In Ahmednagar district, along with forts, one can also see a large number of gadhis (small fort-like fortified mansions). While forts have existed since ancient times, the gadhis here were built during the medieval period, from the Nizamshahi era to the Peshwa period. One such gadhi, which connects us to the medieval period yet remains silent about its history, can be seen in MaliChinchora village. This village, located in Nevasa taluka, is 14 km from the taluka headquarters and 45 km from Ahmednagar city. The gadhi is situated outside the village, and if you ask for Malik Dargah in the village, you will easily reach the Gadhi’s fortifications. Near these fortifications is the dargah — a small tin-roofed shelter outside the gadhi, inside which a stone is placed and covered with a green cloth. ... This rectangular gadhi spreads over about one and a half acres and is in a heavily ruined state. The fortifications are almost entirely collapsed, but six bastions, big and small, can still be seen. Since the walls have crumbled, there is no remaining path to reach the top of the walls or bastions. On one bastion, the decorative stonework projecting outwards suggests that it might have had arrangements for ventilation. The construction of the gadhi seems to have been carried out in two different periods, as half of the remaining wall is built in dressed stone, while the rest is built in rough stone. The height of the walls and bastions is about 25 feet, and the entire structure is made of stone. The gateway and interior structures are completely destroyed, and dense vegetation now covers the area, making it impossible to determine the exact location and structure of the original gate. Stones from the collapsed fortifications have been used in the construction of nearby houses. Inside the gadhi, there is a newly built small dome-shaped shrine containing a vermillion-smeared stone representing a deity. For water supply in earlier times, there were two wells outside the fortification near the dargah, which have now been filled in, according to locals. Outside the gadhi stands a newly constructed temple of Bhairavanath. The villagers seem to have ignored the Swachh Bharat campaign, and the gadhi, hidden by vegetation, is being used as an open toilet. Seeing the present condition of this once-glorious gadhi evokes nothing but distress. But as the saying goes — Kalaya Tasmai Namah (Time spares none). On inquiring with the locals about the history and lineage of the gadhi, the only information they had was that it was the “Deshmukhs gadhi.” Additionally, there is an entrance gate (Ves) to the village, which once had a door. Looking at this gate, it cannot be definitively said whether the village was once surrounded by fortifications. It takes about 15 minutes to see the entire gadhi.
© Suresh Nimbalkar