This Fort In Satara City Is Just As Iconic And Popular As The Sinhagad Fort In Pune!

Just like Sinhagad is Pune’s aan, baan and shaan, similarly, Ajinkyatara Fort is the Sinhagad of Satara. It is located within city limits and a great fort for locals and tourists to trek up on the weekends! So, calm your curiosity and let’s learn a little more about this fort, shall we?

The words Ajinkyatara translates to ‘the impregnable star’ and this iconic fort in Satara is nestled on one of the seven mountains surrounding the city of Satara. Also known as the Fort Of Satara, Ajinkyatara is built on a mountain that’s part of the Bamnoli mountain range that starts from Pratapgad. Ajinkyatara was the fourth capital of Marathas. The fort was constructed in 1190 by Shilahar King Bhoj-II and was later captured by the Bahamanis and later by Adilshah of Bijapur. As fate might have it, during the expansion of Swarajya, Shivaji Maharaj ruled over this fort around 1673. After the death of Shivaji, the fort was captured by Aurangzeb and eventually it was won over by the Mughals and renamed ‘Azamtara’.

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Pic credit: Ranvijay Singh/Twitter

The reason the fort is popular is because it offers panoramic views of the city. The fort has two gates: the main gate located at the North-West and a second gate in the South-East. Once you reach the apex of the fort, there are multiple spots to explore. Seek blessing at the Hanuman Temple. You can also visit Tara Rani’s Palace as well as the Mangla DeviMangaldevi Mandir. One can also spot Nandgiri and Chandan-Vandan forts on the east and Jarandeshwar and Yawateshwar hills on the west. Talk about panoramic views. 

You cannot miss this fort as it has a huge TV tower and a huge sign spelling out ‘Ajinkyatara’ just like the Hollywood sign! For trekkers, you need to make your way to the Ajinkyatara Village and start your trek from this base village. You can also camp the night inside the temple or carry your own tents. The view of the city from this fort during nighttime is mesmerising and a view to behold! There are many spots on the fort where you can have a little picnic along with a few eatable stalls to keep the hunger at bay. Did we mention that entry to this fort is free? So, next time you’re in Satara, make sure you visit this iconic spot! 

Distance from Pune: 114 km
Distance from Mumbai: 260 km

Vertical and Facebook Pic Credit: Ranvijat Singh/ Twitter