Vasota Fort (Vyaghragad)

Vasota Fort, also known as Vyaghragad, lies some 70 km from Satara, close to Bamnoli village beside Shivsagar lake, within a protected nature reserve. It is attributed to the Shilahara chief Bhoja II of Panhala (1178–1193), stayed with Maratha families such as the Shirkes and Mores in the 16th century, and was used mostly as a prison. Shivaji took it in 1655 during his conquest of Javli and renamed it Vyaghragad, the tiger fort, for its formidable natural defences. It was famously defended by Tai Telin when its killedar was captured.

In 1818 the British bombarded it with heavy guns, destroying many buildings including the Chandika temple and the powder store, and carried off property worth 5 lakh. The fort is now dilapidated and overgrown, with the remains of a Mahadev temple and the plinth of a large sadar, or meeting hall.