Bhupalgad

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Bhupalgad hill-fort lies within the village limits of Banur at the extreme south-east of the Khanapur taluka. The easiest approach to it is from Khanapur 17.70 km (eleven miles) by the Karhad-Bijapur road to Palsi, whence a rough path passable for ponies leads through a verv stony country 6.43 km (four miles) due cast to Banur. A small neck of land divides the spur on which the fort and the village are situated from the main Khanapur plateau. The fort is formed by broken walls skirting the edges of an irregular rhomboid raised about 18.28 metres (60 ft.) above the rest of the plateau. A hill in the centre might serve as the bale killa or citadel, but it is unfortified and contains a temple of Mahadev. The village of Banur is situated at the south of the fort just inside the walls. The internal area of the fort is between 80.93 and 121.40 hectares (two and three hundred acres). On the south-east, east and north, it is fairly unapproachable up the precipitous descent of about 213.36 metres (700 ft.) on into the Man valley below. On the west and south there is nothing hut the small rise of 18.28 to 30.48 metres (60 to 100 ft.) abovementioned, but to reach this the narrow neck noticed above has to he crossed. The fort, however, is commanded from hills about 0.85 km. {half a mile) to the west. A broad track was made in ancient times from the village of Jarandi 8 km. (five miles) south-east by which stores used to be sent. There is a small tank inside the fort, and close on the south a fine large one with a well adjoining and full of water throughout the year. According to a local legend, the fort was built by a king named Bhupal. Bhupalgad formed the eastern out-post of Sivajis territories. Diler Khan, the Moghal general, with the help of Sambhaji, who was then in rebellion against his father [ Sardesai: New History of the Marathas, Vol. I, p. 251.], besieged the fort with the intention of taking it by storm. On a projection in the vicinity of the fort were mounted the cannons and in the morning of April 2, 1679 at 9 a.m. Bhupalgad came under heavy fire of the Moghals.. Firangoji Narsala, the gallant killedar, replied effectively. Thousands of persons were killed on either side [ Shivacharitra Vruttasangraha, Vol, II„ pp. 104-110.]. Firangoji with his handful of soldiers was giving a determined fight. Upon him was the additional responsibility of protecting hundereds of families from the surrounding region which had taken shelter in the fort, to save themselves from the Moghals. Then Sarhbhaji came in the forefront of the battle and sent a message to Firangoji either to surrender the fort or face severe consequences [ Chitnis Bakhar.]. Firangoji had held out the fort for fifteen days now and when he saw his master standing in the forefront he was helpless. He decided to give up the rort and the same night along with Vitthalpant Bhalerav, who was the Sabnis, went to Chatrapati Sivaji [ Shivacharitra Vruttasangraha, Vol. II., pp. 104-110.]. On 17th April the gates were opened and Diler and Sarhbhaji entered it triumphantly. Seven hundred Marat has, who had bravely defended the fort along with others and had surrendered it only at the orders of Sarhbhaji, were punished brutally when one hand of each of them was cut off [Shivacharitra Pradip, p. 29.]. The rest were made prisoners and turned into slaves. Firangoji and Sabnis on relating the whole episode were reprimanded by Sivaji for their actions and urgent messages were despatched to other killedars not to surrender the forts [ Chitnis Bakhar.]. Diler Khan disarmed the fort by destroying its fortifications. Thus the fort which was made a tower of strength at great cost Co preserve and protect the Svaraj was dismantled under the very eyes of Sambhaji. [ Shivaji and His Times, p. 306,]