Marathi Chhatrapati Shivaji Full Movie (1952) by Bhalji Pendharkar

Good news readers!! As our 'Shivcharitra' blog has completed 8 years and this is the right time that we are starting our Youtube channel 'Shivcharitra'. Our first brave move, we are providing "Chhatrapati Shivaji" (1952) full movie in Marathi.

About Chhatrapati Shivaji (1952) Marathi Movie

This masterpiece Marathi movie named "Chhatrapati Shivaji" was the creation of Dadasaheb Phalke Award winner Bhalji Pendharkar. This movie was written, produced, and directed by Bhalji Pendharkar himself that's why we called it a 'Masterpiece'. This movie's music was composed by C Ramchandra and star cast included big names like Chandrakant Mandare, Baburao, Vithal, Leela, Vanamala, Shakuntala, Ratnamala, Ranjana and Lalita Pawar.

This "Chhatrapati Shivaji" movie was released in 1952 and people loved to watch Chandrakant Mandare as Shivaji Maharaj. His dashing personality was completely suited for the role of Shivaji Maharaj. After this movie, he was the most famous face to play Shivaji Maharaj.

As we are providing an edited version of this black and white Chhatrapati Shivaji (1952) movie on our youtube channel, feel free to download and improve your history collection. We are extremely proud to present this Chhatrapati Shivaji (1952) full-length movie, we are adding one sensible statement here that  We are providing our edited version of this movie but all rights are reserved with the original copyright owners and music production.

Ending the information here, let's enjoy Marathi Chhatrapati Shivaji Full Movie (1952) by Bhalji Pendharkar.

Shivaji Maharaj Sketches

The blog about Shivaji Maharaj is incomplete without including the best Shivaji Maharaj sketches in it. In this valuable post, we have covered different kinds of Shivaji Maharaj sketches.

These Shivaji Maharaj full drawings and sketches help many readers to find the best appearance of Maharaj. As per today's trend, many Maharashtrian people are love to do Shivaji Maharaj tattoo and these sketches of Shivaji Maharaj will surely inspire them and present good choices from this collection.

In this collection, we tried to cover Shivaji Maharaj full drawings or Shivaji Maharaj paintings so that people who want to do Shivaji Maharaj portrait will be inspired for making a masterpiece.

Here are the Shivaji Maharaj sketches, get it open in full size and save/download to your collection.

(All rights to respective images reserved to the owners, this is only the best collection we are providing)

Information About Harishchandragad Fort

Ancient forts and monuments are the best source to peek into history. They are the living testimonial to architecture and carving art of our people. One of the oldest forts that is worth exploring is the Harishchandragad fort located in Ahmednagar, Mahrashtra. It's one of those few forts that have found a mention in Matsya Purana, Skanda Purana, and Angi Purana, ancient holy texts. The hillfort is believed to be built in the 6th CE by the Kalachuri dynasty.  Traces that lead to the microlithic man have been found here.

Place of Interest 

Harishchandragad fort is 4671 feet above the sea level. Its imposing structure and height made if formidable. The surrounding jungle with flourishing wild life also added to its strength.

Some attractions one shouldn't miss are:

Harishchandragad Pond

This is the fresh water pond that served the water needs of the occupants. What's amazing about this pond is the availability of water throughout the year. Until a few years ago, the water from the pond was potable, but due to the negligence of tourists, it has become contaminated. The water is cold even in the summer. At the bank of the pond are small temples where Lord Vishnu was worshiped.

Harischchandreshwara Temple 

Precision and creativity in carving can be best experienced by visiting this temple. Monolithic rocks were carved out for the construction of the temple.  The temple is 16m in height with caves and water ponds around it. River Mangal Ganga is believed to have originated from one of the ponds near the temple.

Kedareshwar Cave

There are several caves inside the fort with idols of Lord Vishnu built during the 11th century. Some are good for spending a night while others are filled with water.  The Kedareshwar cave is towards the right of Harishchandreshwara Temple. Inside the cave is a 5 ft. tall Shiva Linga surrounded by waist-deep ice-cold water.

There are a few sculptures carved in the cave. To make it a sanctum, four pillars touching to the ceiling of the cave are erected. Sadly, out of the four pillars, only one is standing firm. Legends say that the four pillars represent the four era and the broken three pillars testify the end of three. Eras. And when the fourth pillar too is broken, it would be the end of Kalyug, and eventually the end of the world.

