Baramati city, the taluka headquarters in Pune district, is situated on the banks of the Karha River. Although this town has existed since the time of Shahaji Raje, even the locals are unaware that there is a ground-level fort (Bhuikot) here—let alone outsiders. Located along the banks of the Karha, this fort still stands intact with its full perimeter wall, although signs of decay have begun to appear with time. As no information about this fort is available online or in other sources, this is a small attempt to introduce it. To visit the Baramati Bhuikot, one must first reach the city of Baramati, which is about 105 km from Pune. The Baramati police station is situated inside the fort premises, so asking for directions to the police station will easily lead you to the main entrance of the fort. ... Looking at its construction, the fort appears to have been built after the era of Shivaji Maharaj. Rectangular in shape, this Bhuikot spans about three acres in a north–south orientation, measuring approximately 500 x 300 feet. The main entrance is on the northern side, while a small wicket gate (dindi Darwaja) is located in the southern wall. Inside the main gate are guard chambers, and one of the bastions houses a pir’s tomb. Stairs from the back side of this bastion lead up to the dargah and the ramparts. Outside the main gate, apart from one bastion, there's a small hidden doorway beside another bastion that leads to an underground passage. However, due to structural collapse, this tunnel is now partially blocked. Above the main gate is a structure resembling a Nagarkhana (drum house), but due to lack of use, a lot of garbage has accumulated there. The entire outer wall of the Bhuikot is made of dressed stone, while some sections of the battlements and parapets are made of bricks. While the outer perimeter wall remains largely intact, parts of the inner wall have collapsed or become overgrown with vegetation. Some areas have also been altered due to new construction, making it impossible to fully walk along the ramparts. Since the police station and other government offices are located within the fort, there are some restrictions on movement and photography inside. Walking around the inside perimeter, one finds two stairways leading up to the walls, and a large well located near the eastern rampart. The water in this well has turned foul due to disuse. Much of the original structure has been modified to accommodate the government buildings, and in some places, access to the walls is restricted. However, it's still possible to walk around the exterior of the fort and observe the entire wall. During this walk, one can see a total of 14 bastions. On one of the western bastions is a stone window, indicating the presence of a chamber inside that bastion. When inquiring locally, some people refer to this fort as “Naikanchi Gadhi” (Naik's Fort). In 1637, Baramati was under the rule of Shahaji Raje. Moropant Kekawalikar (1729–1794) is said to have stayed for many years in the Paradkar Wada situated on the Karha riverbank, which belonged to Babaji Naik. As of now, no further historical information has been found.
© Suresh Nimbalkar