Banawadi is a census village of Satara district in the

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

state State most commonly refers to: * State (polity), a centralized political organization that regulates law and society within a territory **Sovereign state, a sovereign polity in international law, commonly referred to as a country **Nation state, a ...

Maharashtra Maharashtra () is a state in the western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. It is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west, the Indian states of Karnataka and Goa to the south, Telangana to th ...

. It is situated near to the Satara Phaltan state highway, about 21 km north of Satara, about 108 km from

Pune Pune ( ; , ISO 15919, ISO: ), previously spelled in English as Poona (List of renamed Indian cities and states#Maharashtra, the official name until 1978), is a city in the state of Maharashtra in the Deccan Plateau, Deccan plateau in Western ...

and 220 km from

Mumbai Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...

Demographics

In the 2011 India census, the village of Banawadi had a population of 1,426. literacy rate of Banawadi village was 91.11% compared to 82.34% of Maharashtra. These forts are well known as dual forts situated in Banawadi village. Based on historical evidences these forts are built by king Bhoj II ruler from Shilahar Dynasty in 1191-1192 B.C. age of copper-inscriptions (Tamralech). In 1673

Shivaji Shivaji I (Shivaji Shahaji Bhonsale, ; 19 February 1630 – 3 April 1680) was an Indian ruler and a member of the Bhonsle dynasty. Shivaji carved out his own independent kingdom from the Sultanate of Bijapur that formed the genesis of the ...

, founder of

Maratha Empire The Maratha Empire, also referred to as the Maratha Confederacy, was an early modern India, early modern polity in the Indian subcontinent. It comprised the realms of the Peshwa and four major independent List of Maratha dynasties and states, Ma ...

conquered it along with other forts in Satara region Ajinkyatara, Sjjangad, Kalyangad etc. Maratha ruled these forts till

Sambhaji Sambhaji (Sambhajiraje Shivajiraje Bhonsle, ; 14 May 1657 – 11 March 1689), also known as Shambhuraje, ruled from 1681 to 1689 as the second king ( Chhatrapati) of the Maratha Empire, a prominent state in early modern India. He was the elde ...

's regime, 1689 later Mughals empowered it from Maratha's. After Anglo-Maratha war British took over control of Satara region and hence of Chandan-Vandan. Chandan-Vandan is also a sacred/famous place for pilgrims. There is a famous durgah and temple of lord Shiva is situated on top of Chandan fort. Every year urs-e-shareef is celebrated in remembrance of Gaus Paak Mehboob e Subhani (under of sunnatul Muslim jamat trust banawadi) on Chandan fort at banawadi. The post monsoon season is the perfect time to visit these forts. The area is fantastically lush green and excellent visibility too which is hard to get in monsoon season. This trek is ideal for those who would like to visit some offbeat destination.

Banawadi Bagad

Bagad (Marathi language: बगाड) is a religious festive tradition, where in

ceremonial pole A ceremonial pole is a stake or post utilised or venerated as part of a ceremony or religious ritual. Ceremonial poles may symbolize a variety of concepts in different ceremonies and rituals practiced by a variety of cultures around the world ...

from auspicious tree is venerated in some village jatras in honour of local deities in

state of India. Bagad is a similar concept to

Charak Puja Charak Puja or Pachamara Mela (also known as ''Chadak'', ''Nil Puja'' or ''Hajrha Puja'') is part of the Hindu folk festival of Gajan_(festival), Gajan, held in honor of the deity Shiva or Dharmathakur. The Gajan festival includes numerous form ...

Gajan (festival) Gajan or Shiva gajon is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly in the Indian States and territories of India, state of West Bengal and Bangladesh. It is associated with such deities as Shiva, Neel and Dharmathakur, Dharmaraj. Gajan spans around a wee ...

or Indian parallel of Mexican

Danza de los Voladores The ''Danza de los Voladores'' (; "Dance of the Flyers"), or ''Palo Volador'' (; "flying pole"), is an ancient Mesoamerican ceremony/ritual still performed today, albeit in modified form, in isolated pockets in Mexico. It is believed to have ...

. Since long ago villagers and devotees of Vadhsidhnath from different places celebrating the traditional bagad (chariot of god) yatra. Bagad is made up of wooden blocks with huge stone wheels and decorated with coconuts and flowers. This annual festival attracts thousands of devotees during Chaitra month as per traditional Hindu lunar calendar.

Education

* Rayat Shikshan Sanstha's New English School, Banawadi *Z.P. School, Banawadi

How to reach Banawadi

The best way to reach Banawadi is by road from Satara take public transport bus to Banawadi or any bus going towards

Phaltan Phaltan () is a city, tehsil and municipal council in the Satara district in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Maharashtra. The city is about northeast of the city of Satara (city), Satara and about 110 km from P ...

, get down at Ambawade fata and take local transport for near 4 km. The alternate way is You may Board train Koyna Express train number 11029.This train runs daily between Mumbai CST to

Kolhapur Kolhapur () is a city on the banks of the Panchganga River in the southern part of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Kolhapur is one of the most significant cities in South Maharashtra and has been a hub of historical, religious, and cultural a ...

.It departs from Mumbai CST at 08:40 and get down at Wathar Station, get public or local transport from Wathar Station to reach Banawadi. Nearby railway stations are Wathar Station, Palashi Station and Mahuli Satara. Nearby airports are

Karad Karad is a city in Satara district of Indian States and territories of India, state of Maharashtra. It is located 302 km (180.19 miles) from Mumbai, 74 km from Sangli and 162 km from Pune. It lies at the confluence of Koyna R ...

and

Villages near by

* Dudhanwadi * Arabwadi * Ibrahimpur * Ambawade * Pimpode Khurd * Deur * Shivthar * Bhuinj * Panchwad * Palshi Station * Satara Road

References

Villages in Satara district {{Satara-geo-stub