Bhandardara Lake

 Bhandardara Lake, also known as Arthur Lake, is a man-made reservoir in Ahmednagar (Ahilyanagar) district, Maharashtra. Its history is closely linked to British-era water management projects.

 

   

Bhandardara Lake, also known as Arthur Lake or Lake Arthur Hill, is a horseshoe-shaped reservoir formed by the construction of the Wilson Dam on the Pravara River in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra, India. The dam, built in 1910 by the British, is one of the oldest earthen dams in India and serves as a key source of irrigation and hydroelectric power. The lake is surrounded by lush green forests and rolling hills of the Sahyadri mountain range, creating a serene and picturesque environment ideal for boating, camping, and picnics.

The lake is a central attraction in Bhandardara, a popular hill station known for its natural beauty, biodiversity, and adventure opportunities. It is particularly renowned during the monsoon and post-monsoon seasons (June to February), when the water level rises, waterfalls come alive, and the surrounding landscape turns lush green. The lake is also a key site for observing fireflies during their mating season, although tourism during this period can disrupt their natural behavior.

Visitors can enjoy various activities at Bhandardara Lake, including boating, fishing, and evening strolls along the lakeside. The area is also a gateway to several other attractions, such as the Umbrella Falls, which is visible from July to October when the dam overflows, and Randha Falls, a 170-foot waterfall located about 10 kilometers away. The highest peak in Maharashtra, Mount Kalsubai at 1,646 meters, is accessible via a trek starting from nearby Bari Village, offering panoramic views of the region

Rehekuri Blackbuck Sanctuary Maharashtra

 Here’s an overview of the history and background of the Rehekuri Blackbuck Sanctuary in Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra:

Blackbucks, also known as Indian antelope, is famous all over India for of its unique jump and being the sole extant member of the genus Antilope. In India, only four picturesque wildlife sanctuaries were made to preserve the number of blackbucks and the most beautiful amongst them with the highest chances of spotting them (blackbuck) is Rehekuri Blackbuck Sanctuary. In Maharashtra, blackbucks are seen only in Rehekuri Wildlife Sanctuary. Initially, when the wildlife sanctuary was formed, the population of blackbuck was hardly 15. And to one's astonishment, the current no of blackbucks are 400. Blackbucks in Maharashtra are referred as 'kalvit' and the male blackbuck easily stands out from among a group of antelopes for its long spiral horns roaming in the grasslands.

The tradition of protecting the blackbucks has been going on in full swing since the rule of Bishnois of Rajasthan. Though the park is small in size as compared others, hardly 2.17 square kilometers, but it provides interesting exploration trails. Apart from the blackbucks, here one can spot chinkaras, wolves, and the Indian fox too. Trekking is the best way take a stock of the sanctuary. And if tourists have extra time at their disposal, then they should visit Lord Ganesh temple and Rashin Devi temple.

Siddheshwar Temple(s) in Ahmednagar

 Here’s a history and overview of the Siddheshwar Temple(s) in Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra — because there are multiple Shiva temples named Siddheshwar in the region with distinct historical backgrounds:

The Siddheshwar Temple in Solapur, Maharashtra, dates back to the 12th century, when it was founded by the revered saint Shri Siddharameshwar, a disciple of Shri Mallikarjuna of Srisailam. According to legend, the saint had a vision instructing him to install 68 Shiva Lingams across Solapur, with the temple at the center as a sanctum of divine power, aiming to bridge the spiritual divide between followers of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. Shri Siddharameshwar, a key figure in the propagation of Lingayatism, attained Jeeva Samadhi within the temple complex, making it a site of significant spiritual importance.

Another Siddheshvar Temple is located in Rajgurunagar, near Pune, which was built on March 4, 1725 CE, by Trimbaka Śeth, an ancestor of resident Kāśikara Madhve. The construction of the Bhāgīrathī Kuṇḍa (Puṣkaraṇī) in front of the temple was completed on October 12, 1735 CE. This temple complex includes a traditional Maratha stepped well, Dharmaśālās, Tulasī Vṛndāvana, and several shrines, with inscriptions providing historical details about its construction and patrons.

In Akole, the Siddheshwar Temple is believed to have been built during the 5th century AD on the bank of the Pravara River during the rule of the Shilahara family. The temple was buried under river deposits until the 18th century and was later excavated and restored, with one of the mukhmandapas reconstructed in the later Peshwa period style. This temple is notable for its unique features, including a floor made of cow dung and rare camel sculptures in the temple carvings.

