| Fort Name : | Alphabetically | RangeWise | DistrictWise | CategoryWise | GradeWise |
| Mohandar(Shidaka) | FortHeight : 3900 | ||||||
| Type : Hill forts | Fort Range : Satmaal | ||||||
| District : Nashik | Grade : Hard | ||||||
| The Satmaal mountain range in Nashik district which is spread East to West has 18 forts vested in it. Mohandar fort aka Shidka fort is one of it and is somewhat unknown to common public. This fort can be quickly identified due to its needle hole. It is 13 kms from Saptashrungi fort and 5 kms from Ahivantgad fort. There is also a folklore about this beautiful needle hole on the fort. It is said that Goddess Saptashrungi kicked the mountain when she was chasing the demon Mahishasur after killing his two brothers who were wreaking havoc in the region of Vani. The place where she kicked was the formation of the needle hole. Another story says the arrow which the Goddess shot penetrated through the mountain thereby forming the needle hole. However, scientifically speaking such needle holes are formed when the weak part of a mountain gets eroded. This needle eye can be climbed by using climbing equipment. Would need at least a 40 feet rope. There is a patch of about 15 feet with proper holds in it to assist in climb. The thrill and experience to climb this needle is worth it. With our own private vehicle the forts of Achala, Ahivant and Mohandar can be easily visited in two days. Achala and Ahivant should be visited on the first day and overnight stay can be made at Maruti temple in Daregaon village or in the veranda of the ashram at Mohandari village. Second day can be kept for Mohandari fort. |
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| Fascinating Spots : | |||||||
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| We enter the fort from its eastern side where we come across the remnants of the fortification wall. As we proceed to the west direction there is a large water tank on the plateau but the water isn’t potable. On the western edge of the fort there is a devastated wall structure and the needle eye hole is on the front to the lower side. A saffron colour flag is mounted on it which makes it easily identifiable. While approaching the eastern side by passing through the entrance there are two dried water tanks on the way. Proceeding ahead from here there can be seen some structures of houses and moving further there are three water tanks of which none of them hold potable water. There is a bastion and a fortification wall located between the cleft which falls between the fort and the adjacent hill. From the fort we can see Ahivantgad to the west, Kanhera to the east, Saptashrungi, Markandya, Rawlya-Jawlya, Dhodap to the south and Abhone village and Chanakapur dam to the north. The point from where we take a turn to Mohandari village approaching from Nanduri village we can see 6 Veerghals of 5 feet height each and 4 Veerghals and a snake sculpture on the junction of Mohandari on the Nanduri – Abhona road. | |
| Ways To Reach : | |
| While coming from Nashik Nanduri village falls after Vani on the Nashik – Saputara road. A road from this village goes to Abhona village. On this road at 3.5 kms from Nanduri there is a diversion for Mohandari village. An ashram in this village is the main point from where all the approach routes to the fort start. The fort spreads east to west and can be accessed by 3 routes:- 1) Climb the hill from the village till the needle eye hole. From here one can cross to the other side by using proper climbing techniques. Once crossed over proceed further by keeping the hill to the right and valley to the left. It takes 1.5 hours by this route to reach the fort. 2) Climb the hill from the village till the needle eye hole. From here proceed further to the western edge by keeping the hill to the right and valley to the left. Once we cross the pass on the western edge we reach the opposite side of the village. The route takes us to the fort by keeping the hill to our right and valley to the left. As this route is trailed very less there is a lot of scree and thorny bushes. It takes about 2 hours to reach the fort by this route. 3) From Mohandari village proceed towards the eastern side of the fort which takes us between the cleft which is between the fort and the adjacent hill. Climbing further from here we enter the fort from its eastern side. It takes 1.5 hours by this route to reach the fort. | |
| Accommodation Facility : | |
| The veranda of the ashram in Mohandari village can be used. | |
| Food Facility : | |
| Available in Nanduri village (5 kms) | |
| Drinking Water Facility : | |
| Water tanks on the fort don’t have potable water. | |
| Time To Reach : | |
| 2 hours from Mohandari village | |
| Best Season To Visit : | |
| November to March |
| Marathi Version |