Purandar Fort

Purandar Fort is located in Pune district, Maharashtra, at a height of about 4,472 feet. It has a twin fort called Vajragad, situated nearby. The fort is historically important as it was a stronghold of the Maratha Empire. In 1665, the Treaty of Purandar was signed here between Shivaji Maharaj and the Mughal general Jai Singh. The fort has two parts – the lower fort (Machi) and the upper fort (Ballekilla). Inside the fort, there are temples of Kedareshwar and Purandeshwar, as well as old water tanks. The birthplace of Sambhaji Maharaj, the son of Shivaji Maharaj, is also inside Purandar Fort. Today, the fort is a popular trekking destination and also houses a training academy of the National Cadet Corps (NCC).