Shivaji Maharaj united Vasota Swarajya in 1655 after the conquest of Jaoli. It is believed that the disciples of Vasishtha, a sage named Agasti, came to live in the mountains on the banks of the river. The idol of God substance Ramda inn Sajjangarh saved Aurangjebs from attack. Shivaji Maharaj annexed Vasota Fort to Swarajya in 1655 during the conquest of Javli.
He changed the name of the fortress to Vyaghrapada (Vyaghra means tiger) because of its difficult natural defence. Vasota Fort is located in Satara, in the evergreen forest of Koyna WildLife Sanctuary, offering a good experience of jungle trekking.
Vasota Fort is located in the center of Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary and is named for the Koyana River that begins at the end of the reserve and forms a large lake. The Babu Kada, a huge U-shaped cliff lies between the fort and the view is very old and the fort is closed to hikers due to the presence of wild animals. In this remote area, the Koysana reservoir and the fortress are the main attractions for hikers.
Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj named the fortress Vyaghragarh Vasota after the mountain peak with an estimated 15 hectares of crown. The Vasota Fortress is an ancient fortress built between 1178 AD and 1193 AD during the banquet of the second king Bhoj in Panhala. During the Indian Middle Ages it was a defensive and residential fortress.
The fortress played an important role in the Indian national movement under the leadership of the strong Maratha warrior Bajirao Peshwa. The fort was built in Kolhapur by Shilahara Raja Bhoj II (Bhoj Dynasty) after it was taken by Chhatrapati Shivaji Mahraj. It was built on an ancient type of fortification found in Hindu art forms in India and the subcontinent.
Vasota Fort (also called Vyaghragad or Vyaaghrgdd) is located in the district of Satara in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Vasota Fort Trek falls under the Koyna Forest Department and it’s entry is under the control of the department. The trek is closed during the rainy season, but it is reserved as a tiger reserve and opens to Diwali and lasts until the end.
It has a few temples called Hanuman Mandir, Madhava Mandhir, Nageshwar Mandhir etc. Koyna Sanctuary is a nature reserve, it has various wildlife such as bears and jackals. There is still a large amount of forest and the presence of bears and other wildlife.
Make sure you always stay with your group, as the jungle is full of wild animals. If you are travelling on dense forest paths, be prepared to avoid bruises and insect infestation. After completing the forest permit procedure, you will board a boat to reach the base and meet Indavli.
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Beauty of Fort
Vasota Fort offers a great and exciting experience for people who love trekking under intense conditions. In the village of Bamnoli near the lake there is a campsite where you can pitch your tent. The Forestry Department does not grant you permission to camp, as the animals are active at night and it is a wildlife reserve.
The one and a half hour boat trip from Koyna to the reservoir Treveni Sangam is beautiful. Vasota Fort offers you the sight of a densely populated forest with amazing views all around.
Vasota Fort is one of those forts that attracts hikers and enjoys nature. The fort can be visited with a lovely feeling of dense, evergreen forest. Although the feet of mountain lovers are amazing now, Vedha has started planning the fort in the future. Vasota is one of those forts that attracts hikers and enjoys nature. The fort can be visited with a lovely feeling of dense, evergreen forest.
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Vasota Fort is a forest fort located in the dense Koyne Shrine in the Satara district. This fort is also known as Vyaghragarh. It is an ideal fort for adventurous hikers. The fort has a water tank, palace ruins, a Shiva temple and the biggest attraction is the huge bench called Babukra. Situated in the dense Koyne Sanctuary, this forest fort is an abandoned option for summer and cold hikes. You have to cross Lake Sivasagar by boat to reach Fort Vasota from the village of Bamnoli.
From there we reached the top of Fort Vasota climbing the rocks from the Forest Department checkpoint in two hours. Being surrounded by a dense forest, this whole trip is very beautiful and enjoyable. On rare occasions you can also see wild animals on the way. To do this, you must enlist the help of Vatada while going to the fort. The wait in the forest is more likely to be lost.
