FORTS OF MAHARASHTRA

 

    RAJGAD FORT

     

Rajgad (literal meaning Ruling Fort) is a hill fort situated in the Pune district of Maharashtra, India. ... The Rajgad Fort is located around 60 km (37 mi) to the south-west of Pune and about 15 km (9.3 mi) west of Nasrapur in the Sahyadris range. The fort lies 1,376 m (4,514 ft) above the sea level.

Situated on the outskirts of Pune city, it is roughly sixty kilometres south-west of Pune and situated at an altitude of 1600 metres above sea level, and is one of the massively spread fortresses under the Maratha empire. Its diameter at the base of the foothill is almost 40 kilometres which makes it very difficult for enemy forces to lay siege on it. Like all military establishments constructed by the Maratha Empire, the fort doubles up as a watch tower for military advantage and security and at the same time has an intricate complex system with structures and monuments for day to day residential living.

From tourist point of view, this is one of the more lavishly constructed forts built by Shivaji and the fortress walls stretch over a large distance across the ridge of the mountains. The walk to the main fortress provides some of the most exotic views of the surrounding areas from the Sahyadri Mountain range. Covered with thick vegetation and steep climb, it is an absolute delight for adventure seekers. Due to the tourist attractions the fort inherently has, it also houses local villagers displaying their crafts and wares to tourists in the hope of some sales. During the Monsoon season, people often hold fort overnight and explore the fort. It also a very fantastic place for trekking (Rajgad Trek)

  SINHGAD FORT

 

Sinhagad fort is very famous because we all have studied about it in our history class. The hero behind this fort was Tanaji Malusare. Sinhagad was called ‘Kondana’ after the sage Kaundinya. The Kaundinyeshwar temple, the caves and the carvings indicate that this fort had probably been built two thousand years back. It was captured from the Koli tribal chieftain, Nag Naik, by Muhammad bin Tughlaq in 1328 AD. Shahaji Bhosale, as the commander of Ibrahim Adil Shah I, was entrusted with the control of the Pune region. His son Shivaji, refused to accept the Adilshahi and initiated the task of setting up Swarajya. Shivaji gained control of Kondana in 1647 by convincing Siddi Amber, the Adilshahi Sardar who controlled the fort, that he, the son of Shahaji Bhosale, could manage the fort’s defenses optimally. Bapuji Mudgal Deshpande played a key role in this activity. Adil Shah jailed Siddi Amber for this treasonous act and schemed to get it back. He imprisoned Shahaji Bhosale for a concocted crime and informed Shivaji. In 1649, Adil Shah traded the fort for Shahaji’s release. Shivaji Maharaj recaptured it in 1656 again with the help of Bapuji Mudgal Deshpande who convinced the Fort commander by giving land in the newly created Shivapur village and peacefully gained control of the fort.

  RAIGAD FORT 

Back in the year 1656, the distinguished Maratha ruler, Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, seized the fort of Rairi from Rajchandraji More, Ruler of Jawali, and built his capital city. He expanded and renovated the fort and renamed it “Raigad.” Located at the base of the fort, the villages of Pachad and Raigadwadi had a very crucial role to play in defense of the royal house. It is said that cavalry of ten thousand men was always kept on standby in Pachad during the rule of the Marathas. Apart from its strategic location of being cut off from the Western Ghats, the Raigad Fort was heavily fortified to keep swarming enemies at bay.