Thalner
| Thalner{Thaleshwar} | |
|---|---|
 Thalner{Thaleshwar}
|
|
| Coordinates | 21°15′18″N 74°57′18″E / 21.255°N 74.955°E |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Government of India |
| Condition | dilapidated |
| Site history | |
| Built by | Ahirs, Malik Raja Faruqi |
| Materials | Stone, lime and lead |
| Events | Battle of Thalner (1818) |
| Garrison information | |
| Occupants | Ahirs, Faruqis, Holkars, British |
Thalner (Marathi: थाळनेर), the first capital of the Faruqi kings, stands on the Tapi river, in Shirpur tehsil about 46.67 km. (28 miles) north-east of Dhule in the Maharashtra state of India. It was fortified by a strong fort which played a very significant role in the history of Khandesh. Situated on the banks of the Tapi and the foot of the fort is an old stone built temple dedicated to Thaleshwar. The name Thalner probably derived from this old temple of Thaleshwar. In the heyday of the Gavali or Ahir kings, Thalner was at the height of its prosperity and was an important commercial centre on the Surat-Burhanpur road. Today it is just a small village which lost its glory to history.
The fort had one side rising out of the Tapi and the three other sides were surrounded by a hollow way, varying in width from 91.44 to 137.16 metres (100 to 150 yards). The walls rose to the height of about 18.28 metres (60 ft.) above this hollow and the interior had the same elevation. The only entrance was on the eastern side, secured by five successive gates communicating by intricate traverses, whose enclosure gradually rose to the height of the main wall. A winding ramp, interspersed in some places with steps, ascended through the gate into the terreplein of the rampart. Great ingenuity had been exercised to make this part as strong as possible, apparently under the idea that the profile of the rest rendered it secure, notwithstanding the absence of a ditch.
Today only a small portion of the walls that were on the river side is standing, the others having collapsed for the most part. Even of this wall one of the bastions was ruined by the great floods of the Tapi which took place in 1876, and a tunnel opened in which a small, well executed idol of Vishnu was found.
Situated on the banks of the Tapi and the foot of the fort is an old stone built temple dedicated to Thaleshwar. Its 1.828 X 1.828 metre vestibule contains a small ling symbol. It is crowned by a 7.62 metre (25 ft.) high shikhar.
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Wikipedia