Mohandar fort

Mohandar Fort, also known as Shidaka Fort, is a historic hill fort located approximately 55 kilometers from Nashik in Maharashtra's Nashik district, India. Constructed from stone at an elevation of 3,900 feet on the Ajintha Satmal Hill Range, the fort was built as a defensive structure to guard the nearby Ahivant fort. The site is notable for its distinctive needle hole feature in the cliff below the fort, making it visible from considerable distances.

The fort has a complex ownership history, having been controlled by various powers including the Ahmadnagar Sultanate from 1521 to 1594, the Maratha Empire during two separate periods (1670-1676 and 1754-1818), the Mughal Empire from 1676 to 1754, and the British East India Company followed by the British Raj until Indian independence in 1947. Despite these transfers of control, historical records suggest the fort remained largely isolated from major battles and significant events.

Currently in ruins, the fort is open to the public and maintained by the Government of India. The trekking route to the fort, approximately one hour in duration, begins from a tribal boarding school in the base village of Mohandarigaon. Visitors can observe remnants of past structures including ruined storehouses, rock-cut water cisterns, and the foundation of the Kiledar residence. The fort features a large central pond and takes approximately thirty minutes to circumnavigate. While night stays are not permitted due to lack of potable water, local villagers provide affordable accommodation and food arrangements.