It takes between two and two and a half hours to reach the fort. Maruthiraya is ready to welcome you as soon as you arrive at the fort. The two and a half hour walk with a fascinating view of the fort and Koyna and Sahyadri takes away the fatigue.
Near the Vasota Fort there is a cave temple called Nageshwar, after visiting it you have to return to the Vasota Fort or from there you can go down to the Chorvanae village of Konkan. The hike must be done in one day as stops are not allowed at Vasota Fort. This option to hike through the jungle under the scorching sun is very beautiful. You can also enjoy the Kais Plateau before visiting this fort.
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Best time to visit Vasota Fort Trek
Forest Department Permit: As Vasota Trek is a jungle trek, there are some policies in place to avoid conflict between animals and humans. To go to Vasota, a permit must be obtained from the Bamnoli forest department. Carry a government ID with you, as it is mandatory to obtain the permit. Not too fast and should be done in 15-30 minutes.
The forest around the fort is a protected reserve, so it is a definite time to visit the fort. The Forest Department will charge you a fine for landing late from the fort. Therefore, check the schedules at the forestry office and follow all the rules and regulations they mention. This is for your own safety.
Difficulty level and other useful tips
Vasota Fort’s difficulty level is hard. It will take around 3 hours to get to the top of the fort and requires a lot of walking. Make sure to stay in your group at all times as the jungle is full of wild animals. Take lots of water with you as the hike is very strenuous.
Try to get to Bamnoli at 8am. Then you will have enough time for the walk. Also be sure to leave the fort early [p. Eg at 3:30 pm or 4:00 pm since it is not safe to descend when it is dark.
The forest department will not allow you to camp as the animals are very active at night and it is a wildlife sanctuary. There is a camping ground in the village of Bamnoli near the lake where you can set up your camp.
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History of Fort Vasota
Vasota’s ancient history is unclear. The fort was built by another Bhojaraja (car 1178-93) from the Kolhapur Shilahar branch. Then, in the first half of the 16th century, it was ruled by the Adilshahi chiefs of Shirke and More, respectively. It is. Shivaji Maharaj conquered other parts of the region by defeating Chandrarao Morya of Jawali. At that time, he took Vasota in 1655 and called it Vyagragarh.
The British captured Rajapur by the Maharaja. He was a prisoner in this fort for 10 years. It is. Sambhaji and Rajaram did not pay special attention to this fort. In northern Peshwa, Fort Aundh turned to a small number of prime ministers. When the second Bajirao captured the delegates and kept them in Masoor, the Thote Prime Minister’s caretaker, Tai Tallinn, captured the fort and lived there, freeing the delegates from prison.
Bajirao entrusted Vasota to take Bapu Gokhale. He went up to Vasota and from a nearby high hill then in VasotaP drove. Tai Telini from Su. The fort was fought for eight months, but was eventually defeated. After that, the fort was used only for prisoners. Bajirao is here for a few days. Pratap Singh and his family stayed at the fort (1817). The Marathas then captured two English officers from Madras, Connaught Hunter and Morrison, on their way to Pune and imprisoned Vasota.
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He was well cared for by a soldier named Mahatarji Kanhoji Chavan, who was rewarded by the British government after ascending to the throne. The fort was captured on March 29, 1818 by a British general, General Presler, who fired a cannon at the neighboring Old Vasota hill.
The fort was abandoned for some years even after the first British rule and independence. The Koyna dam around the fort, due to the Sivasagar reservoir of Adoshi, Madoshi, Shembari, Tabari, Kusaval, Tambi, Khirkindi, Ambavade, Vasivata, Shelty, etc. The people got up. Recent student camps and field trips have paved the way for Vasota and become attractions for hobbyist hikers.