In Talegaon-Dhamdhere, the Siddheśvara Temple was constructed on March 16, 1732 CE, by Mora Sheti Karanje and his relatives, who were moneylenders of the Peśvās. The temple complex includes a gūḍhamaṇḍapa, antarāḷa, and garbhagṛha, with a Sanskrit inscription detailing its construction. The temple is part of a larger complex that includes other significant temples and historical remains, reflecting its importance in the region.

Additionally, the Amruteshwar Siddheshwar Temple Complex in Pune includes a Siddheshwar Temple built in 1738, dedicated to Guru Dakshina, and other temples constructed in the 17th and 18th centuries. The complex features an underground shrine and has undergone various restorations over time

Farah Bagh

 Farah Bagh is an important historical Mughal garden complex located near Ahmednagar (Ahilyanagar), Maharashtra, India.

Archaeologists studying Farah Baug, a 16th-century summer palace of the Ahmednagar sultanate, have found that the building used a unique lime technology that kept those staying there cool in the blistering Deccan summer.

Farah Baug is a 16th-century summer palace of the Ahmednagar sultanate.(HT Photo)

Also called Farah Baksh Bagh or Faria Bagh, it was built in 1583 by the Nizam Shah rulers, and sits at the centre of a huge palace complex. Delhi-based National Museum Institute (NMI) of the History of Art, Conservation and Museology, and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Chennai, which analysed material used in the palace’s construction, found that its 13-cm-thick lime plaster was embedded with stone, fired pottery and brick pieces that may have improved its permeability. Sand, jute fibre and dry paddy stem increased porosity, durability and flexibility, helping the plaster absorb moisture from the surrounding water fountains. In the summer heat, the moisture escaped slowly through the plaster, cooling the interiors. The natural cooling technique, said MR Singh, lead author and professor, department of conservation, NMI, kept temperatures inside the building 8-12 degrees Celsius lower than the 46 to 48 degrees Celsius that the region experiences between March and June.

The study ‘Architectural features and characterisation of 16th century Indian Monument Farah Bagh, Ahmed Nagar, India’, was published in the International Journal of Architectural Heritage on May 8.

“Lime plaster and potsherds, which absorb water 300% more than their volume, exhibited almost the same porosity. The high open porosity of air lime and the ability of potsherds to hold moisture contributed towards the exchange of moisture from the underlying materials without causing any functional instability,” said Singh. “Instead, the embedded potsherds provided mechanical strength to the plaster and helped in its survival.”

The high percentage of air pores in the plaster mix also contributed to the diffusion of moisture from the underlying building materials. Researchers said the construction technology of Farah Baug is rare, unlike palaces in India that used wind to cool to interiors.

“The architectural form, the building location, the context of large pools of water around it, and the vegetation that it was set in, are the major factors that would shape temperature,” said Pushkar Sohoni, cultural historian and assistant professor, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, who was not involved in the study.

Meherabad – Information

 Meherabad is a place of major spiritual importance located near Ahmednagar (Ahilyanagar), Maharashtra, India.

Meherabad is today one the most famous pilgrimage centers of Ahmednagar city. Located around 9 kilometres in the south of Ahmednagar city, Meherabad is home to Samadhi (tomb shrine) of famous spiritual saint Meher Baba, after whom the small town Meherabad has been named. For people of Ahmednagar, Meher Baba was one of the greatest souls to have walked on the planet Earth. Born as Merwan Sheriar Irani in 1894 in the city of Pune, Meher Baba dedicated his entire life to spiritual enlightenment and social service.

Meher Baba’s special bond with Ahmednagar and its people began in 1923, when Meher Baba along with his few disciples shifted from Mumbai to a small place in Ahmednagar city. Meher Baba later named this place as Meherabad and made it the main center for all his spiritual and social service activities. Meherabad was, however, more than a mere home or a service center for Meher Baba, it was his beloved spiritual oasis. As this place had inspired and deeply intensified his spiritually quest and eventually helped him realize his final goal of becoming a spiritually awakened person. In fact such was Meher Baba’s deep bond with Meherabad that his last wish was that his body must be cremated and his Samadhi must be built at this very place after his death. A wish that was obviously fulfilled by his sincere devotees after Meher Baba left this world on 31st January 1969.                          

