass one has to circumvent the hill from left and reach the other side of the hill. About 150 steps from this point will take us to the main entrance in the pass. This being the royal approach is simpler than the other. About an hour’s time is enough to reach the fort from here.