HARISHANDRAGARH CAVES
19.383300,73.766700
Description
The five »caves« (rock-cut chambers, probably used for religious purposes) »below the fort of Harischandragarh« are ascribed not only to the twelth century Hemadpanti period (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 5: 114) but also to the tenth or eleventh century (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 13: 56). SITUATION: »Below the fort« of Harischandragarh (note 1), which lies »19 miles« (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 13: 56) or about 30 to 31 km south-west of Akola (N19°32': E74°00') and about 15 km in a direct line north-east from »Nanghat Pass« (Nanaghat N19°17': E73°40'). CULTURAL HISTORY: Harischandragarh fort is »one of the most interesting points in the Western Ghats … The fort and the temples on the summit are annually visited by numerous pilgrims on the occasion of the festival called Maha Sivaratri. The ascent from the Poona side is very arduous. The visitors bathe in a masonry reservoir near the temples, apparently of Hemadgiri origin, and a fair is held in the vicinity. On a peak half a mile [0.8 km] east of the summit is the citadel, with decaying walls and ruined cistern. … From the level plain on the top of the hill the cliff drops 2.000 feet [610 m] sheer to the Konkan, to which access was formerly gained by rope and pulley« (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 13: 56).
NOTE 1: Harischandragarh N19°23': E73°46': »4691 feet« = 1430 m asl (Everest 1830, IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 13: 56) or Harischandragarh mountain N19°24': E73°46' (WGS84) in the Harischandra Range N19°30': E73°30' (WGS84 nima.mil/geonames (accessed 16.11.2003) is indicated as the peak »1424« (metres above sea level) on the India Road Atlas (Eicher Goodearth 2006) maps 81 G5 and 90 C1.
Cavités proche
| Distance (km) | Nom | Longueur (m) | Profondeur (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15.3 | DEHIR STEPWELL | ||
| 15.3 | NANAGHAT (Caves at) | ||
| 23.8 | GANESHA LENA, Junnar | ||
| 23.8 | MANAMODI, Junnar (Caves of) | ||
| 23.8 | SHIVANERI, Junnar (Caves at) | ||
| 23.8 | TULAJA LENA, Junnar | ||
| 23.8 | Shivabai, Junnar (Cave of) | ||
| 29.6 | ACHOLA (Cave at) | ||
| 61.2 | PANDU LENA, Nasik |