The fort is the main attraction for hikers in and around the Koyana Reservoir. This old fort is built in the vicinity of the Koyana Reservoir and this fort is the main attraction for hikers in a very remote area. It is an ancient fortress, which was built by the second king of Panhala, Bhoj Bhoj, in the period between 1178 AD and 1193 AD.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj called this fort ‘Vyaghragad‘, Vasota mountain peak is estimated to have a crown of about 15 acres. Here it is largely forested today with the presence of bears and other wild animals to a great extent. There are some places to see in the fort like Chuna ‘Ghana’, Hanuman Mandir, ‘Chandika’ temple and ‘Babukra’. At the top of ‘Vasota’ is the old ‘Vasota’ which is taller than this ‘Vasota’.
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Here are a large number of bears. On the north side of the fort, there is the ‘Mhataricha Angata’ (old woman’s foot), several mountain ranges and a part of the ‘Shivsagar’ reservoir. You can also see a beautiful sunset view from here. The fort is also home to the Tai Tallinn Palace and a grain warehouse. ‘Mahipatgarh’, ‘Sumargarh’, ‘Palgarh’ and ‘Mahimandalgarh’ can be seen from this fort.
It also offers a bird’s eye view of the river and the position of the bulk water. This fort ‘Vasota’ was used as a prison. The idols of God and the elements of ‘Ramdas’ from ‘Sajjangarh’ were preserved during the Aurangzeb attack. Furthermore, after the defeat in 1817, Pratap Singh Maharaj of Bajirao II and his family remained in this fort at the Battle of Khadki.
On the way there is a small detour road to ‘Vasota’ fort, another amazing road to ‘Nageshwar’ temple. This distinctive temple is built in a cave. There is currently a railing near the ‘Nageshwar’ cave. The new ‘Vasota’ and drinking water lakes are located in ‘Nageshwar’. Wildlife is also present. Therefore, someone who knows all this should be taken on the excursion. A fair is held during Mahashivratri.
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Best Time to Visit Vasota Fort Trek
Located 350 km from Mumbai, it is a protected nature reserve and national treasure. The town is connected to Mumbai by road and is located about 350 km from the city. State buses carry many of the buses that run on the NH-4, and bus frequency from Satara to Pune is high.
Vasota Fort is located in the south of Pune, near Satara. To get to Sir Satara from Pune on NH 4, which is 110 kms from Pune station. Many state transport buses run on this route, so the frequency of buses from Pune to Satara is high. Once you arrive at the Satara bus station, you need to reach the town of Bamnoli, which is the base town and is at a distance of about 40 kms from Satara.
There are Bamnoli boats that will take you to the base of the fort. A 1 to 1.5 hour boat ride from Bamnoli will take you to the base of the fort to begin your hike in the waters of Lake Sivasagar.
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Vasota Fort is located in the village of Bamnoli, 140 km from Pune in the district of Satara. Also known as Vyaghragad Vasota, is part of the Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary and one of the most popular jungle walks in Maharashtra. Vasota Fort is an ancient fortress at a distance of 18 km from Bammoli, 56 km from Satara, 70 km from Mahabaleshwar and 82 km from Chinchgani, situated on a hill in the village of Bordanoli in the Satara district of Maharashtra.
The Vasota Trek is part of the Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary and one of the most famous treks in Pune. At an altitude of over 3,800 feet, Vasota offers breathtaking views of the Koyna Backwaters and Koyana Wildlife Sanctuary. The hike is located in Bamnoli, 150 km from Pune in Satara District and 300 km from Mumbai.
Vasota Fort happens to be one of the most important places of historic and architectural importance in Maharashtra and has long been a boost to tourism in the state. Vasota Trek is also called the Vyaghragad Trek (Vyaghra means Tiger) and is said to be one of the most scenic, adventurous and exciting treks in the Sahyadri Range of Maharashtra. In Maharashtra, tour guides declare the Vasota Fortress one of the most important tourist attractions and give an insight into the history and heritage of the state.
The hike is closed from mid-June to mid-October. it would be to hike right after the monsoons, that is, from October to December. Summer is not a bad time to visit Fort Vasota, as the surroundings remain lush green throughout the year.
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