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Jivdhan FortHeight : 3754 ft
Type : Hill forts Fort Range : Naneghat
District : Pune Grade : Hard
      The terrain in Maharashtra is highly uneven, and is primarily divided as coastal plains and eastern plateau. These are connected by ghats. Sixty such ghats exist in Sahyadri, and they have played a major role as commercial routes. Huge forts guarded each of them. The whole range that has been guarding the ancient commercial route of Naneghat for thousands of years includes the forts of Jeevdhan, Hadsar, and Mahishgad & Chavand. Jivdhan lies at the mouth of Naneghat, and is a quite tougher one. Moreover it is famous for the pinnacle Vandarlingi.
6 Photos available for this fort
Jivdhan
Jivdhan
Jivdhan
History :
      The whole range of these forts originated during the rule of Satvaahan era. This is clear from the entrances carved out in stone. The fort stands at an important position and most important guard of Naneghat. From here any help to Naneghat could reach in less time. It was under Bahmani control and after that it went to Nizamshah. In 1636, Nizamshahi declined. Shahajiraje rescued Murtiza, the last Nizam from Jivdhan and took with him to the fort of Pemgiri. But he was trapped by Mughals and had to hand him over to them. This was the end of Nizamshahi. In 1818, the British captured all the forts here and destroyed them. Jivdhan too became a victim and the main entrance was destroyed. Even today the marks of those wounds cannot go unnoticed as we climb the fort.
Fascinating Spots :

Kothi (Storehouse) :
      This storehouse is quite huge and is the sole construction, which has remained so intact. It is highly decorative and height is about 4 meters. The pillars are carved out in rock and they are decorated by carving arts, which resemble open hood of a cobra. It is very huge and some of its openings have been closed. Its entrance is big, and much of its part is under the neighbouring hillock. Much of its part may be unexplored.
Water Cisterns :
      There are a few cisterns, but those on the western side of the topmost hillock consist of potable water. These two are quite big. There are many dry ones, and we find some near the northern bastion.
Vandarlingi :
      This is about 415 feet high. From its base it looks very awesome. Rock-climbers rate it as difficult to climb. It takes about 2 days to climb it. In the base there is a 15 feet deep cave where 4-5 people can stay. Here there some more pinnacles like Tok and Avlyachi Lingi. The way further the pinnacle is traverse to the main mountain and goes to the top. But the way is quite tedious and there are beehives.
Northern Bastion :
      This bastion is in better condition and the ramparts here are intact. Here there are remnants of old houses and some cisterns. From here we can have a glimpse of Harishchandragad and pinnacles of Varhadache Navra-Navri to the northwest, Nimgiri and Hadsar to northeast and Chavand on east. From here a check can be kept on base villages and the whole plateau of Naneghat, along with the route to Junnar.
Idol of Goddess Jivai :
      This idol was initially on the southern part, but if we do not find it there, it is somewhere else on the fort. It should be seen whenever we go on the fort. Sometimes it may take time to locate it. It is a beautiful idol. It has four hands with weapons, which include a dagger of Muslim type, and a circular weapon. By its one hand the goddess holds the tongue of the animal on which it is standing. The goddess being fearsome represents the ancient and medieval ancestors who were continuously fighting for their freedom.
Ways To Reach :
a) Way from Naneghat (Main entrance) :
      This way has approach through the forests and a guide is much helpful. After we climb through dense forests and walk for about 2 hrs, we reach a diversion. On our right is the pinnacle and to the left is the main entrance. If we proceed rightwards, we come to the base of the pinnacle. Way further from here is difficult and there are beehives. We turn to the left from the diversion and reach the steps. These are broken due to the devastation by the British. The entrance being ruined, a small gap exists through which we reach the top of the fort. Here the bastions and ramparts are very intact in spite of such devastation. We reach the western side of the fort.
Way from Ghatghar: :
      From Ghatghar village, one way goes to Naneghat and the other goes to the fort. Its much better till one reaches the steps. Some of the steps have been destroyed and it has become slippery. From here we can reach the eastern part of the fort in 2 hours.
Accommodation Facility :
      One can stay on the fort in the Kothi, but mice may pose a problem. Trekkers also stay in the cave of Naneghat or the base village.
Food Facility :
      One should make arrangements for foodstuffs.
Drinking Water Facility :
      The two cisterns on the western side of the hump are more reliable.
