Purandhar

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Purandhar (or Purandar) is a taluka or tehsil of the Pune district of Maharashtra, India.The taluka got its name because of the mighty Maratha fort of the same name located in this area. Purandar is bordered by the following talukas; Haveli on the North, Daund in the North East and East, Baramati on the East, Phaltan (Dist Satara) on the South and Bhor in the West. The western part of Purandar taluka is mostly covered by hills. Therein is located the famous Purandhar Fort.

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[edit] Purandhar fort

Purandhar fort stands 4,472 ft. above the sea (1,387 m) in the Western Ghats, 20 miles southeast of Pune. It figures repeatedly in the rising of Shivaji against the Bijapur kingdom and the Mughals and was one of the favourite forts of Shivaji. It gave its name to a treaty with the Marathas, signed in 1665. Sambhaji, Shivaji's elder son and successor was born at Purandar.The fort was a favourite stronghold of the Peshwas whenever the unwalled city of Poona was threatened. Later it was utilized as a sanatorium for British soldiers.

Purandhar fort has a National Cadet Corps Academy. It is a favorite destination for paragliders and trekkers. There are many temples like Purandeshwar mandir, Kedareshwar mandir, Sawai Madhavrao Peshwa mandir etc. The fort has a statue of Murarbaji Deshpande, the fort-keeper (killedar) who was killed while protecting the fort from Mughals. A temple to Shiva is located at the heart of the fort.


Commonly grown crops in Purandhar taluka are jowar, bajra, rice, wheat, sugarcane, and vegetables (mainly onion). Some parts of Purandhar are covered with forest, which is composed mostly of Teak, Oak, and Mango trees.

Saswad is the taluka headquarters of Purandar taluka. The famous pilgrim center of Jejuri falls in Purandar Taluka.People also visit the shrine of Sopandeo,elder brother of Saint Dnyaneshwar at Saswad.Also famous is the temple of Bhuleshwar dedicated to Lord Shiva. Rivers like Nira and Karha flow through Purandar.

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This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.


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