Mahur Fort

Mahur Fort, also known as Mahurgad, is a historic hill fort situated in the Balaghat Hill Range within the Nanded district of Maharashtra, India. Constructed primarily from basalt stone at an elevation of 2,650 feet, the structure dates back to a period preceding the Yadav dynasty. While its exact founding year remains unrecorded, the fort has served as a strategic military stronghold for centuries. It is currently in a ruined condition but remains under government ownership and is open to the public year-round. The site is geographically significant, located approximately 130 kilometers from Nanded city, with the nearest railway head at Kinwat, about 50 kilometers away.

The historical narrative of Mahur Fort is marked by a succession of powerful rulers who controlled the region. Originally held by Gond kings, it was captured by the Bahmani Sultanate in 1358 and later changed hands between the Ahmadnagar Sultanate, the Mughal Empire, and the Maratha Empire led by Chatrapati Shivaji. Notably, during Mughal rule, the fort was managed by Pandita Savitribai Deshmukh, who was honored with the title Rai Bagan by Emperor Aurangzeb. From 1724 until India's independence, the fort remained under the dominion of the Nizam of Hyderabad before becoming part of the Indian Union in 1948.

Beyond its military past, Mahurgad holds profound religious importance as a major pilgrimage center for Hindus. It is revered as the seat of Goddess Renukadevi, housing a shrine recognized as one of the sacred Shakta pithas. The temple dedicated to the goddess is located roughly two kilometers from the village of Mahur, drawing devotees regardless of the season. This dual identity as both a crumbling medieval fortress and a vibrant spiritual destination makes it a unique landmark in the cultural landscape of Maharashtra.