Time To Reach :
      2 hrs 45 minutes
Marathi Version   Print

Forts of Category: Hill forts
 Aad  Achala  Aguada  Ahivant
 Ajinkyatara  Ajmera  Ajoba  Alang
 Ambagad  Anghai  Anjaneri  Ankai
 Antoor  Arjungad  Asawa  Asherigad
 Aundha  Avchitgad  Ballalgad  Balwantgad
 Banda Fort  Bankot  Barvai  Bhagwantgad
 Bhairavgad(kothale)  Bhairavgad(Moroshi)  Bhandardurg  Bhangsigad(Bhangsi mata gad)
 Bharatgad  Bhaskargad  Bhavangad  Bhavanigad
 Bhilai Fort  Bhimashankar  Bhivagad  Bhivgad(Bhimgad)
 Bhorgiri  Bhudargad  Bhupalgad (Banurgad)  Bhupatgad
 Bhushangad  Birwadi  Bishta  Bitangad
 Chambhargad  Chandan-Vandan  Chanderi  Chandragad to Arthur seat
 Chandragad(Dhavalgad)  Chapora Fort  Chaulher  Chavand
 Darya Ghat  Dasgaon Fort  Dategad  Daulatmangal
 Dehergad (Bhorgad)  Dermal  Devgiri (Daulatabad)  Dhak-Bahiri
 Dhakoba  Dharavi Fort  Dharmapuri  Dubergad(Dubera)
 Dundha  Durg  Durg Dhakoba  Gadgada (Ghargad)
 Gagangad  Galna  Gambhirgad  Gandharvgad
 Gavilgad  Ghangad  Gharapuri  Ghodbunder Fort
 Ghosalgad  Ghotawada Fort (Gotara)  Gopalgad  Gorakhgad
 Gorakhgad(Manmad)  Gowalkot  Gunawantgad  Hadsar
 Hanumantgad(Nimgiri)  Hanumantgad(Sindhudurg)  Hargad  Harihar
 Harishchandragad  Hatgad  Hatkeshwar to Lenyadri  Honnur Fort
 Indragad  Indrai  Irshalgad  Jangli Jaigad
 Janjala (Vaishagad)  Jawlya  Jivdhan  Kailasgad
 Kakati Fort  Kaladgad  Kalanidhigad (Kalanandigad)  Kaldurg
 Kalsubai  Kalyangad(Nandgiri)  Kamalgad  Kamandurg
 Kanchan  Kanhergad(Nashik)  Kankrala  Karha
 Karnala  Katra  Kavnai  Kenjalgad
 Khairai  Kharepatan fort  Kohoj  Kokandiva
 Koldurg  Kolkewadi  Kondhavi  Korigad
 Kulang  Kunjargad(Kombadgad)  Kurdugad  Laling
 Lingana  Lohgad  Madangad  Madhu makarandgad
 Mahadevgad  Mahimangad  Mahimatgad  Mahipalgad
 Mahipatgad  Mahuli  Malanggad  Malhargad
 Mandangad  Mangad  Mangalgad  Mangi-Tungi
 Manikdurg  Manikgad  Manikpunj  Manjarsubha Fort
 Manohar-Mansantoshgad  Markandeya  Mirgad(Songir)  Mohandar(Shidaka)
 Mohangad  Moragad  Mordhan  Morgiri
 Mrugagad  Mulher  Nagardhan  Nagla Bunder Fort
 Naneghat  Narayangad  Narayangad(Amboli)  Narnala
 Nhavigad  Nimgiri  Nivati Fort  Pabargad
 Pachhapur Fort  Padargad  Pal Fort  Palashi Fort
 Palgad  Pandavgad  Panhaledurg  Panhalekaji Fort
 Panhalgad  Pardi Fort  Pargad  Parnera Fort
 Parvatgad  Pateshwar  Peb  Pemgiri(Shahagad)
 Peth (Kothaligad)  Piliv Fort  Pimpla  Pimplas Kot
 Pisol  Plus Valley  Prabalgad  Pratapgad
 Premgiri  Purandar  Raigad  Raikot
 Raireshwar  Rajapur Fort (British warehouse)  Rajdeher  Rajdher
 Rajgad  Rajhansgad (Yellur Fort)  Rajmachi  Ramdurg
 Ramgad  Ramshej  Ramtek  Ranjangiri
 Rasalgad  Ratangad  Ratangad(Ratnadurg)  Ratnadurg
 Rawlya  Rawlya - Jawlya  Riwa Fort  Rohida
 Rohilgad  Sada Fort  Sadashivgad  Sagargad
 Sajjangad  Salher  Salota  Samangad
 Samrajgad  Sandan Valley - Karoli Ghat  Santoshgad  Saptashrungi
 Sarasgad  Sewri Fort  Shivgad  Shivneri
 ShivtharGhal  Siddhagad (Malvan)  Sidhhagad  Sinhagad
 Sitabuldi fort(Sitabardi Fort)  Sondai  Songad  Songir (Dhule)
 Songir (Karjat)  Songiri (near Roha)  Sudhagad  Sumargad
 Tahuli  Takmak  Talgad  Tandulwadi
 Terekhol Fort  Thalner  Tikona  Torna
 Trimbakgad  Tringalwadi  Tung  Udgir
 Umberkhind  Vairatgad  Vajragad (Vasai)  Vallabhgad(Hargapur)
 Vardhangad  Varugad  Vasantgad  Vetalgad
 Vetalwadi Gad  Vilasgad (Mallikarjun)  Visapur  Vishalgad
 Yashwantgad(Nate)