Published 14:30 IST, January 14th 2020
Things to do in Junnar and places to visit around this historic town
Things to do in Junnar and places to visit in the old city of Junnar which is also the birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Take a look at the list.
- Lifestyle News
- 2 min read
Junnar is a city-based in the Pune district in Maharashtra. The city has a rich historical background that dates back to the first Millenium. It is also close to the Shivneri Fort which is the birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
The city is one of the most popular destinations among domestic travellers. The city of Junnar is well known for its host of religious, historical and mythological attractions ranging from ancient temples to architecturally brilliant caves and forts. Based in the Sahyadri mountain ranges, here are a few places to visit in the city.
Junnar Tourism: Places to visit in the city
Lenyadri Caves
Lenyadri is also known as Ganesha Lenya, Ganesh Pahar Caves, or Suleman Caves. The caves showcase a series of about 30 rock-cut Buddhist caves. Other popular caves around the city of Junnar are Manmodi Caves, Shivneri Caves, and Tulja Caves. Ganesha Chaturthi is popularly celebrated here.
Harishchandragad Fort
Harishchandragad is a historic hill fort and is a popular choice when it comes to trekking. The fort originally dates back to the 6th century. It is said that Sage Changdev used to meditate here in 14th century AD. The various Puranas like Matsyapurana, Agnipurana, and Skandapurana have many references in them about Harishchandragad.
Shivneri Fort
This fort is the birthplace of the Maratha leader, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. There is also a small temple of Goddess Shivai and multiple idols of Jijabai and Shivaji from his childhood. The shape of the fort resembles that of a Shiv Pind which is Shiva's sacred symbol. The fort has a rich history and is one of the most popular tourist spots.
Shri Vighnahar Ganpati Mandir
The Vigneshwara Temple or Vighnahar Ganapati Temple is situated in Ozar. It is one of the eight Ashthavinayak temples of Ganesha. In addition to the heavy celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi and Ganesh Jayanti, a five-day festival starting on Kartik Poornima is also celebrated.
Updated 14:30 IST, January 14th 2020