In one of our drives, we were passing through a small town and couldn’t help but stop at the sight of a large and beautiful palace. We found out this was the Rajwada of Bhor. The town of Bhor (once a princely state) is located some 51 km south of Pune, close to the Bhatgar Dam. The state was founded by Shankarji Narayan, who was appointed as the Pantsachiv, one of the eight hereditary ministers by Rajaram Chhatrapati in 1697, and was acceded to the Dominion of India on 8 March 1948. (Rajaram Bhonsle (1670 – March 2, 1700 Sinhagad) was the younger son of the first Maratha Chhatrapati Shivaji, half-brother of the second Chhatrapati Sambhaji, and took over the Maratha Empire as its third chhatrapati after his brother’s death at the hands of the Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb in 1689. He had a very short reign, during which he was engaged in a struggle with the Mughals.) The last Ruler of Bhor was Raja Shrimant Sir Raghunathrao Shankarrao Babasaheb Pandit Pantsachiv. The Bhor Rajwada, a synergy of Indian vernacular and European Renaissance Architectural style, was apparently built in 1869 by Pantsachiv Chimnajirao. Some excellent history on Bhor here.
The Bhor Rajwada itself is a gorgeous building with large imposing pillars in its courtyard. Many rooms align along the square courtyard and there is an inner courtyard as well, perhaps for the family. The outer larger courtyard area was used for darbars or meeting with the subjects. Around the palace are old offices which now house many governmnet departments, photocopy shops etc. A little beyond the palace is a beautiful river ghat and some old temples. In the town market near the Bhor Rajwada, find some thali meals. Although there isn’t any place to stay within Bhor that we can recommend, on the main Mumbai-Bangalore highway one can find something.
The Bhor Rajwada is often given for film shoots. Perhaps the Bhor Rajwada is also rented out for weddings. But we wish this beautiful castle could be restored to its original glory, as repeated film shootings have somewhat ravaged the place.
The bazaar also had the best chai (Indian tea) I have had in a while (outside of home). They made it with thick milk and fresh cream. It was more dessert than tea. Bhor is a fantastic weekend get away from Mumbai or Pune.
[box type=”note” width=”100%” ]Getting there: From Pune, on the NH4, drive towards Satara/Bangalore. After about 50 km from Pune, keep watching for signs towards Bhor on your right.[/box]
Great illustrations with wonderful pictures..Thanks for posting 🙂
Thanks Nagini! This place is so un-discovered!
hi,
I am visiting these bhor place and near by, can you please share more info about the palce and also do I need to take prior permission for photography in bhor rajwada.
please send info on sssnanal@gmail.com, would be appreciate.
regards
Shrideep nanal
Travel Photographer
https://www.instagram.com/sssnanal/
hi, lovely pictures, thank you for sharing. was the entry open to all at the bhor rajwada – palace or you had to take any pror permission, and also the house would you know the owner, we were hoping to visit this place soon.
Hi Prachi! You can’t stay at the Bhor Rajwada. It’s just am empty house given out to film shoots. The day we went, some Marathi film was being shot and we just went inside to take pictures. I guess you can just walk in. But don’t go alone, in case it’s deserted.
Hello sir,
I want to come to bhor Wada and want to take pictures. So can we come tomorrow with DSLR? This is my personal camera.
Hi Neeeta. You will have to come on your own. I don’t live in Bhor and I am not the contact person for this beautiful old Rajwada. Please land up and check with the locals.
Students of architecture and photography should must visit bhor once. Amazing place and amazing people. Great clicks!
Does some manage the place? Like if I choose this for a traditional pre-wedding photoshoot location, do I have to pay any charges or anything?
My lAst name is bhor.. I just have one sister. Know nothing about my ancestors accepts last 3 generations.. Can we trace back the lineage if any..
Hi Manasi! If you Google search you will find many websites that help you trace your ancestry. But I suggest speaking to the older people in your family…
No one knows anything unfortunately. For past 3 generations we are in Kalyan, Thane District
Do we need to take prior permission for photography ….
Firm name: Oneroofservices
Yes if you are doing it professionally and or commercially.
I just stumbled across this page while searching Indian and Maharashtra temples in particular. My grandfather used to live in Bhor after retirement in a house which was 2 minutes walk from Bhoreshwar temple. I was a school going kid then and living in Pune and used to come visit and stay with grandparents in every summer vacation for a month or two. So I have very fond memories of Bhor. Used to go to nearby Neera river for a swim on many days. Used to go for darshan of Lord Shiva in BHoreshwar temple every day. Also seen the Rajwada. There used to be amweekly market in the market road every Tuesday if I remember correctly. It was such an awesome experience to buy fresh fruit and vegetable esp mangoes of a lot of difefrent kind in that market. I still remember those days.
That’s lovely. To have exprienced the beauty of Bhor in those days… I feel sad that the Rajwada is being wasted on TV shoots. The number of nails on the delicate wooden pillars, and the misuse by film crews…