Most of the fortress in Maharashtra are found in Nagar district. One such fortress, known as Sardar Pandey family's fortress, can be found at Ganjibhoyre village in Parner taluka. This fortress, which has only a few remnants on its shoulders, is still standing strong, fighting against time. Ganjibhoyre village is 90 km from Pune city, 22 km from Shirur and 10 km from Parner taluka. Once there were two gates to enter this village situated inside the Nagarkot, but today only a few remains of the Fort remain. Although the entrance to our Ganjibhoyre village is through an archway between two newly built bastions, locals say that this place was once the main gate of Nagarkot. The second gate of Nagarkot still remains outside the village, but its arch has been destroyed. ... The construction of this spacious door is made of stone and the upper construction is made of bricks. Near this door there is a square shaped stone-built well and all the four sides are free to drain the water. Sardar Pandey's fortress is at one end of the village and after entering through the arch we reach this fortress in five minutes. Only the front ramparts of the fortress remain and the rest of the side ramparts have been destroyed. These ramparts are made of stone and a bastion can be seen on the right end of them. The construction of this bastion is also made of stone. In the middle of the ramparts there are two big bastions and in these two bastions is the main gate of the fortress. The gate of the fortress is still in good condition and has two lotus on its facade and leaf on the upper side. The ramparts to the left of the door has collapsed and at this end we can see a partially submerged well. The wooden doors of the fortress door are still there and this door has a sub-door. Inside the door there are guards' porches on both sides and from the right porch there is a staircase leading to the upper side of the door and the bastion. When you come to the bastion by the stairs, you can see the entire fortress as well as Ganjibhoyre village and the surrounding area. All the structures inside the fortress have been completely destroyed and thorn bushes have grown over them. Opposite the fortress is a spacious two-storied mansion (wada). The facade of this mansion is still in good condition and the ground floor is made of stone and the upper part is made of bricks. When you go around the fortress, you can see the remaining three-four feet of ramparts and two of its bastions. 45 minutes is enough to see the remains of the fortress and Nagarkot. The history of Ganjibhoyre village starts from Nizamshahi period. For their prowess, the Pandey family of Vawarhire in Man taluka at Satara district received the responsibility of Ganjibhoyre village. This fortress must have been constructed during the same period. The name of Pandey appears in the Sardar family in the Bijapur court. An Adilshahi letter mentions Pandey as chieftain in the Deccan along with Naik Nimbalkar, Jagdale, Nikam, and Pisal. Seems like the market located in Ganjibhoyre village is thought to be the market place of the surrounding villages too.
© Suresh Nimbalkar