| Fort Name : | Alphabetically | RangeWise | DistrictWise | CategoryWise | GradeWise |
| Daulatmangal | FortHeight : 2000 | ||
| Type : Hill forts | Fort Range : Nil | ||
| District : Dhule | Grade : Medium | ||
| DaulatMangal is a fort located at approx. 45 km from Pune on the Pune Solapur road, and hosts the famous Bhuleshwar Temple within its boundaries. This fort is almost forgotten, but still can be identified due to its features and walls. The 12th century Shiva temple is the one attracts many tourists due to due to its amazing structure and precise carvings. The temple built in basalt is an architectural marvel and was a power center at one time. Hence a fort was developed here during Shahaji Maharaj’s tenure and was named DaulatMangal due to a temple of Mangalai Devi which is located south of the fort. One can visit Bhuleshwar and Jejuri within one day from Pune. |
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| History : | |||
| The Hindu scriptures tell a story that Goddess Parvati performed a dance for Shiva at this place, and this was the location where they got married. The temple was built to commemorate the grand event. Let’s understand bit of a background why the fort achieved significance. In the late 16th century, Lakhuji Jadhav (Shahaji’s father in law) and his three sons were assassinated by nizamshah in his court. Shahaji decided to leave nizamshah and establish his own territory. Pune, being his ancestral “Jahagir”, was his obvious target. It was then under the control of adilshah. Shahaji recaptured Pune and surrounding region, which infuriated adilshah and he sent an army led by Rairao to capture Pune. Shahaji had his pregnant wife Jijamata stay in the protective custody on the fort Shivneri. Pune was captured and destroyed by a merciless army. However, Shahaji was close to Murar Jagdev, an eminent person in Adilshah’s ranks. Since Pune was devastated, Jagdev built a fort at the site of Bhuleshwar temple as a center for administration of Pune province. Murar Jagdev was assassinated in 1635 by Adilshah. Later Jijamata along with young Shivaji took over Pune administration and Lal Mahal became the power center. Since then the importance of DaulatMangal diminished over time. |
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| Fascinating Spots : | |||
| The fort is easily reachable with a tar road taking us right to the temple on the top. The fort is spread in east west direction and its main entrance is from the northern side. We can see a couple of bastions on the way to the fort. Though we can go right to the temple parking lot by a vehicle, we can also hike from the entrance by a small path to the temple. On this path we can see old arch doors of stone. The temple is the topmost point and offers some serene views during certain times of the day. The ramparts and bastions still show up, but are rapidly diminishing due to no maintenance. Now, some key points about Bhuleshwar temple. It is an architectural marvel which is a characteristic of all the 12th century temples. Being a Shiva temple, its houses a huge Nandi inside the temple, along with a stone carved tortoise. The Nandi bull sculpture is about 6 feet high. The temple is east facing, and right from the steps of the temple, we can see beautiful sculptures. The temple entrance is a grand entrance with Ganesh on the left side and Vishnu on the right side. The carvings on the walls and pillars is very precise like the other stone carved temples. The sanctum sanctorum of the temple is deep and gives a feel that the temple has 2 levels. The temple, due to its structure and the rock, is cool inside and gives a rejuvenating feeling to ones who visit there. As we do the “Pradakshina” or a walk around the temple, we can see how different forms of Gods and deities are worshipped here, some of them being Vitthal Rakhumai, Ganesh and Shiva. There is a huge bell in front of the temple. Also, the stairs to the topmost part of the temple are surrounded beautifully carved walls. The campus of the temple houses a Deepmaal or a tall stone made tower on which oil lamps were lit after sunset. There are other structures within the temple campus. It takes an hour or more to see the entire temple, but more time is needed if sculptures are to be well observed. The beautiful temple is a memorable place, but the thing which bothers us while seeing the temple is the half broken or beheaded idols everywhere which was the result of the demolition by the Muslim rulers and which were saved due to tough fight given by the locals. There is another small temple of Shiva, and an old banyan tree there. Every Sunday “Prasad” is distributed there. | |
| Ways To Reach : | |
| Pune – Hadapsar – Urali Kanchan – Yavat is the route on Pune Solapur road. The temple is about 10 km from Yavat village. | |
| Accommodation Facility : | |
| There is no place to do a night stay here. | |
| Food Facility : | |
| Though the temple offers “Prasad” on Sundays only, one has to arrange for food. | |
| Drinking Water Facility : | |
| Drinking water is available here. |
| Marathi Version |