Kokan Kada

This is the second highest point of the fort from where one can enjoy a panoramic view of the Konkan region. There is an overhang that attracts trekkers. One can literally see the cloud falling towards the pit falls and then being thrown up vertically at the height of 50 feet as if a wall of thick cloud is rising from the border of the cliff without touching the land.

Taramati Peak

This is the highest point of the fort also called as Taramanchi. It's at the elevation of 1429 metres from the sea level. A bird's eye view of the surrounding Naneghat and other forts near Murbad can be enjoyed from here. A glimpse of Siddhagad fort near Bimashankar and Napta twin peaks can be caught from Taramati Peak.

Shivaji Maharaj's Death - Myths and Actual Reasons

Before writing about Shivaji Maharaj's Death - myths and actual reasons. We would like to introduce our great king in few words.

It takes centuries for the God to create someone who can rule millions of hearts and leave behind a massive legacy for the people to be inspired for generations. When He finally succeeds, the person creates a history with his/her valour, foresightedness, ideas, beliefs, principles, chivalry, and secularism. One such persons that could easily fall in this league is none other than the most beloved Maratha warrior king fondly called Shivaji Maharaj. Born to Jijabai on February 19, 1627 in Pune, Shivaji Maharaj is a national hero pan-India and the only king who is deified by the people of Maharashtra. And why shouldn't he be considered a god given all that he did for the freedom of the state.

The Rise of a Legend

Shivaji Maharaj was greatly inspired by his mother, Jijabai, and his teacher, Dadaji Konddev. These two people were instrumental in making him the man of great virtue. It was their teachings that instilled in him good morals. Since childhood, his mother sowed the seeds of patriotism in him and motivated to be a great warrior who could protect the poor and fight against the tyrants. With the guidance and backing from his mother, he established a band of soldiers at the tender age of 12. At 15, he took an oath to establish Hindavi-Swarajya and gave it a shape by capturing the Torna fort at 16. Thereafter, he constructed and captured several forts to fulfill his oath.


Shivaji Maharaj's Death

There have been many controversies over Shivaji Maharaj's death. Several scholars and historians have different opinions. None of them have found any concrete evidence to affirm their speculations though. Some say he died from being ill with fever and dysentery, while others believe that he was poisoned by his ministers or most probably his wife, Soyarabai since she wanted her 10-year-old son, Rajaram to sit on the throne as Sambhaji, Shivaji's eldest son, was in Panhala fort, Kolhapur at the time of his death.

There are also rumours that powerful Brahmins along with some minister may have conspired against Shivaji Maharaj since he loathed casteism and wanted to abolish the age-old discriminatory systems. His ideas and concepts of secularism also didn't go well with the upper caste people. The Mughals also spread a rumour about a curse of the Sufi saint, Jan Muhammad of Jalna to be the reason for Shivaji Maharaj's death. But then cursing people is no way of attaining Sufism.

Date of Demise

Shivaji Maharaj breathed his last on 3 April 1680 in Raigad on Hanuman Jayanti at the age of 52. The reason for his death was quoted blood dysentery, which is a medical condition that arises after consuming contaminated food, or intake of poison mixed in food.

Conclusion 

Whether Shivaji Maharaj died of poisoning or from illness is tough or rather impossible to affirm it. More than his death, we should contemplate on the ideas and principles he lived by and be inspired to imbibe the same passion and love that he had for his state and country. He may be not around with us physically, but is and will remain alive in our hearts forever.

Information About Vijaydurg Fort

India has many amazing forts that exemplify the brilliance of ancient construction. One such fort that even time couldn't destroy it is the Vijaydurg fort. It is not only one of the oldest but also the strongest forts in Maharashtra that braved several attacks by the hands of foreigners.

History of Vijaydurg Fort 

It was built by the Raja Bhoj of Shilahar Dynasty during the end of 12th century in the present day Devgad taluka of Sindhudurg district in western Maharashtra. It took 12 years (1193 to 1205) to build such an imposing fort surrounded by the Arabian sea from all the four sides. It was called ”Gheria” due to being in the proximity of the “Gehriya” village. When Shivaji Maharaj captured the fort in 1653 from Adil Shah of Bijapur, he named it “Vijay Durg,” which translates to Victory Fort.

