Junnar

the Junnar city in Pune district, Maharashtra, India

Junnar (Marathi pronunciation: [d͡ʒunːəɾ]) is a city in the Pune district of the Indian state of Maharashtra. The city has history dating back to the first millennium. The nearby fort of Shivneri was the birthplace of Maratha king Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha Empire. Junnar was declared the first tourism taluka in Pune district by the government of Maharashtra on 9 January 2018.

Junnar has been an important trading and political centre for the last two millennia. The town is on the trade route that links the ports of western India or more specifically of Konkan with Deccan interiors. The first mention of Junnar comes the Greco Roman travellers from the first millennium, The Indo Scythian Western Satraps ruled at Junnar during the 2nd century CE as shown by their cave inscriptions in the area of Junnar, at Manmodi Caves. "Yavana" Greeks also left donative inscriptions in the 2nd century CE at Lenyadri and Manmodi Caves. According to Damodar Kosambi, the real name of Junnar may have been Tagara. In his opinion, the name Junnar may be the contracted form of Jirnanagar (Old city). In the 1400s, the Russian traveler, Afanasy Nikitin spent many months in Junnar during the monsoon season. He describes vividly the life in the Bahamani ruled area around Junnar. After the collapse of the Bahamanis, the breakaway state of Nizam Shahi had Junnar as their first capital in the 1490s. Later in early 1600s, Malik Ambar the Nizam Shahi general again moved his capital there. The father of Shivaji, Shahaji Raje Bhonsale worked for Malik Ambar early in his career. Shivaji was born at the nearby Shivneri fort.

Junnar has an average elevation of 689 metres (2,260 feet). The Kukadi River flows to the north.

The Junnar area has been historically famed for its teak forest. The Shaniwar Wada, the de facto seat of government of the Maratha Empire in Pune was completed in 1732 by Peshwa Bajirao I. Teak from Junnar was used extensively in its construction.

as of 2001 India census, Junnar had a population of 24,740. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Junnar has an average literacy rate of 77%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 81%, and female literacy is 72%. In Junnar, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.

State Transport buses run between Pune and Junnar from Shivajinagar ST stand from 06:30 AM every hour. Also bus facility available from Mumbai (kalyan) for every 10–30 minutes from 05:20 AM till 12:30 AM. Same is the case from Ahmednagar and Nashik. Transportation from Ahmednagar and Mumbai takes a route of NH 222 while from Pune and Nashik will take a route of NH 50.

Junnar area is dotted with historic places including Shivneri, the birthplace of the Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the cave temple at Lenyadri, Kulswami khandoba temple wadaj, One of the famous temple of Lord Ganesha Ozar, and the walled town of Junnar itself. Also Junnar has historical underground water chain which it exists at Sayyed Wada (Nehr e Hussaini hauz) Junnar in the remembrance of Karbala. This water reservoir exist today.

Jivdhan, Jivdhan (or Jeevdhan) is a hill fortress situated 1 km near the modern day town of Ghatghar in Junnar Taluka of Pune district in Maharashtra, India.

Hadsar, fort is among the many forts in Junnar region of Pune district which were meant for protection of the ancient commercial trade route from Mawal region to Kalyan via Naneghat. There is a marvelous sculpture design of the bastion and the fort entrance, which is not seen elsewhere. They are all carved from a single rock.

The monument is located in Hapusbaug village, 10 km away from Junnar. It was built in the 17th century, and is considered the finest building from the islamic era of the town. The tombs has a double storied facade with a single large space. It is an example of an early post Bahmani type architecture. It is on the List of Monuments of National Importance in Maharashtra.

Several inscriptions related to donations by Yavanas (Indo Greeks) have been found at the Junnar caves. These inscriptions are located in the Shivneri Caves:
One inscription mentions the gift of two cisterns to the monks by a Yavana donor named Irila. There is a leopard rescue centre located at Manikdoh for this cause also Manikdoh dam one of bigger dam is situated Near Junnar.