Antoor

Antoor Fort Highlights (2-3 Hrs Visit) Access: Drive from Nagapur or walk from Gopewadi to the majestic bastion/parking lot. **First Three Doors** * **Door 1 (South-facing):** Follow the cement path past a watchguard outpost to the first door. Find a stone cannonball outside. Look for the remaining Sharabh sculpture on the right upper corner of the arch. * **Door 2 (East-facing):** Turn left on the path (surrounded by fortification walls). This door is at a right angle to Door 1. It has square-edged bastions and arch pits for pouring oil/coals. Inside: guard porches, 2 lotus sculptures, and 4 cannonballs. * **Door 3 (South-facing):** Reach via a right-angle staircase. Arch features lotus carvings and a 5.5' x 2' Persian inscription.**Inner Fort & Palace** * After Door 3, a decrepit building with ornamental stones is on the right. A lake is ahead. * Path on the right leads past the fortification wall to the royal complex (2 dome-structured mansions). Steps lead to the top of one mansion. Tombs are found behind it.**West End & Watch** * Exiting the palace west, find a dargah, then the square-shaped alienated bastion. Climb its stairs for a full fort view.**The Lake Area** * Visit the lake (water condition poor). Dargah 'Godi' is on one side. A grand doorway is south of the lake (purpose unclear), with decrepit structures behind it. * Near the west-facing bastion, find dilapidated structures. The celler near the pond may be the gun-powder magazine storage.**Water Structures** * Descend to a rock-carved water tank area: 4 carved poled cisterns. One cistern has potable water. A dry, well-built pond is above the tanks.**South End & Main Attraction** * Head south to the narrow part of the fort, separated by a fortification wall and 2 bastions. * Go through a door to the fort’s south end. Find a cannon, a small room, a side door, and a watchguard vestibule. * **Main Attraction:** The massive grand bastion. A 50-unit trench (cut rock) separates the fort from the mountain range. This bastion houses the 'Gaibanshali Baba' dargah. Stairs lead to the top for views of the parking lot and plateau.**Exit Point** * Towards Nagapur, look for an ancient mile stone on the lower left of the road with directions to four cities in Persian language. * The neglected fort has many architectural remnants worth seeing\!