The fort was in 5 acres initially. Shivaji Maharaj extended it up to 17 acres and provided it with a protection cover of the Arabian sea from three sides. Besides its strong construction, the 40 km shallow creek at its front made it impossible for the enemy ships to get close to it. The Maratha navy used this creek as an anchoring point so that the warships couldn't be seen by the enemies from the distance. Due to its imposing structure, the fort was also nicked as the “Eastern Gibraltar.”

The fort stood a witness to many wars since several outsiders tried their hands to conquer it. It was under the Marathas from 1667 to 1729. Thereafter, the Peshwas ruled it till 1818. Finally, the fort was taken over by the British after defeating the Peshwas.

Vijaydurg Fort Architecture

Vijaydurg, like any other fort in Maharashtra, is built with laterite stones making it one of the fine examples of the robust ancient construction. The walls of the fort are 8 to 10 metres in height and are made of huge black rocks. There are 27 bastions that serve as a vigilance point. There are a few tunnels and caves inside the fort used for storing food-grains and as an emergency exit. One of the tunnels leads to the palatial house built in the close-by village. A water lake near the fort served as a source of drinking water. Several structures inside the fort now lie in ruins. However, a rest house is still in good condition.

Discovery of an underwater wall

Recently, a team of oceanographers discovered a submerged wall at the east of the fort. The wall is 122 metres in length, 3 metres in height, and 7 metres in width, and 8 to 10 metres in depth built of laterite rocks.

It was intentionally built under the water for destroying the ships of attackers. The Portuguese during its attempt to conquer the fort had lost a few ships after colliding with the underwater wall.



How to reach Vijaydurg

By Road – One can reach Vijaydurg by car or state-run buses via Mumbai-Goa national highway 17. From Mumbai, it is 436 km via Chiplun, and 184 km from Panaji.

By Rail – The nearest railway station is Rajapur on the Konkan Railway route. From Rajapur, Vijaydurg is 77 km. Taxis and rickshaws ply to the fort from Rajapur rail station.

By Air – The nearest airport to Vijaydurg is Kolhapur and Dabolim Airport. The former is 152 km and the latter is 205 km from the fort. 

Shivaji Maharaj Wives - Saibai, Soyrabai, Putalabai, Sakvarbai

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of the Maratha empire and staunch practitioner of Hinduism, was one of the bravest, progressive thinking, and secular ruler of medieval India. He is one of those kings of India whose deeds made him earned a god-like stature. It was him who changed the course of the history with his farsightedness, administrative, and military skills. He was instrumental in sowing the seeds of “Swarajya,” and gave tough days and nights to the Mughals. While a lot has written about him, there is very less information on Shivaji Maharaj's wives. This post will throw a brief light on his personal life. We can say it as his wives are strong branches of Shivaji Maharaj family tree.

Saibai 

Sai was born circa 1633 in Nimbalkar family in Phaltan near Satara, Maharashtra. She was born to Reubai and Madhojirao Naik Nimbalkar, the ruler of Phaltan since the Pawar dynasty. She had one sibling named Bajaji Rao Naik Nimbalkar who ruled Phaltan as the sixteenth Raja. Her ancestors served the Deccan sultans and Mughal Empire.

Marriage

Saibai was the first and most-lovable wife of Shivaji Maharaj. She got married to Shivaji on May 16, 1640, at Lal Mahal, Pune. During the marriage, both she and Shivaji were still a child. The marriage wasn't a grand affair though. Shivaji's mother, Jijabai had the marriage rituals sanctified under her supervision in absence of her husband Shahaji Bhonsale since he was busy in Bangalore. So following the marriage, Jijabai, Saibai, and Shivaji had to leave for Bangalore to seek Shahaji's blessings.

Sai's influence on Shivaji

Saibai was the most beautiful, loving, and good-natured woman, and a loyal to Shivaji. Her endearing personality and knowledge of social issues and compassion had a deep influence on Shivaji. She managed both the state's and household's affair like an abled administrator. Her selfless attitude and keenness for the welfare of others had the entire royal family fall in love with her. She even provided suggestions and advice to Shivaji on crucial matters as and when required. Due to her good nature, she kept the household atmosphere harmonious.

Children

In 19 years of her marriage to Shivaji, Saibai gave birth to four children out of which three were girls and one boy. The girls were named Sakavarbai, Ranubai, Ambikabai; and the boy Sambhaji. Since Sambhaji was the first and only male child in the family, he was named after his uncle Sambhaji who died fighting against the Mughals.

