Ajinkyatara Fort – A Little Bit of History, Religion, and Lots of Adventure

The Ajinkyatara fort is located close to the city of Satara in Maharashtra. It stands tall on one of the seven hills that surround the city. Also known as “Sapta Rishi”, this is one fort with a difference. Raja Bhoj of the Shilar Dynasty constructed this fort because he wanted to pay his respects to all those who laid down their lives in the “First War of Independence” in 1857. No, it was not constructed to protect a town or guard a mountain pass from warring factions, like so many other forts in India. However it’s no decorative fort. Much of its four meter thick walls remain intact to this day. It stands testimony to this.

You will be able to see the Ajinkyatara fort from Yateshwar Hill, located at a distance of 5 kilometers. However it does not really look impressive from a distance. You must reach closer, and hike up the mountain to truly begin to appreciate the construction work. Vehicles cannot reach the top. You must trek or hike to reach the main doorway that leads to the inside. But don’t worry. The hike to the top isn’t too difficult. Any person with average fitness should be able to make it quite easily.

What to See Inside the Ajinkyatara Fort

Sadly, there isn’t much history left inside the fort, though at least one battle was fought here. Most people visit the Ajinkyatara fort to get a view of the surrounding areas from the top. And of course, there are adventurers who climb up to the fort just for the thrill and experience of trekking. The panorama from up there is really fascinating. You can see the roads, houses, villages, and even the city of Satara at a distance. To get the best views, it is suggested that you should start around 3:30 in the afternoon. You will then be able to catch the sunset from the top.

There are a few tanks though within the walls of the fort. These tanks were used to store water. You can see remnants of these tanks. There are a few temples inside Ajinkyatara. Head to the northeastern side, and you will come face to face with the temples of Lord Hanuman, Lord Shankar and Devi Mangalai. On auspicious days, you will find many devotees visiting these temples.