By Sujay Nimbalkar – Special Correspondent
Rajhunsgad is surrounded by greenery of farms and fields with rice as a major crop. Yellurgad (Yellur Fort) located within the vicinity of Belgaum Taluka, on hillock with a breathtaking view.It is situated nearly 2,500 ft (762 m) above sea level. According to sources, this Fort dates back to history many centuries ago among different kingdom and its rulers including the Yadavas, Hoysalas, Bahamani, Adilshahi, Peshwas-Marathas.
The fort on top of hill is visible from almost all areas of Belgaum. It is also believed that there existed a secret tunnel from the Belgaum fort upto Rajhunsgad during the ancient period. In this fort, a beautiful Temple of ‘Lord Shiva’ is situated where most of the people staying in and around the villages of this fort visit and pray every Monday. There is Well of sweet water on top of this hill. It is infact an admirable archeology of the past architects and rulers. An awesome view of Belgaum City can be had from this fort.
How to reach:
One can reach Rajhunsgad village on the foot of this hill via- Desur village or from Yellur & Sulga and then climb the fort on kutcha road. Experienced riders can reach upto the entrance of the fort on top on Motorcycles but this path (kutcha road) is too steep for motorcycles. However, this is an excellent place for Trekking.
On an interaction with Sri.Siddharth Hiremath (Poojari) of this Shiva temple in the fort told us that, This Fort in spite of having a rich historic relevance is always neglected by administration. The temple’s maintenance cost is mainly borne by the people of surrounding villages of Rajhunsgad, Sulga, and Yellur etc.
Though MPs, MLAs and a couple of Ministers along with the administration authorities have visited this ancient fort and have assured for its development as a tourist place, the assurance tends to remain on paper as usual. Moreover, miscreants try to damage the sanctity of the fort including the temple’s premises by dirtying the surroundings etc. People of Belgaum should take note of this fact and come forward to help in preserving the structure of our Belgaum having rich historic relevance.
Photos: Mr.Sujay, Mr. Ravi Vakkund & Mr. Ashok Sankannavar
Nice place those who stays near Belgaum they have to see.
Many many thanks for the articles.
Thanks…jai shivaji..
Hi
Thanks for your article on yellur fort
This fort and yellur has given me lot of things in my life.
I born and brought up in yellur.
thanks for the article. i feel proud that i born in this village. please save the ancient heritage.
Yellur Fort near Belgaum is privilege of city and is required to preserve on priority b govt authority.
Dear Sujoy, Many many thanks for the article
Jai Bhavani,,,,, Jai Shivaji,,,,,,,,,,,
i prode to my village it just like a magic village
ya its great to born in yallur
nice photo mala maza gavachi atavan zali
Mala Khup Anand jala He Photo Pahun Lot of Thanks
It is really a very nice place.Had been there and enjoyed to the core.
Proud to be a Belgaumet(Belgaonkar)
Thanks,
Sandeep
Nice picture and information about rajhuns gad , Thanks sujay for reminding me , nice picture of fort,i have proud to stay in Yellur .
thanks for the information .
Thanks remembering my village and refreshing my memories
Great efforts to protect our ancient heritage !! Will sure try to visit the place!
Pleased to see these photos & information. I was in Yellur for 25 years and enjoyed this cool nature around this fort. Feel proud to hear & talk about Rajhans Gagh. Now those memories got refreshed…after reading this article..
Thanks for sharing….
Manohar
Was in the news in March 2005 ( MUST READ ) Fort Was allmost sold for 35 lakhs.
Belgaum (Karnataka): The proposed sale of two historic forts – 16th century Bhimgad fort at Gavali village and the Rajhans fort at Yellur – built during Chatrapathi Shivaji's reign has caused huge public outrage and protests in Belgaum.
The caretakers' proposals have come under sharp sentiment-related public rebuke and shooting of protest memoranda to the authorities concerned.
In case of the Bhimgad Fort, caretakers Gadkaris are reported to have already signed a sale deed with a private company in Kerala. As per the deed, portions of the fort having archaeological significance would be sold to the company. The company also gets ownership right for 90 of the 233 acres of land belonging to the company.
In the Rajhans fort case, Srimanth Raghunath Rao Patwardhan, the Maharaj of Kurundwad, who claims to be the owner, reportedly issued a notification for the sale of fort with premises in a newspaper.
The Deputy Commissioner asked the Khanapur tahsildar to furnish him with full details on the issue, it was reported. A reply from the tahsildar is awaited.
Sources reveal that a person has already come forward to purchase the Rajhans fort for Rs 35 lakhs. The sale notice, meanwhile, has kicked up a furore in the villages. The villagers allege that the Patawardhans are merely owners of 10 acres and 10 'gunthas' of land and not of the fort. They have decided to take out a procession in the city on March 10 against the sale of the fort.
According to history, Shivaji stayed in the Bhimgad fort on his return to Raigad after winning the Basarur Fort, which was under the Adilshahis of Bijapur. Shivaji's son Sambhaji also stayed in the Bhimgad fort before he waged an attack on the Portuguese at Fonda. The fort used for safe keeping of several historic documents and records.
There was a public outcry over the sale proposals of both the forts. People in Khanapur taluk forwarded a letter to the Archaeological Department expressing their resentment over the sale of Bhimgad fort. The department, in a letter to the Deputy Commissioner of Belgaum, asked him to take proper care of the fort. An official from the department reportedly visited Bhimgad and submitted a report on his findings there
Nice photos and amazing article.Want to see Belgaum when I come to INDIA next time.
Thanks to you that we got so great knowledge about the temple and sculptures.
hi sujay
great to know the history behind this photos thank u for the article
chaya
Its awsome, staying so many years in Belgaum never heard of it. Thanks for letting us know of such a place…
Hi Sujay,
Thanks for nice Pictures. This pictures given me my childhood memories were we use to go by Cycle to Yellur and then by walk to Gad.
Credit for these photos also goes to Mr. Ravi Vakkund & Mr. Ashok Sankannavar who accompanied us to this Beautiful fort.
I always dreamt of having a cable car service (rope way) to Raj hans gad from some near by point in Belgaum , to boost tourist attarction , I am sorry it never workedout , this place is just not historic but also beautiful during rainy season when clouds cover half of the summit of this fort, there were many promises for devlopment of this area , I wish some private parties come forward to beutify and devlop this area
it seems to be the pride for the city where our people lived and ruled for decades and centuries …now is is worst then a public toilet… god help us to save the monuments…..
the authorities will do nothing …..they just Ignore…!!!