Junnar

Junnar is a city with thousands of years of history in the Pune district of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is a taluka headquarter. Situated at the base of the Sahyadri mountains, it is around 94 km north of Pune and 100 km east of Mumbai. Also located near this city are Shivneri Fort, birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji, the famous Maratha king, Lenyadri (girijatmak) and Ozar (vighnaher) both are from Ashtavinayakas. The land surrounding Junnar is very fertile and the main crops harvested are rice, wheat, and sugarcane. The town also holds a weekly market for fruit and vegetables on Sundays. Junnar is also famous for its Ganesh decorations during the Ganesh festival, being sometimes compared with the decorations in Pune and Mumbai during the festival. Junnar taluka in Maharashtra has the largest density of leopard population within a 500 km² area. It also holds the record for the largest number of leopards trapped within that range ever. Junnar is also surrounded by much greenery and dams, such as Vadaj and Manikdoh, common picnicking locations. Also present are the ancient Naneghat caves.

Junnar has attained prominence as early as 90 B.C when king Vedishri son of the Satavahana king Satakarni, the "Lord of Dakshinapatha, wielder of the unchecked wheel of Sovereignty" made Junnar the capital of his kingdom.