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Vasota FortHeight : 4267 ft
Type : Forest forts Fort Range : Mahabaleshwar
District : Satara Grade : Medium
      Situated in dense forests surrounded by river Koyna is the fort of Vasota, which according to the ‘Dnyaneshwari’ means a resting place. This fort is also known by the name of Vyaghragad.
6 Photos available for this fort
Vasota
Vasota
Vasota
History :
      We have to go back to the times of Sage Vasishtha to know how exactly old is the fort. It’s believed that a disciple of Vasishtha, a sage by the name Agasti, came to reside on a mountain on the banks of river Koyana. He named the mountain after his mentor. Later the mountain was fortified and converted into a military station. In the course of time, fort Vasishtha was pronounced as ‘Vasota’.

This fort is believed to belong to the Shilahar dynasty era, and probably named Vasota due to the name Vasantgad given to it during that era. According to ancient scriptures Shivaji Maharaj took Vasota after his successful raid on Javli region. But it is untrue. Shivaji Maharaj took Javli and other forts in the Konkan region but Vasota eluded him. When Shivaji Maharaj was trapped on Panhalgad he dispatched a battalion from his main army and won Vasota on June 6, 1660. Later in 1679, 26,000 rupees were found on the fort. Among the prisoners caught in 1661 in Rajapur, Faren and Samuel were kept imprisoned on the fort.

Later in 1706, Tai Telini brought the fort under her control. The very next year Peshwa Senapati Bapu Gokhale fought with her. After 8-10 months of intense battle, Bapu Nadkarni conquered the fort.
Fascinating Spots :

      There are two entrances to the fort Vasota. The first one lies in a dilapidated state. We enter the fort through the second one.
On entering the fort we see a Hanuman temple, now devoid of a roof. Three ways go ahead this temple. The path straight ahead takes us to the remnants of the fort. The one on the left takes us at ‘Kalkaiche Thane’. On the way is a Mahadeo temple which can accommodate 2-3 people. Moving along the path we arrive at ‘Machi’. The view of the surrounding region is simply spectacular.

The path on the left of the Maruti temple takes us to the joint water cisterns. Water in these cisterns is potable. The way proceeds to a fascinating cliff named Babukada, shaped like the letter ‘U’ that reminds us of Konkan Kada of Harishchandragad. The mountain seen in front of Babukada is the Old Vasota.
Old Vasota :
      The mountain that is seen from the Babukada on Vasota is Old Vasota. No way exists now that takes us to this fort. In addition there is an acute shortage of water. Also presence of wild animals in the area keeps the trekkers away from this fort.
Ways To Reach :
      There are 2 main ways to reach the fort, one via Nageshwar and the one directly to Vasota.
Via Nageshwar :
      It can be said that a visit to Vasota is incomplete without visiting Nageshwar. On our way to Vasota a distinct pinnacle catches our attention. This pinnacle is named Nageshwar. A cave is carved in this pinnacle with a Mahadeo temple inside it. Thousands of devotees crowd this place on Shivratri. Water droplets fall on the Shivling from the rooftop of the cave throughout the year. Most of the trekkers generally visit Nageshwar on their way to Vasota; the only constraint being a walk for a few miles.
Directly to Vasota :
      a)From Satara:
One can reach Vasota from Satara by three different routes.

i)Via Kusapur:
Board a bus at 9 a.m. from Satara and reach Bamnoli. From here one should come to Kusapur by launch. From Kusapur 2 ways go through dense forest, the left towards Vasota and the one on the right towards Nageshwar.

ii)Via Khirkandi:
Catch a bus from Satara and reach village ‘Waghali Devachi’. Then crossing the Koyana waters by launch arrive at village Khirkandi. From here a way from DhangarWadi takes us at village ‘Met Indavli’. The journey from Satara to this village takes a total of 8-9 hours. You can reach the fort of Vasota from this village after a climb of 5-6 hours.

iii)From Mahabaleshwar:
From Mahabaleshwar get to Tapole village and then further arrive at Kusapur by launch. From Kusapur one can reach Vasota as described above.
b)From Chiplun: :
      i)Board a bus from Chiplun at 8.30 a.m. and alight at village Choravane. It takes 5-6 hours to reach Vasota from this village. It is to be noted that there is no water on the way and one has to carry his own supply. After climbing for some time one comes across a plateau from where the path on the left goes to Nageshwar and the one on the right to Vasota. As we move ahead along the way to Nageshwar we see another path below that goes to a well through dense forest. We can cut short the total time to Vasota to just 2 hours if we take this path.

