# Kunjargad

- **Country:** India
- **Coordinates:** 19.392361, 73.862000

Kunjargad Fort, also known as Kombad Fort, is a historic hill fort located in Akole taluka within Ahmednagar district in Maharashtra, approximately 135 kilometers from Kalyan. The fort stands at an elevation of 4,200 feet and is part of the Balaghat Hill Range. Its name derives from the Sanskrit word "kunj," meaning elephant, a reference to the fort's distinctive shape that resembles an elephant. The structure was built primarily of stone and remains accessible to the public today.

The fort's documented history is relatively sparse, though it holds significance in regional history. Notably, Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha Empire, halted at the fort during his campaigns in 1670. The fort was subsequently controlled by the Maratha Empire from 1739 to 1818, before coming under the jurisdiction of the East India Company from 1818 to 1857 and later the British Raj until Indian independence in 1947. It has since been owned and administered by the Indian government.

The fort currently exists in a ruined condition, reflecting the passage of centuries and the impact of various historical periods. Despite its deteriorated state, Kunjargad remains an important archaeological and historical site that attracts visitors interested in Maharashtra's rich fort heritage. Its strategic location in the Balaghat Hill Range and connection to significant historical figures like Shivaji make it a notable landmark in the region's military and cultural history.

**Source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kunjargad (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)