KP On The Go!

Introduction Malhargad is one of the youngest forts in India. It was built by the Marathas in the latter half of the 18th century to guard the Dive Ghat route connecting Saswad to Pune. The fort can be accessed by a short climb of 20 minutes after a short detour from the Dive Ghat road, thus making it a quick getaway from Pune on any day. The Sun Also Rises -x-x-x- Getting (Climbing) In One has to take the Dive Ghat route from Pune on the way to Saswad. After the ghat climb, one should take the road to the left at the next to Shakuntala Misal leading towards Zendewadi. The road deteriorates after a while, but leads on the the base of Malhargad where one can park the vehicle. Two paths from this point can be used to climb to the fort - the straight rough path or the gentle switch-back route on the right.     The fort seen from the parking lot The stairs leading to the 'Chor Darwaza' The gentle switch-backs The main road of the Dive Ghat is s...

Introduction The triple cities of Warangal, Hanamkonda and Kazipet contitute the second largest urban area in the state of Telangana after the capital city Hyderabad. Apart from being an urban centre, the triplets are also culturally important since Warangal was the capital of the Kakatiya Dynasty around the 12th and 13th centuries. A few monuments from that era dot the urban-scape here; the Thousand Pillared temple and the Kakatiyan Arches being the main ones. One of the Kakatiyan Arches - the symbol of Warangal -x-x-x- The Thousand Pillared Temple This is perhaps a monument at the heart of the triplets, located as it is at the centre of Hanamkonda. The temple premises are easily reachable from the main road connecting the triplets. The entrance to the complex is from the north. The complex has three sections - the Ramappa Temple to the north and the actual thousand pillared section to the south and a stepped tank to the east. An open Nandi pedestal is between the Rama...

Introduction Mandu - or Mandavgarh or Mandav - is described as a place lost in time. The old fortress of Mandav is perched at the southern edge of Malwa, overlooking the Narmada. It assumed importance in the 13th century when the Parmara kings of Dhar shifted their capital here due to its elevation and strategic natural defences. Mandav saw its glory days in the 15th-16th centuries under the Khilji Dynasty - an offshoot of the Delhi Sultanate. Subsequent power struggles saw the gradual decline of Mandav. The 18th century gave the last fatal blow to the town when the Marathas shifted the capital of Malwa back to Dhar. The arches of the Hindola Mahal in Mandav Almost three centuries later, the old town still reminds people of its glory in the magnificent monuments that have remarkably stood the test of time - with their timeless arches and design synergy between the earth, the light and the water. -x-x-x- Getting In And Around The primary access for Mandav is through Ind...