1. Naneghat: The International Trade route through the Western ghats

By Shashi Chiplonkar

 Naneghat is a mountain pass, situated at a height of 2,600 feet, in Sahyadri Mountain ranges, that connects the Konkan coastal area with Junnar town in Maharashtra. The pass is about 120 kilometers, north of Pune and about 165 kilometers, east from Mumbai, the economic capital of India. During Satavahan dynasty (1^st century BCE – 2^nd century CE), the goods like spices, cotton, were carried by wagon and bullock carts, through Naneghat. The pass was the fastest route that linked the west coast seaports of Kalyan, Sopara, and Thana in Kokan area and Bharuch on Gujrat coast with main trading centres; Junnar, Paithan, Ter, Nasik, Devgiri and Ajanta ranges in the Deccan region according to Archaeological Survey of India.

Naneghat

‘Nane’ means coin and ‘Ghat’ means pass, which indicates that the Naneghat pass was used to collect taxes from the traders who wish to cross the hill. Hence, it was one of the most important trade routes during 200 BC to 190 CE or the reign of Satavahanas. According to Charles Allen, a renowned historian, there is a Buddhist Stupa-like carved stone on the route which was used to store the collected coins. 

                                          Ranjan (stone vessel) to collect coins.

     The coins or then called as Karsapanas, are likely to be made by melting the Roman silver coins at Junnar. The Satavahana dynasty had good trade relations with the Roman Empire, thus base metal such as copper and silver for local currency was supplied by the Romans. The periplus mentions the importation of silver. One inscription from Junnar records the guild of barriers. This is the unique evidence from Junnar. It was likely that king Satakarni melted down the Roman silver coins at Junnar and coined his Karsapanas.

Silver coins of Satakarni-I and Naganika from Junnar have proved that they were issued on the occasion of several sacrifices including two Asvamedha Mahayajnas by the Queen Naganika (100 B.C. to 30 B.C.). Nanaghat also records different sacrifices celebrated with donation done through Karsapanas.  The inscription mentions that King Satakarni had ordered to melt down the silver Roman coin and minted the Kharapanas in Junnar. The silver coins of King Satakarni I and queen Naganika were issued on the occasion of Ashvamedha sacrifice. Queen Naganika was the first Queen in history from the Indian sub-continent to have issued coins in her name, jointly with her husband Satakarni I. The coin (figure) has the name “Naganikaya” in the rectangle, and “(Si)ri Satakanisa”.

   

    There is a main cave on the Naneghat pass which has Sanskrit inscriptions in Brahmi script and Middle Indo-Aryan dialect. The archaeologists found that these inscriptions have been dated between the 2nd and the 1st century BCE and attributed to the Satavahana dynasty era. The inscriptions mention the rituals of Vedas and Hindu deities like Krishna, Indra, Surya, Chandra, and provide historical information about the early rulers of Satavahanas. The researchers concluded that the cave was specially made by Satavahana Queen Naganika, the wife of Satakarni I.

Main cave with inscriptions (Satavahana family cave)

In the cave, there were 4 statues from Satavahan dynasty. Crevices of these statues now can be seen on the wall.

Inscriptions on the walls of the main cave 

  

The inscriptions present the world's oldest numeration symbols for "2, 4, 6, 7, and 9" that resemble modern era numerals, more closely those found in modern Nagari and Hindu-Arabic script.

 

Some Buddhist caves which were used by travellers as rest house.

Travel and tour companies arrange a one-day trip to Naneghat, and Kukdeshwar Mandir, a 12th century Shiva temple at the banks of river Kukdi near Naneghat, in Pur village, Junnar.

I visited Naneghat and Kukdeshwar temple in November 2022, with Sanyana tours, by  Ms Gadre Vidya. She is an expert Indologist and has organised many heritage tours.