Visapur Fort is one of the famous hilltop forts near Pune and Lonavala region in Maharashtra. Although Visapur fort is now transformed into a ruined architecture, but bears a rich history of Maratha empire. The hillfort had once served as one of the strategic forts of the great Maratha Peshvas. Visapur fort history directly connects to the last two great Anglo-Maratha wars, when the Peshvas used the fort quite strategically. The surviving canons and destroyed gateways of Visapur fort are still bearing all the history and proud days silently.
Visapur fort is appears at a height of 1,084 meters above sea level, and connects to the famous Lohagad Fort with a small range. The fort had a higher altitude than Lohgad fort, which the Marathas utilized tactically. Visapur fort’s height certainly helped in better surveillance to the Lohgad fort, which used to be the treasury of the Maratha empire. Hence the architecture of Visapur for got a special attention from the Maratha rulers.
The Hilltop space of Visapur was fortified during early 18th century to protect Lohagad Fort. Thereafter, Visapur fort is being considered as a twin fort of Lohagad and a part of Lohagad-Visapur fortification.
Foundation of Visapur Fort
The exact time period of foundation of Visapur Fort is uncertain to the historians. However, Peshwa Balaji Bishwanath had founded Vispaur fort, roughly between 1713-1720 CE. But the primary reason why Peshva Balaji Bishwanath chose to built the fort, was higher altitude of Visapur peak than Lohagad. It was extremely useful for better survelliance and as a beck up military post for Lohagad. Quick military action also would become possible from Visapur fort too.
The visions and ideas of Peshva Balaji Bishwanath certainly helped the Marathas during the British Maratha wars. The fort had always provided an invincible layer of protection to Lahagad fort, until destroyed in the third Anglo-Maratha war.
History of Visapur Fort
Visapur fort has a very small identity in the history of Maharashtra. The first Maratha Peshva built the fort realizing the importance of having a backup fort to Lohagad, at a higher elevation. The cisterns of water, the decorated arch and roofless buildings clearly point that the fort had very high importance during Peshva’s time. But, Visapur fort rarely had any active contribution in any major battles until the third Anglo-Maratha War of 1818. The British East India Company had to make special military preparations to capture the fort.
The fortress had played a crucial role to protect the Peshva’s treasury, the Lohagad fort. Hence, tactically, it had a very high importance than other forts in Maharashtra. Loss of Visapur fort cost the Maratha Peshva lose Lohagad fort in a matter of few hours only.
British Conquest
In 1818 during the Third Anglo-Maratha War, the British troop made special preparations for the attack. A special detachment of 380 European and 800 native soldiers, with a battering train, summoned from Konkan. The artillery troop from Chakan, and two other British battalions also joined the troop. On 4 March 1818, Visapur was attacked and occupied.
British capture over Visapur Fort brought a huge transformation in the history of Maratha Empire. They installed their cannons on Visapur and started bombarding on Lohagad. It forced Maratha soldiers to flee.
After the capture, the British placed the forts under the command of Colonel Prother. They understood the strategic importance of Visapur very well. Hence they blown both the north (Konkan) and the south (Deccan) gateways of the fort. Only except a few huts, nothing is standing up today. All the canons and guns were later disabled by breaking them off from their pivoting trunnions.
A 10 feet long disabled gun, with 4 inch bore is still kept near the north wall of the fort.
Fort Architecture
Visapur Fort architecture depicts one of the incredible medieval style fort architectures. Built comletely with granite stones, the stone walls look immensely thick and strong. Despite of being destroyed by the British army, the ruined architecture of Visapur Fort still attracts many history enthusiasts.
The ruins of a large stone-built house once was the Palace of Peshwa. Other two roofless building ruins appear today were the Government offices then. Quite a few number of water reservoirs show ample stock of water was possible even at the hilltop.
A huge rock cut carving of Hanuman still exists on the hill top. There are several other Hanuman temples also randomly built inside the fort premise. A deep well appears inside the fort. According to the legends, it may had been built by the Pandavas of great Indian Epic, the Mahabharata.
Visapur Fort ramparts still are well intact unlike the inner structures. The fort walls are mostly 3 feet wide but also it varies at some places. Many bastions were constructed on the fort walls, where the slope of hill was easier.
Two similar large bastions once flanked the central gate. The gate had been collapsed by the British army though. However, the gigantic bastions still stand tall giving a glassy feeling of glory time of Maratha Kingdom.
Present tourist spot near Lonavala: Visapur and Lohagad trek
Monsoon is very pretty at Lonavala with beautiful greenaries and waterfalls. Lohagad and Visapur Forts are excellent place for tourists towards monsoon trekking and history exploration put together.
Visapur Fort doesn’t have any specific hours for visiting the fort. The fort remains open for 24 hours for all days of a week. However, Lohagad Fort has specific visiting hours. Tourists can visit the fort between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM on all days in a week. Both Visapur and Lohagad has zero entry fees for all tourists.
