Weekend Travels: January 2011

Tikona is hill fort in Maval region near the Lonavala.

Malik Ahmed Nizamshah of the Nizam dynasty conquered the fort in 1585 and aanexed it to the Nizam territory. In 1657 Shivaji Maharaj (The Great Maratha Emperor) brought the whole of Konkan, which had been Nizam territory, under his control when he conquered Tikona along with the forts of Karnala, Lohgad, Mahuli, Songad, Tala, and Visapur. This fort was a strategic nexus: the centre of control for the entire Pawana Mawal region. In 1660, Netaji Palkar was charged with ensuring the security of fort Tikona. Jaysingh invaded the regionn in 1665 and the local villages were by Dilerkhan but the forts held out. Tikona fort was surrendered to the Mughal warrior Kubadkhan, who had attacked the region together with Halalkhan and others, according to the Treaty of Purandar signed on 12 June 1665. Kubadkhan took over the fort on 18 June but it was later recaptured by the Marathas.

We reach Tikona fort from Pune via Kolvan phata near Paud. From Pune the distance is only 55kms. The fort is now cleaned and renovated. The fort is easy to climb. There are two routes to climb the fort, but the simple one from ‘Khind’ side, i.e. from Mahadev Mandir.

It takes less than 45mins to climb fort and less than 90mins to see whole fort. The fort is in good condition. There is a cave before climbing the fort.

Best time to Visit:

September to April

What to see:

Idol of Hunaman

Lord Mahadev Temple.

Tulja Bhavani Mandir

Water tank on fort.

View of Tungi Fort

Pavana Dam & Pavana Dam Backwaters

Bastian, Fortification, Water cisterns.

Nearby Forts from Tikona:

Tungi Fort

Lohagad Fort

Visapur Fort

Korigad Fort

Dhangad / Ghangad Fort.

Rajmachi ( Manaranjan Fort & Shrivardhan Fort )

Tungi Fort

Water and Food

No food on the Fort. There are water tanks on the fort to drink water but it depends upon which season you are visiting.

Stay / Accommodation

No place to stay on the Fort.

Approximate Distance from Pune

60 Kms

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Tikona (Also Known as Vitandgad)

Climb From This Side

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Tathavade or Santoshgad, hill fort lies in the north-west corner of the Phaltan taluka, about 12 miles south-west of Phaltan, the taluka headquarters! The fort is roughly triangular in shape. The local tradition is that this fort was built by Shivaji the Great (1630-80). In 1666 it was in the hands of Bajaji Naik Nimbalkar. In the same year Chhatrapati Shivaji after the treaty of Purandhar served under Jaysing, the Rajput general of Aurangzeb's army, against Bijapur and with his Mavlas escaladed Tathavade. [Grant Duffs Marathas, Vol. I, 165.] The Bijapur Government again apparently got it back from the Moghals probably by treaty. Chhatrapati Shivaji retook it for himself in 1673 [Grant Duffs Marathas, Vol. I, 202.] And in 1676 he had to retake the open country in its neighborhood, the estate-holders of which were always ready to rebel against him.[ Grant Duffs Marathas, Vol. I, 209.] The fort was taken by the Moghals in 1689. [Grant Duffs Marathas, Vol. I, 273.]. But was ceded to Shahu in 1720 in the imperial grants made to him in that year. [Grant Duffs Marathas, Vol. I, 339] in a revenue statement of about 1790 Tathora appears as the head of a sub-division in the Nahisdurg sarkar with revenue of Rs. 1,120. [Warring's Marathas, 244.] The fort remained in the hands of the Marathas till 1818 when it was shelled by a detachment of General Pritzler's army from the plateau and a spur pointed out about half a mile to the west. A good many of the buildings and part of the walls are said to have been injured by the shelling. The commandant fled at the first few shots, the garrison followed, and the fort was taken. Its elaborate design and considerable strength for the times in which it was built may be explained by the fact that it was close to the Nizam Shahi frontier and of some importance therefore to the Bijapur government, while the constant disturbances in the neighborhood in Chhatrapati Shivajis time would amply account for any additions he made to it.

A story is told that the famous dacoit Umaji Naik (1827) was resting at a spring in the ravine which leads down to the fort from the plateau and that a Brahman on his way to Tathavad passed by with a little grain given him in charity. Umaji called on him to stand and give up what he had. But when he learnt that it was only grain sent him off in peace, entreated his blessings, and gave him Rs. 25

Before visiting to Santoshgad, I visited a place called Nimbhalkar wada in Wathar, a similar pace like Shaniwar wada in Pune and then we moved towards Santoshgad. Santoshgad is around 120kms from Pune. The fort is easy to climb. It takes less than 45 mins to climb the fort. Route to climb the fort is easy and there are no difficult patches in between. This fort can be done in one day.

Best time to Visit:

September to April

What to see?

Bastian, Fortification, Water cisterns.

Water and Food

No water & food on the Fort. There are water tanks on the fort but the water is not good to drink.

Stay / Accommodation

No place to stay on the Fort.

For more photos see link below
https://www.facebook.com/Weekendtravels.in