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The fort of Visapur is a sight to behold, first encountered along the way to Lohagad Fort. The two forts are, in fact, part of a single fortification, although Lohagad predates Visapur by more than a century. Located an elevation of 1,084 meters above sea level, the fort is located on the same plateau as Lohagad, but was built by Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath in 1713-1720. In comparison, Lohagad is older than the Peshwa Kingdom itself, dating back to the first-century Satavahana dynasty. Despite the differences in their history, age and even height (Visapur stands at a higher altitude), Visapur and Lohagad share a common thread. The two were primarily Maratha forts. In 1818, Visapur fell to the British and its elevation advantage allowed it to be used to bombard neighboring Lohagad. ALSO READ: Forts near Pune known for their historical significance
The British eventually won, and the fortification was placed under Colonel Prother. They blew up Visapur’s southern and northern gateways, leaving behind the fort walls and some other structures. Today, Lohagad remains vastly intact, but Visapur is in ruins. Nevertheless, a trek to this ancient fort will still make you realize how massive it once was. Most of the outer walls remain, reflecting the size of the fort. There are caves, water cisterns, ancient houses and a decorated arch. The Peshwa’s palace ruins also still stand, as do a couple of roofless structures and some temples dedicated to Hanuman, together with a huge carving of the god. The trek to this fort takes around two hours, and it is closes to Malavli Railway station near Lonavala. From the station, the fort is 9-10 km, out of which 5 km is a steep road upwards. CHECK OUT: Mumbai: Weekend Getaways
BEST TIME TO VISIT LONAVALA
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