Torna Fort
Encyclopedia
Torna Fort or Prachandagad is a large fort located in Pune district
in the state of Maharashtra
, India
. It is historically significant because it is the first fort captured by Shivaji in 1643, forming the nucleus of the Maratha empire
. The hill has an elevation of 1405 mts. above sea level, making it the highest hill-fort in the district. The name derives from Prachanda (Marathi
for huge or massive) and gad (Marathi
for fort).
This fort is believed to have been constructed by the Shaiva Panth, followers of the Hindu
god Shiva
, in the 13th century. A Menghai Devi temple, also referred to as the Tornaji temple, is situated near the entrance of the fort.
In 1643, Shivaji Maharaj captured this fort at the age of sixteen, thus making it one of the first forts in what would become the Maratha empire. Shivaji renamed the fort Torna, and constructed several monuments and towers within it.
In the 18th century, the Mughal empire
gained control of this fort after assassination of Shivaji Maharaj's son Sambhaji
. Aurangzeb
, then Mughal emperor, renamed this fort Futulgaib (Language unknown: Divine victory), in recognition of the difficult defense the Mughals had to overcome to capture this fort. It was restored to the Maratha confederacy by the Treaty of Purandar
.
in the Sahyadri mountain range. It is the highest fort in Pune district.
accommodation near the Menghai Devi temple, or in the temple itself.
Travellers from Pune
start in the early morning from Swargate bus stand. The relevant routes go by via Khed Shivapur
, Cheladi/ Nasarapur/ Baneshwar, then Winzar, to the village of Velhe. The main path to Torna starts from here, and local people can help with directions. The way to the top is moderate to difficult, with some precautions to be taken in the rainy season. It is a two or three hour climb to the "Bini Darwaaja", the main entrance to the fort.
Alternatively, there is a pleasant and interesting ridge walk of 5–6 hours from the fort at Rajgad
. This starts from "Pali Darwaaja" of Rajgad, near the left side of "Sanjeevani Machi", and ends at Torna Fort's "Budhla Machi".
Pune District
Pune District is situated in Maharashtra state of India. Pune city is the district headquarters. In the last census on 2001, the total population of the district was 7,232,555, making it the fourth most populous district in India . Urban population comprises 58.08% of the total population...
in the state of Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It is historically significant because it is the first fort captured by Shivaji in 1643, forming the nucleus of the Maratha empire
Maratha Empire
The Maratha Empire or the Maratha Confederacy was an Indian imperial power that existed from 1674 to 1818. At its peak, the empire covered much of South Asia, encompassing a territory of over 2.8 million km²....
. The hill has an elevation of 1405 mts. above sea level, making it the highest hill-fort in the district. The name derives from Prachanda (Marathi
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
for huge or massive) and gad (Marathi
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
for fort).
History
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
god Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
, in the 13th century. A Menghai Devi temple, also referred to as the Tornaji temple, is situated near the entrance of the fort.
In 1643, Shivaji Maharaj captured this fort at the age of sixteen, thus making it one of the first forts in what would become the Maratha empire. Shivaji renamed the fort Torna, and constructed several monuments and towers within it.
In the 18th century, the Mughal empire
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
gained control of this fort after assassination of Shivaji Maharaj's son Sambhaji
Sambhaji
Sambhaji Raje Bhosle was the eldest son and successor to Emporer Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha empire.- Early life :...
. Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb
Abul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
, then Mughal emperor, renamed this fort Futulgaib (Language unknown: Divine victory), in recognition of the difficult defense the Mughals had to overcome to capture this fort. It was restored to the Maratha confederacy by the Treaty of Purandar
Treaty of Purandar
The Treaty of Purandar may be referring to one of the articles below.*Treaty of Purandar - Between Rajput Jai Singh I and Maratha Shivaji Maharaj.*Treaty of Purandar - Between the Peshwa of the Maratha Empire and the British East India Company....
.
Location
The fort is about 40 km southwest of PunePune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
in the Sahyadri mountain range. It is the highest fort in Pune district.
Tourism
The Torna Fort is a popular destination for trekkers especially after the south-west monsoon, from September to December. Trekkers can stay in MTDCMaharashtra Tourism Development Corporation
Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation , commonly abbreviated as MTDC, is a body of the Government of Maharashtra responsible for development of tourism in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It has been established under the Companies Act, 1956, for systematic development of tourism on...
accommodation near the Menghai Devi temple, or in the temple itself.
Routes
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
start in the early morning from Swargate bus stand. The relevant routes go by via Khed Shivapur
Khed Shivapur
Khed Shivapur is a village at a distance of about 50 km from Pune on Mumbai-Bangalore highway after Katraj ghat and New Katraj Tunnel of 1458 meters. Khed shivapur is the dargah of Hazrat Quamar Ali Durvesh Bapuji Mudgal Deshpande was one of the first settlers of Khed Shivapur village in...
, Cheladi/ Nasarapur/ Baneshwar, then Winzar, to the village of Velhe. The main path to Torna starts from here, and local people can help with directions. The way to the top is moderate to difficult, with some precautions to be taken in the rainy season. It is a two or three hour climb to the "Bini Darwaaja", the main entrance to the fort.
Alternatively, there is a pleasant and interesting ridge walk of 5–6 hours from the fort at Rajgad
Rajgad
Rajgad , literally meaning King of forts, one of the forts of Maharashtra state in India. Situated in the Pune district, the fort is approximately 1326 meters above sea level....
. This starts from "Pali Darwaaja" of Rajgad, near the left side of "Sanjeevani Machi", and ends at Torna Fort's "Budhla Machi".