Trek: Fort Visapur
Region: Lonavala
Grade: Medium
Height: 1,084 meters - 3,556 feet
Expense: INR 700
About Visapur:
Visapur Fort is larger and at a higher elevation than its twin fort- Lohagad. Within the fort are caves, cisterns of water, a decorated arch and old houses. These two roofless buildings surrounded by outer or veranda walls said to have once been Government offices. The ruins of a large stone-built house are known as the Peshwa's palace. In addition to a huge carving of Hanuman, there are also several temple dedicated to him scattered all over the place. Hanuman (or Maruti) was likely the patron deity of Visapur fort.
There is a well which local legend says was built by the Pandavas. In 1885, near the north wall there was an iron gun ten feet long and of four-inch bore, marked with the Tudor Rose and Crown, flanked by the letters E. R. This is probably a gun of Queen Elizabeth's reign probably taken as bounty from an English ship and presented to the Peshwa by Kanhoji Angre or some other commander of the Maratha navy. Like other guns on the fort it has been disabled by breaking off its trunnions. Close to it are the remains of an old Mahadev shrine.
Unlike the inner structure, majority of its wall is still intact. At a moderate pace, it takes two hours to walk along the winding Visapur walls. It is high and strengthened by towers along the west face. In other parts, the wall varies from 3 feet thick fortification, backed by masonry platforms where the slope of the hill is easy, to a mere parapet of dry stone where the plateau ends in a precipice. Two massive bastions still flank the ruined central gate.
The expense includes transport ex-Mumbai, breakfast/snacks, tea/coffee and YHAI expertise for the trek. Lunch is not included and has to be carried by the participants. Any expense other than mentioned is to be borne by the participants.
How to book:
Trek Leaders:
Mangesh Dhaimade (0-9833115324) and Vinayak Joshi (0-9820473728).
Event Coordinator:
Archana Thakur (0-9819155623).
To register for the trek, kindly contact the leaders or the coordinator. As advised by them, deposit the booking amount in the bank account and confirm the payment. On confirming the same by the leaders, your booking stands confirmed for the trek.
Kindly register yourself before or by 25th June, 2014 in order to get a confirmed place in the group.
Happy trekking...
Please contact the leaders between 0800-1000hrs and between 1800-2100 hrs. In case they don't answer the call, text them your name, email address and trek interested in. They will revert you by an email or call.
Cheers!
Mangesh
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Region: Lonavala
Grade: Medium
Height: 1,084 meters - 3,556 feet
Expense: INR 700
About Visapur:
Visapur Fort is larger and at a higher elevation than its twin fort- Lohagad. Within the fort are caves, cisterns of water, a decorated arch and old houses. These two roofless buildings surrounded by outer or veranda walls said to have once been Government offices. The ruins of a large stone-built house are known as the Peshwa's palace. In addition to a huge carving of Hanuman, there are also several temple dedicated to him scattered all over the place. Hanuman (or Maruti) was likely the patron deity of Visapur fort.
There is a well which local legend says was built by the Pandavas. In 1885, near the north wall there was an iron gun ten feet long and of four-inch bore, marked with the Tudor Rose and Crown, flanked by the letters E. R. This is probably a gun of Queen Elizabeth's reign probably taken as bounty from an English ship and presented to the Peshwa by Kanhoji Angre or some other commander of the Maratha navy. Like other guns on the fort it has been disabled by breaking off its trunnions. Close to it are the remains of an old Mahadev shrine.
Unlike the inner structure, majority of its wall is still intact. At a moderate pace, it takes two hours to walk along the winding Visapur walls. It is high and strengthened by towers along the west face. In other parts, the wall varies from 3 feet thick fortification, backed by masonry platforms where the slope of the hill is easy, to a mere parapet of dry stone where the plateau ends in a precipice. Two massive bastions still flank the ruined central gate.
The expense includes transport ex-Mumbai, breakfast/snacks, tea/coffee and YHAI expertise for the trek. Lunch is not included and has to be carried by the participants. Any expense other than mentioned is to be borne by the participants.
How to book:
Trek Leaders:
Mangesh Dhaimade (0-9833115324) and Vinayak Joshi (0-9820473728).
Event Coordinator:
Archana Thakur (0-9819155623).
To register for the trek, kindly contact the leaders or the coordinator. As advised by them, deposit the booking amount in the bank account and confirm the payment. On confirming the same by the leaders, your booking stands confirmed for the trek.
Kindly register yourself before or by 25th June, 2014 in order to get a confirmed place in the group.
Happy trekking...
Please contact the leaders between 0800-1000hrs and between 1800-2100 hrs. In case they don't answer the call, text them your name, email address and trek interested in. They will revert you by an email or call.
Cheers!
Mangesh