Namaskar again,
After visiting the splendid Malshej ghat (travelogue here; Malshej Ghat), the next stop was my Mecca, The Shivneri fort!
Shivneri fort was that place where the Great, Shivaji Maharaj was born. This place is a significant for a Maratha like me, who is an ardent devotee of Shivaji Maharaj. Afterall, he is the one who secured our future and liberated us from the foreign tyranny and occupation.
To reach Shivneri fort, one has to continue through Malshej ghats towards junnar and take a right turn towards Lenyadri after the ghat ends. Once you take that right turn from main state highway, the road condition gets horrible. For our hired quails, it was a test of endurance. Enroute there is a small ghat. You'll rarely meet incoming vehicles on this section. Following the signboard you reach to the Shivneri fort base. From the base, it is a 15 mins climb through stairs.
Tucked to your left and right, there are hoardings which indicate significance of this fort. Clean surroundings and complete peace of mind, with only reverberations "Jai bhavani, Jai Shivaji", "Har Har Mahadev", "Jai Jai Jai Jai JaiBhavani, Jai Jai Jai Jai JaiShivaji" of coming from far away building.
The first stop is a small temple dedicated to goddess Sivai (or Shivai).
Jijabai, mother of shivaji had asked for Devi's blessing. Goddess Shivai blessed her with a son with a silver spoon in his mouth. In honour of goddess, Shivaji, was the name conferred upon the little lad who went on to become a Chattrapati later on.
After a not so strenuous 15 mins climb, you come across a two storied building. It is the place where Shivaji was born. Enroute, you come across a mosque, a relatively big one. To find such a Islamic structure in a place where a great Hindu king was born itself is a testimony of secularism which Shivaji inculcated in his fight for Swarajya (self rule).
Sadly, today, those who use his name for political purposes completely ignore the muslims that fought for Shivaji's swarajya. It is said that "Travel broadens the mind and is fatal for bigotry". I realized this to be true as I was amazed to see a mosque in Shivaji's fort and I dispelled the myth that Shivaji was anti-muslim.
Okay, so few pics of the standing "Icon of Shivaji's secularism", we headed to that place where my Icon was born. This is a two storyed building with a small rectangular pond right next to it. The ground floor with locked door houses the Baby-swing of Shivaji hanging in a dark room. A small window allows natural light to peep in. The baby-swing gives you the feel of 16th century. If you close your eyes after looking at the swing you realize that baby shivaji (baal shivaji) is just around, crying, yes, in that very swing.. that feeling sent shivers in me, as if I saw him..
On the first floor, there are rest rooms. There are 3 windows which are 5 foot high to provide a good view of the surroundings.
Nothing much remains on this fort as it was destroyed by british looters. But I could see the repair in full swing. Beautifying this place is indeed a good idea. One can peep below the mountain to find the sprawling and expanding Junnar city.
Enroute, you will find underground water wells, or tanks as I can sum up respective to their size.
With Shivaji in mind, we leave this place to Manchar where we have an overnight stay and next day visit to bhimashankar.
Pics from Shivneri fort;
Somewhere after the fort entrance.
After visiting the splendid Malshej ghat (travelogue here; Malshej Ghat), the next stop was my Mecca, The Shivneri fort!
Shivneri fort was that place where the Great, Shivaji Maharaj was born. This place is a significant for a Maratha like me, who is an ardent devotee of Shivaji Maharaj. Afterall, he is the one who secured our future and liberated us from the foreign tyranny and occupation.
To reach Shivneri fort, one has to continue through Malshej ghats towards junnar and take a right turn towards Lenyadri after the ghat ends. Once you take that right turn from main state highway, the road condition gets horrible. For our hired quails, it was a test of endurance. Enroute there is a small ghat. You'll rarely meet incoming vehicles on this section. Following the signboard you reach to the Shivneri fort base. From the base, it is a 15 mins climb through stairs.
Tucked to your left and right, there are hoardings which indicate significance of this fort. Clean surroundings and complete peace of mind, with only reverberations "Jai bhavani, Jai Shivaji", "Har Har Mahadev", "Jai Jai Jai Jai JaiBhavani, Jai Jai Jai Jai JaiShivaji" of coming from far away building.
The first stop is a small temple dedicated to goddess Sivai (or Shivai).
Jijabai, mother of shivaji had asked for Devi's blessing. Goddess Shivai blessed her with a son with a silver spoon in his mouth. In honour of goddess, Shivaji, was the name conferred upon the little lad who went on to become a Chattrapati later on.
After a not so strenuous 15 mins climb, you come across a two storied building. It is the place where Shivaji was born. Enroute, you come across a mosque, a relatively big one. To find such a Islamic structure in a place where a great Hindu king was born itself is a testimony of secularism which Shivaji inculcated in his fight for Swarajya (self rule).
Sadly, today, those who use his name for political purposes completely ignore the muslims that fought for Shivaji's swarajya. It is said that "Travel broadens the mind and is fatal for bigotry". I realized this to be true as I was amazed to see a mosque in Shivaji's fort and I dispelled the myth that Shivaji was anti-muslim.
Okay, so few pics of the standing "Icon of Shivaji's secularism", we headed to that place where my Icon was born. This is a two storyed building with a small rectangular pond right next to it. The ground floor with locked door houses the Baby-swing of Shivaji hanging in a dark room. A small window allows natural light to peep in. The baby-swing gives you the feel of 16th century. If you close your eyes after looking at the swing you realize that baby shivaji (baal shivaji) is just around, crying, yes, in that very swing.. that feeling sent shivers in me, as if I saw him..
On the first floor, there are rest rooms. There are 3 windows which are 5 foot high to provide a good view of the surroundings.
Nothing much remains on this fort as it was destroyed by british looters. But I could see the repair in full swing. Beautifying this place is indeed a good idea. One can peep below the mountain to find the sprawling and expanding Junnar city.
Enroute, you will find underground water wells, or tanks as I can sum up respective to their size.
With Shivaji in mind, we leave this place to Manchar where we have an overnight stay and next day visit to bhimashankar.
Pics from Shivneri fort;
Somewhere after the fort entrance.
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| Near fort entrance. |
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| Administrative office |
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| Once a mosque |
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| Birthplace of Shivaji the great! |
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| Baby-swing of Shivaji Maharaj. |
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| The two storied structure from front. |