ii) Arrive at Tivre village from Chiplun. From here we can reach Vasota via the Rede Ghat.
Accommodation Facility :
      1.Mahadeo Mandir can accommodate 2-3 people.
2.A plateau near the joint water cisterns can also be used as camping ground.
3.Nageshwar cave can accommodate 20-25 people easily.
Food Facility :
      One should arrange for self.
Drinking Water Facility :
      The way to the right of the stairways to Nageshwar cave takes us to a well, water in which can be used for consumption. Even in summer this well does not dry out. Water is available in sufficient quantity on Vasota.
Time To Reach :
      via Kusapur : 4 hours
Notes :
      Proper precaution should be taken against leach while visiting Vasota during rains.
Marathi Version   Print

 Bus Time Table
Depot Village From Depot From Village km
Khed   Choravane   11.30   -   

Forts of Grade: Medium
 Aad  Achala  Ahivant  Ajmera
 Ambagad  Ankai  Antoor  Asawa
 Balwantgad  Barvai  Bhairavgad (Satara)  Bhairavgad(kothale)
 Bhandardurg  Bhaskargad  Bhavanigad  Bhivagad
 Bhivgad(Bhimgad)  Bhorgiri  Bhushangad  Bishta
 Bitangad  Chambhargad  Chandragad(Dhavalgad)  Chavand
 Daulatmangal  Dehergad (Bhorgad)  Dermal  Devgiri (Daulatabad)
 Dhakoba  Dharmapuri  Dubergad(Dubera)  Dundha
 Durg  Durg Dhakoba  Gagangad  Galna
 Gambhirgad  Gavilgad  Gharapuri  Ghosalgad
 Ghotawada Fort (Gotara)  Gorakhgad  Gorakhgad(Manmad)  Gowalkot
 Gunawantgad  Hadsar  Hanumantgad(Nimgiri)  Hanumantgad(Sindhudurg)
 Hargad  Harihar  Harishchandragad  Hatgad
 Hatkeshwar to Lenyadri  Honnur Fort  Indragad  Jangli Jaigad
 Janjala (Vaishagad)  Jawlya  Kailasgad  Kalanidhigad (Kalanandigad)
 Kaldurg  Kalsubai  Kamalgad  Kamandurg
 Kanchan  Kanhergad(Nashik)  Karha  Katra
 Kavnai  Kenjalgad  Khairai  Kohoj
 Kokandiva  Koldurg  Kolkewadi  Kondhavi
 Korlai  Kunjargad(Kombadgad)  Laling  Madhu makarandgad
 Mahimangad  Mahimatgad  Mahipatgad  Malanggad
 Mandangad  Mangad  Mangalgad  Manikdurg
 Manikgad  Manikpunj  Manjarsubha Fort  Manohar-Mansantoshgad
 Markandeya  Mirgad(Songir)  Mohangad  Mordhan
 Mrugagad  Mudagad  Mulher  Nanded Fort (Nadgiri)
 Narayangad  Narayangad(Amboli)  Narnala  Nhavigad
 Nimgiri  Pabargad  Padargad  Padmagad (Malvan)
 Palgad  Pandavgad  Panhaledurg  Panhalekaji Fort
 Pargad  Parnera Fort  Parvatgad  Pateshwar
 Peb  Pemgiri(Shahagad)  Peth (Kothaligad)  Pimpla
 Pimplas Kot  Pisol  Prabalgad  Premgiri
 Raikot  Raireshwar  Rajgad  Rajmachi
 Ramgad  Ramshej  Ramtek  Ranjangiri
 Ratangad  Ratangad(Ratnadurg)  Rohida  Rohilgad
 Sada Fort  Sagargad  Sajjangad  Salher
 Salota  Samangad  Santoshgad  Saptashrungi
 Sarasgad  Shivgad  Shivneri  Siddhagad (Malvan)
 Sondai  Songad  Songir (Dhule)  Songir (Karjat)
 Songiri (near Roha)  Suvarnadurg  Tahuli  Takmak
 Talgad  Tandulwadi  Thalner  Torna
 Trimbakgad  Umberkhind  Underi  Vairatgad
 Vallabhgad(Hargapur)  Vardhangad  Varugad  Vasota
 Vetalgad  Vetalwadi Gad  Vilasgad (Mallikarjun)  Visapur
 Vishalgad