Ahmednagar
Ahmednagar is in Maharashtra state of India. Ahmednagar has more than 500 years history traced back to 1490 CE. You can find traces of Nizamshahi, Shahjahan and Peshwas until the British took over Ahmednagar. If you are visiting Aurangabad or Pune, visit Ahmednagar as well. Ahmednagar is around 120 km from Pune or Aurangabad.
Get in
Ahmednagar is in the west central part of Maharashtra, roughly east of Pune. It's 120 km away from Pune and Aurangabad, 280 km away from Mumbai and 175 km away from Nasik.
Ahmednagar is also served by trains from Pune towards Manmand though there is no direct train from Mumbai.
Get around
Walking, bicycling, auto rickshaws, city buses are your choices.
See
- 1 Ahmednagar Fort. Built by Ahmed Nizam Shah in 1490, this is a oval-shaped fort, which features 18-m-high walls, supported by 22 bastions. One of the most well-designed and impregnable forts of India, the Ahmednagar Fort is under the control of the Indian military. The fort's defensive system comprises 24 citadels and a moat that is 30 m wide and 4-6 metres deep. There are two entrances to the fort, which can be reached only after one goes over the moat, through the suspension drawn bridges. After countless invasions, the Ahmednagar Fort has taken many blows and come out relatively unscathed. Control over the fort has changed hands many times, starting from the time of Mughal rule. It has been used as a royal prison a number of times. Famously, the entire Congress Working Committee was detained at the Ahmednagar Fort during the Quit India Movement of 1942. Some rooms in the fort have been converted into a museum. You can see the Leaders room, where Nehru and the other national leaders were imprisoned and where India's first prime minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, wrote his book, The Discovery of India, while being detained.
- 2 Tomb of Salabat Khan II. 10 km east of the city, on a hill 215-245 m (700-800 feet) above the city level and on the left of the Ahmednagar-Shevgaon road stands the tomb of the Nizamshahi Minister, Salabat Khan II, commonly (and mistakenly) known as Chand Bibi's Mahal. It is an octagonal dome surrounded by a three-storeyed veranda. From the summit a fine view can be obtained of the surrounding countryside. Salabat Khan II, the famous minister of the fourth Nizam shah, Murtaza who ascended the throne in 1565. A great statesman, Salabat Khan was appointed minister in 1579, after the half-mad Murtaza put to death his regent, Changiz Khan, in a fit of suspicion and rage. Salabat Khan was respected and loved by the people of Ahmednagar.
- Baugh Rauza (Shrine Garden) (Half a mile northwest of the city). A fine black stone mausoleum with a domed roof, within which glitter golden Quranic inscriptions, holds the tomb of Ahmed Nizam Shah, founder and 'faujdar' of Ahmednagar. One of the finest monuments in Ahmednagar, is just outside the western perimeter of the old city, near the Delhi Gate. The tomb is flanked by two other tombs. A stone monument nearby is said to be the tomb of Ghulam Ali, a royal elephant who distinguished himself in the battle of Talikot against the Raja of Vijaynagar in 1565, during the reign of the third Nizam Shah.
- 3 Cavalry Tank Museum. The museum has a rich collection of tanks used during different periods.
- Shani Shinganapur. Shani-Shinganapur lies 6km off Ghodegaon- an important market place along Ahmednagar-Aurangabad Road. Ghodegaon is 35 km from Ahmednagar. The village has no doors. No theft ever occurs here, as the Lord Shani, the guardian deity of the village is always there to mete out instant punishment. So claim the residents of Shani-Shinganapur, and this claim has become its claim to fame. Unlike other pilgrimage centres, devotees here can perform puja or abhishek or other religious rituals themselves.
- Newasa. Greatest Literature in Marathi - Jnyaneswari was written here by Sant Jnyaneshwar'. Newasa Phata on Nagar Aurangabad Road, 40 km from Ahmednagar.
- Sanket Farm, Vambori Tal: Rahuri (25km from Ahmednagar), ☏ +91 2426 272455. 09:00-17:00. — A very nice and beautiful place in the Garbhagiri mountain range. 3 km from Dongargan. They have developed it in 12 acres and as boating and swimming for children. Excellent picnic destination.
Do
Buy
Clothing
Eat
Visit local eateries, try even clean street food if possible. Avoid known hotels. Savedi Road has lot of good restaurants
- 1 Sweet Home, Savedi Rd. Nice restaurant that serves tasty food.
- 2 Sukh Sagar, Station Rd.
- 3 Thali at Sanket hotel, Tilak Rd.
- 4 Mahendra Pedewala, MG Rd, Old Post Office. Thali restaurant very popular with locals.
- Panchashil Hotel, Savedi Rd. For non-vegetarian food.
- 5 Snacks @ Royal hotel. With Pudina Chatni is good.
- 6 Hotel Farhat (On the main road from Ahmednagar towards Aurangabad), ☏ +91 241 232 4975. This restaurant serves only vegetarian and hygienic food.
- Some good Dhabas on way to Nagar serve nice gauran chicken.
- MG road - Chowpatti - after 21:00
- Dees place in Camp - Bhingar - Jamkhed road - very good non-veg food.
- Tasty & sweet boiled milk, Raman Sandwich & Puffs, Sopan Batata Vada, Rasana Special Misal, Bansimaharaj Mithaiwala's special Gulabjamuns are very popular.
Drink
- 1 Lassi at Durgasingh (nr by MG road). Ice cream parlour.
Rabdi-Basundi @ Bombay Sweets, Hot-Masala-Milk on MG road after 22:00.
- 2 Bombay Sweets. Candy store.
Sleep
- Stay with friends: there are no private hotels.