Vasota Fort (also called Vyaghragad (व्याघ्रगड)) is located in

Satara district Satara district (Marathi pronunciation: Help:IPA/Marathi, aːt̪aɾaː is a Districts of Maharashtra, district of Maharashtra state in western India with an area of and a population of 3,003,741 of which 14.17% were urban (). Satara (city), ...

in the

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

n state of

Maharashtra Maharashtra (; , abbr. MH or Maha) is a states and union territories of India, state in the western India, western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. Maharashtra is the List of states and union te ...

History

It was famously defended by

Tai Telin Ramabai Telin, also known as Tai Telin, was the wife of Pant Pratinidhi, the Raja Magadhoji Teli of Aundh. In 1806, Pant Pratinidhi was imprisoned by Peshwa Baji Rao II at Masur. During his absence, Tai Telin obtained the possession of Vasota and ...

a mistress of

Pant Pratinidhi Pant Pratinidhi family is a prominent aristocratic noble family of India, who served as Pratinidhis to Chhatrapatis of Maratha Empire and later became rulers of the Princely states of Aundh and Vishalgad. The Pant Pratinidhi's were officer' ...

a killedar of the fort when he was captured. Vasota fort is attributed to the Kolhapur Shilahara Chief Bhoja II (1178–1193) of Panhala. Vasota always remained with Marathas, Shirkes & Mores in 16th century.

Shivaji Maharaj Shivaji Bhonsale I (; 19 February 1630 – 3 April 1680), also referred to as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, was an Indian ruler and a member of the Bhonsle Maratha clan. Shivaji carved out his own independent kingdom from the declining Adilsh ...

incorporated the fort into Swarajya in 1655 during the conquest of

Javli Jawali is a small village located in the Mahadeva Mountain range of Phaltan Tehsil of the Satara district of the Indian state of Maharashtra. History The area was ruled by the Morè clan. The clan claims descent from the Somavanshi kin ...

. Shivaji Maharaj renamed the fort "Vyaghragad" (Vyaghra – means tiger), owing to its difficult natural defense. In 1818 the British bombarded the fort with heavy artillery, destroying many buildings on Vasota (Chandika mandir, Daru-kothar, etc.) and looted property worth 5 lakhs.

Places to see

The fort is in dilapidated condition and is overgrown. The remnants of Shree Mahadev mandir and the plinth of a huge "sadar" (discussion place) are there. It is a protected natural reserve.

Location

Vasota Fort is located about 70 km from satara near Bamnoli village on the banks of

Shivsagar lake The Shivsagar Lake is a reservoir in the state of Maharashtra, India. The lake was formed after the Koyna River was impounded by the Koyna Dam. It has a length of and depth of . See also * Koyna Hydroelectric Project * Koyna Dam * Koyna W ...

References

Forts in Satara district {{India-struct-stub