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Ambagad Fort Tumsar History, Prison Past and Bhandara Hill Fort Guide

Ambagad Fort hill fort near Tumsar in Bhandara district, Vidarbha region of Maharashtra
Ambagad Fort Tumsar, a historic hill fort in Bhandara district, Vidarbha, Maharashtra

Ambagad Fort near Tumsar in Bhandara district holds a distinct place among Vidarbha's historical sites.


This hill fort started as a Gond stronghold and later served as a prison during Maratha rule. British forces took it over in 1818 after a short-lived rebellion. Today, it draws trekkers and locals through a set of stone steps built in recent years. The site's walls and bastions remain mostly intact, while inner ruins show signs of overgrowth.


Ambagad Fort sits on a Satpura hill spur about 13 kilometres west of Tumsar in Bhandara district. Records link it to Gond kings in the early 1700s, then to Nagpur's Bhonsle rulers, who turned it into a jail. The British captured it during the Lanji uprising of 1818.


Conservation efforts added 550 steps for access and repaired ramparts, but vegetation now covers many areas.


Fort's Early Builders and Takeovers


Ambagad Fort overlooks routes from Tumsar toward Seoni across a forested spur in the Satpura range.


The hill rises to 1490 feet above sea level or 480 feet above the base village. Visitors park near Ambagad village, then walk to a Hanuman temple at the foot of the climb.


From there, a path winds up through trees to the north-facing gate. This location made it a natural defence point in the Bhandara district long before modern roads connected the area.

Local records trace the fort's main structure to around 1700. A commander named Raja Khan Pathan built or expanded it while serving Gond ruler Bakht Buland Shah from Deogarh.

Some older accounts push the origins back to the twelfth century under Gondwana kings. Either way, the site guarded trade paths in what locals call Vidarbha's interior. Dense woods and steep slopes kept unwanted visitors at bay.


Power changed hands in the mid 1700s. After disputes weakened the Gond line, Maratha leader Raghuji Bhonsle seized Deogarh territories, including forts like Ambagad and nearby Pauni. The Bhonsles shifted their purpose from lookout to lockup. High walls and a single entry suited confinement. Guards watched from rooms beside the gate. A staircase let them scan both the path below and the yard inside.


The fort's oval walls stretch four acres east to west with fourteen bastions spaced along the perimeter. Each bastion has slots for guns. Carvings of peepal leaves and lotuses mark the Gomukhi style entrance tucked between two large bastions.


Lime plaster once covered parts of the gate. Inside a deep rock cut well sits just past the threshold. Builders reused stone from that excavation for walls.


Water features dot the plateau. A small mossy pond lies off one rampart path. A larger tank with steps sits higher up near the citadel.


Accounts mention underground access to this tank. A now dry well near the palace feeds local stories of hardship. These setups stored rain for dry months when the hill stood isolated.


Jail Role and 1818 Uprising


Under Bhonsle's control, Ambagad held political captives and locals accused of crimes like sorcery.


The hill's isolation amplified its role as a deterrent. A two-storey palace block anchored the upper yard with decorated windows, arches and niches. Rooms opened to the ramparts. A basement below held six arches for air. Rain now pools there, turning it damp.


One account tells of Kadu Patel, a prisoner from Mohali. He drank from the inner well and died. Villagers took this as proof of poison. His story spread among the Koshti communities who later worshipped him as Ambagdiya dev. A shrine near the fort keeps this memory alive. An annual fair brings Gond and Koshti groups from nearby villages.

The British entered the picture in 1818 amid the Lanji rebellion. Rebel leader Chimna Patel allied with Nagpur's Appa Sahib against colonial expansion. Fighters linked Ambagad to posts at Chandpur Rampaili and Sangarhi, forming a defence chain. Five hundred men garrisoned the fort, blocking key routes even after larger Maratha losses elsewhere.


British forces moved fast. They took Kamtha town on 18 September, then sent Major Wilson's detachment to Ambagad. He scouted the site and saw no need for assault. Rebels slipped away to a nearby ridge short on supplies. Troops occupied the empty fort, turning it into an outpost. Stories claim they forced prisoners to drink well water as punishment, deepening the site's dark reputation.


This event tied Ambagad to early resistance in the region. State records call it a freedom struggle site.


The fort's brief stand showed how forts across Vidarbha checked British advances before full control set in. Post capture, it faded from active military use, but the jail tales stuck in local recall.


Layout Walkthrough and Key Features


It starts at the base with a Hanuman temple and its old well. A newer well is behind supplies drinking water. The 550 stone steps added in 2015 cut the climb to 30 minutes. The path grades easily through the forest, easing access for day trippers from Tumsar or Nagpur.


Past the gate, the main yard opens. The dry well dominates one side. A dome under a tree shelters a broken grinding wheel. Ramparts circle the site, letting visitors loop the full perimeter. Bastions offer views over valleys and woods. A cannon platform crowns one high point, scanning miles outward.


The palace ruin takes centre stage. Two storeys merge with walls. Upper rooms exit to ramparts. Soil buries the ground floor. Carved details hint at past comfort for commanders or rulers.

Water tanks hold a seasonal supply. Steps lead to the larger one. Moss marks the smaller pond. The inner well draws warnings tied to old deaths. Shrines punctuate the grounds. One vermilion-coated stone sits midway up the path. Another honours Ambagdiya dev linking fort history to village faith.


Trekking groups rate the walk medium effort. Heat hits hard pre-monsoon, so early mornings work best. The four-acre plateau fills an hour's visit. Bhandara's sole hill fort draws comparisons to larger Vidarbha sites but stands out for its compact design. A 2018 conservation study used it to teach military layout with layered bastions around a tight core.


Conservation strengthened the core in 2015 and 2016. Ramparts now hold firm for full circuits. Steps standardise the ascent, drawing more feet than before. A base information board outlines the history for first-timers. Yet upkeep lags. Trees root in cracks. Shrubs hide steps. Creepers pull at ruins.

One 2020 visitor noted solid bones but called maintenance poor. Trek sites echo this. They praise repairs yet flag overgrowth as a risk to stonework. Palace sections show collapse from unchecked plants. Tanks silt up outside in the rain.


Roads challenge the last leg. Tumsar to Gaimukh junction runs smooth then forest tracks jar taxis. Phones drop signal near the base. Nagpur lies 100 kilometres away a two-hour drive. Chicholi station serves rail links.


Reviews peg it as a quick outing. One hour tops the site post-climb. Forests frame the appeal for nature fans. Fairs add local colour without crowds. Gond and Koshti rituals keep it active beyond treks.


The fort blends roles today. Structurally sound at the edges, it wears vegetation inland. Access beats past decades yet stays raw. It records how Gond built Maratha jails and rebel held in one hill site. Walk the walls, and stories surface from stone and slope.


FAQs


Q. What is the history of Ambagad Fort in Tumsar Bhandara district, Maharashtra? 

A. Ambagad Fort began under Gond ruler Bakht Buland Shah around 1700, then served Nagpur Bhonsles as a prison before rebels held it in the 1818 Lanji uprising against the British, who took control without a battle.


Q. Current condition of Ambagad Fort Tumsar after conservation work and steps?

A. Ramparts gate and 550 new steps stand firm from 2015 repairs, but inner palace ruins face overgrown trees in the walls, and limited cleaning with tanks silting and no regular facilities on site.


Q. How to visit Ambagad Fort near Tumsar from Nagpur with access details?

A. Drive 100 km from Nagpur via Tumsar to Gaimukh fork, then 5 km to Ambagad village and Hanuman temple base, climb 550 steps to the north gate loop ramparts in one hour, best pre-summer mornings.


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