Naneghat is an ancient mountain pass in the Western Ghats near Junnar, Maharashtra. During the Satavahana dynasty (200 BCE–190 CE), the pass was extensively used as a trade route between Kalyan (Konkan coast) and the Junnar region. The name Naneghat has two parts – “nane” means coins, and “ghat” means pass. The presence of a large stone vessel in-situ (which is locally known as “Jakatica Ranjan”, or “a pot for toll collection”) at the beginning of the pass seems to indicate that this was used to store coins collected as toll taxes from traders coming from the Konkan coast. After descending the narrow gorge for a few minutes you reach a series of rock cut caves, the largest of which is unique in western India. This is not the work of any Buddhist activity, it has purely Brahmanical features. Inside the cave, the walls are completely covered with inscriptions dated between 60 and 70 BCE, and indicate that they are the work of the consorts of the Satavahana ruler Satakarni. It is believed that Satakarni’s wife Naganika commissioned the cave, the statues (now missing) and the inscriptions which mention her and her family members. The statues that were once here were life size relief sculptures of 8 persons. These sculptures have now disappeared, but can be identified using the Brahmi labels carved over their heads. The walls of the cave contain a long and partially damaged inscription of an unknown queen, but is believed to be Naganika who appeared as one of the 8 sculptures along the back wall. According to the inscription, the queen was the wife of Satakarni and mother of Vedashri; her father was a great warrior from the Angiya family of the Nagas. The inscription suggests she was leading a life befitting a widow, describing 18 sacrifices she had participated in. These included two ashvamedhas (a horse sacrifice ritual) and one rajasuya (imperial sacrifice, possibly involving cattle), most likely performed when her husband was still alive. These inscriptions are in good condition and have proved important in establishing the history of the region. It’s all too easy to forget that most of what is written here is nearly 2,000 years old ! #swiggywala #naneghat https://www.instagram.com/p/CcGZ7XdvB8b/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=