🏰  Living History at Jadhavgadh Fort | el Liven
Channel: el Liven
Date: 2022-03-26

Experience 18th century heritage! Deep dive into kunds, dungeons and darwajas of Jadhavgadh. Symbol of unflinching loyalty at a time when the Indian subcontinent was up for grabs. Steeped in traditions continuing since 300 years, a glimpse into a bygone era.

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Chapters:
0:00 Gate Opening
0:45 Entrance
1:29 Balle Killa
2:10 Kund
2:35 Dungeon
2:52 Cannon
3:36 Quarry
3:45 Ganesh Mandir
4:08 Gate Closing
5:03 Sahyadri Trek
5:57 Archery

Jadhavgadh lies in the rolling hills of Saswad 22 kilometers from Pune. Its square shape is standard for forts of this size. Horses and elephants got to the main entrance on broad steps. Shivajis Mavale excelled in mountain warfare and were the backbone of his power. 
Once a ceremonial salute for the Adil Shahi sultans the tutari heraldsarrival at Jadhavgadh fort. Woman in nauvari sari welcoming guest. The nauvari or 9-yard sari is traditional Maharashtrian atire. Designed like a trouser it was worn  in war time
Navigating through a twisting entrance is a common defence design to slow would-be attackers. Jadhavgadhs architects incorporated a steep incline. Firepower and oil could be directed from above onto intruders.

Jadhavgadh was built in 1710 by Pilaji Jadhavrao as a residence and to exert control over the surrounding areas. The Jarokha over the maha darwaza was originally an elaborately carved wooden nagarkhana. The balle killa is where the fort commander resided. It is in the highest section of the fort. Over the austere basalt stone entrance is a double storey structure with mughal arches and a jarokha. On either side are two bays with bangla arches. This kund provided a vital water point inside the fort. This ancient neem and wood apple tree were preserved during the renovation. A small 300 year old shrine lies in its original place next to the kund. The basalt stone used for the fort came from a nearby quarry. It subsequently filled with rainwater and was used as a water-source

The dungeons were used for prisoners and for storage. Arches constructed from basalt stone pillars support lintels that are offset from the corners.The cast iron canon is about 2 meters long. It tapers from the breech to the chase and then flares out at the muzzle. The bore is about 15cm. It has a trunion fused to the chase rests on carriage wheels. The cascabel is knobbed. 

The 300 year Ganesh temple was constructed before the fort foundation was laid. The antralaya has three arches supported on two massive basalt pillars. The chiselled columns are set directly into the floor. Cuboid  capitals rest on the columns. The lintel has a slight overhang with carved stone brackets. The garba griha is under a tapered dome with two amamlaka capitals.

The museum is designed as a ground plus one wada. It has a stunning colonnaded portico with intricately carved woodwork. The interior houses artefacts sourced from an old wada

Flora:
Grahams Groundsel (Senecio grahami)
Creeping Rungia (Justicia repens) https://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Creeping%20Rungia.html
Narrowleaf Indigo (Indigofera linofolia) http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Narrowleaf%20Indigo.html
Long-leaf Leucas (Leucas longifolia) http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Long-Leaf%20Leucas.html
Rock-Grass (Polycarpaea) https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:331871-2

Credits
🎵 Dangerous Toys - SefChol, Natural Light - Chris Haugen
🎬 Shotcut https://www.shotcut.org/
🎛🎚🎧 Audacity https://www.audacityteam.org/


📚 References:
https://d79k57b9f2p6h.cloudfront.net/generic_uploads/production/VxLEOogQ/A_sentinel_transformed_Fort_Jadhavgadh-Brinda_vzhld9.pdf
https://www.esamskriti.com/e/History/Indian-History/Pilaji-Jadhavrao~A-brave-Maratha-Subedar-1.aspx