Today the Samadhi of Meher Baba located on Meherabad Hill draws thousands of Meher Baba’s devotees not just from Ahmednagar but from far across the world. One unique thing about this sacred Samadhi, which is worth mentioning, is that the dome structure under which it is laid was completed in 1938 itself, i.e. more than 30 years before Meher Baba’s death. This is because Meher Baba had decided his place of Samadhi during his lifetime itself and hence its construction had begun much before his death.

In the proximity of this sacred Samadhi are many buildings including a museum and library that have stored many of Meher Baba’s artifacts and books. The museum and building, needless to say, are kept completely open for visiting devotees. But, the place that prospective visiting devotees must surely visit is a small and humble house located on the Lower Meherabad, not very far away from the Samadhi. It is at this very small & humble house that Meher Baba spent most part of his life while practicing his forty-four years of silence. This house unarguably played a critical role in Meher Baba’s spiritual quest and hence deserves a visit by his sincere devotees.
        

Tomb of Salabat Khan II

 Here’s the detailed info on the Tomb of Salabat Khan II in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra — a notable historic monument set on a hilltop

Salabat Khan Tomb Ahmednagar

Located 13 km away from Ahmednagar at Mehkri, a three storey stone structure sprawled on the crest of a hill - Tomb of Salabat Khan II, erroneously known as Chandbibi Mahal or Chand Bibi Palace, is a beautiful tomb stretched into the distance as far the eye could see. Each level is encircled by verandahs and huge casements, thus allowing ventilation from all directions of the tomb. The basement carries the relics of the constructor and his wife buried in it, whereas three other graves of Salabat Khan’s wife; Chand Bibi and their sons reside outside the tomb. Salabat Khan II, was a loved and respected minister of Murtaza, the fourth Nizam Shah, who ascended the throne in the year 1565 and announced Salabat Khan as his minister in 1579, after killing his own minister in a fit of anger and suspicion.

The octagonal structure of the tomb is away from all intricacies and doesn’t boost of any architectural supremacy. It is believed that the planning was for to built seven stories, but only three were finally built. The tomb is about 939 m above sea level, is now used as military sanitarium. It offers splendid views of the lush green hills and the whole of the city, that makes the visit to this ruined and depleted place worthwhile.

Cavalry Tank Museum

 Here’s a comprehensive overview of Cavalry Tank Museum — one of India’s most fascinating military history attractions:

The Cavalry Tank Museum is a military museum located in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, India, established by the Armored Corps Centre and School in February 1994.

 It is the only museum of its kind in Asia and houses a collection of approximately 50 vintage armored fighting vehicles, including tanks, armored cars, self-propelled guns, and specialized vehicles.

 The museum's collection spans from the First World War to modern conflicts, with the oldest exhibit being the silver Ghost Rolls-Royce Armoured Car (Indian Pattern), a 1914 model that served on battlefields such as Cambrai, the Somme, and Flanders.

The museum features a wide array of tanks from various nations and eras, including British models like the Valentine, Churchill Mk. VII, Matilda II, Centurion Mk. II, and the Archer tank destroyer; American tanks such as the M3 Stuart, M22 Locust, M3 Medium Tank, Sherman Crab mine-flail tank, and M47 Patton; German vehicles like the Schwerer Panzerspähwagen heavy armoured car and a captured 88mm anti-aircraft/armour field-gun possibly from the 15th Panzer Division of the Afrika Korps; Japanese tanks including the Type 95 Ha-Go light tank and Type 97 Chi-Ha medium tank; and Soviet models such as the PT-76 amphibious tank and the T-55 and T-72 tanks.

 It also displays war trophies captured from Pakistan during the Indo-Pakistani Wars of 1965 and 1971, including the M41 Walker Bulldog and Chaffee light tanks.

Specialized vehicles on display include bridge-laying tanks, mine-flail tanks, and amphibious recovery vehicles like the Sherman BARV Sea Lion.

 The museum also includes a Memory Hill, which houses souvenirs from all regiments of the Indian Army’s Armoured Corps.

 Educational displays in three dedicated halls provide historical context on armored warfare, cavalry history, and military artifacts through photographs, maps, and narratives.

The museum is open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, except on Mondays.

 Entry fees are ₹50 for adults and ₹25 for children aged 6 to 12, with additional charges for photography and video recording.

 Facilities include restrooms, sitting areas, refreshments, a souvenir shop, and guided tours available in Hindi, Marathi, and English.

 The museum is situated in a military cantonment and is accessible by road, rail, or air, with Ahmednagar Railway Station and Pune International Airport being the nearest transport hubs.

 It is also a popular destination for school trips and family outings due to its educational value and well-maintained grounds.