Torna Fort
| Torna | |
|---|---|
Entrance to Torna Fort
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,403 m (4,603 ft) |
| Coordinates | 18°16′33.86″N 73°37′21.78″E / 18.2760722°N 73.6227167°ECoordinates: 18°16′33.86″N 73°37′21.78″E / 18.2760722°N 73.6227167°E |
| Naming | |
| Translation | तोरणा किल्ला (Marathi) |
| Geography | |
 Torna
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| Location | Pune district, Maharashtra, India |
| Parent range | Sahyadri Range |
Torna Fort, also known as Prachandagad, is a large fort located in Pune district, in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is historically significant because it was the first fort captured by Shivaji Maharaj in 1643, at the age of 16, forming the nucleus of the Maratha empire. The hill has an elevation of 1,403 metres (4,603 ft) above sea level, making it the highest hill-fort in the district. The name derives from Prachanda (Marathi for huge or massive) and gad (Marathi for fort).
This fort is believed to have been constructed by the Shaiva Panth, followers of the Hindu god Shiva, in the 13th century. A Menghai Devi temple, also referred to as the Tornaji temple, is situated near the entrance of the fort.
In 1643, Shivaji Maharaj captured this fort at the age of sixteen, thus making it one of the first forts that would become the Maratha empire. Shivaji renamed the fort ' 'Prachandagad' ' as Torna, and constructed several monuments and towers within it.
In the 18th century, the Mughal empire briefly gained control of this fort after assassination of Shivaji Maharaj's son Sambhaji. Aurangzeb, then Mughal emperor, renamed this fort Futulgaib in recognition of the difficult defense the Mughals had to overcome to capture this fort. It was restored to the Maratha confederacy by the Treaty of Purandar.
The fort is about 50 km southwest of Pune in the Western Ghats Sahyadri mountain range at the base village Velhe. One can go from Pune via Satara road take right at Nasrapur. It is the highest fort in Pune district.
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