Death

Saibai passed away in 1659 after suffering from illness for a long time. She breathed her last in the Raigad Fort. Unfortunately, during her death, Shivaji Maharaj was not with her due to being busy preparing for a meeting with Afzal Khan at Pratapgad. At the time of her death, Sambhaji was just two years old. He was raised her by Shivaji's mother, Jijabai thereafter.

Soyrabai

Soyrabia was the second wife of Shivaji. She was born in Mohite family, and her elder brother was a chief of the Maratha army. She was young when she got married to Shivaji in 1659. The marriage happened on the insistence of Shivaji's father, step-mother, Tukabia, and Soyrabai's paternal aunt. She birthed two children – a daughter Balibai and son Rajaram. She was ambitious, unlike Saibai.

When Jijabai passed away in 1674, she started plotting for ascending his son, Rajaram to power. She even got Rajaram to sit on the throne soon after the death of Shivaji in 1680. At that time, Sambhaji was not in Raigad, and Rajaram was just ten years old. But later, Sambhaji got the throne back by throwing Rajaram out of the throne with the help of Soyrabai's brother, Hambirrao Mohite. She even made a failed attempt to kill Sambhaji with poison in August 1681.

Putalabai 

Putalabai Palkar became Putalabai Bhonsale in 1653 after marrying to Shivaji. Being the eldest and childless among all the surviving wives of Shivaji Maharaj, she committed Sati by throwing herself to the funeral pyre of Shivaji Maharaj.

Sakvarbai 

Sakvarbai was from the Gaikwad family who became Shivaji's fourth wife in January 1656 and gave birth to a daughter. She too wanted to commit Sati after Shivaji's death but had to restrain herself because of her daughter. She was imprisoned along with Sambhaji's family members by Aurangazeb and breathed her last in the captivity.

There is nothing much written or said about Shivaji's other four wives, who were (in ascending order):

Laxmibai (Vichare)
Kashibai (Jadhav)
Sagunabai (Shirke)
Gunvantibai (Ingale)

Information About Lohagad Fort

Maharashtra has many prominent forts that remind us about the glorious period of the Maratha empire. One of the forts without which its history is incomplete is, the Lohagad Fort. It is one of the hilly forts in Maharashtra built on the fabulous Sahyadri range of mountains at about 3,390 ft. above the sea level. Despite being under different rulers such as the Satavahanas, the Chalukyas, the Rashtrakutas, the Yadavas, the Bahmanis, Nizams, Mughals, and Marathas, it hasn't lost the charm. In fact, it has withstood all the ravages unleashed by the time with all its might. No wonder it was named Lohagad, which means Iron Fort.  What makes this fort stands out among all others is its brilliant fortification. Situated near one of the popular hill stations of Maharashtra – Lonavla, Lohagad fort is easily accessible from Pune and Mumbai.

How to Reach Lohagad Fort

Lohagad fort is reachable through both roads and railways. When using the roads, visitors can reach Malavali railway station using the old Mumbai-Pune highway. The base village to Lohagad fort is 9 km from Malavali. If taking the rail journey, visitors from Mumbai must get down at Lonavla, and board a local train to Pune. They can alight at Malavali railway station and walk down to the Lohagad fort. From Pune, a local train to Lonavla passes through Malavali, From there, visitors can either hike all the way or take a rickshaw and reach the base village.

Attractions at Lohagad Fort  (What to see at Lohagad Fort)

Ganesh Darwaja

This is the main entrance Darwaja (gate) to the fort, which is followed by the other three gates, namely Narayan, Hanuman, and Maha-Darawaja. After entering the main gate, a few metres away is a broken idol of Lord Ganesh. From here, at a  few distances away towards the right is the Narayan Darwaja. On the right of this Darwaja is a tiny, broken idol of Goddess Gauri in crossed-leg seated position with upturned souls, and hands resting on knees. She is wearing four bracelets in each hand, a bodice, and a crown on her head. Between Narayan and Hanuman Darwaja, there are two huge caves which the Marathas used for storing Nachni (ragi), and rice. From both these gates, at a distance is a carved image of Lord Hanuman on a cliff which is also half broken. Walking a few metres from here is the Hanuman Darwaja, which is believed to be built by Aurangazeb. The last gate is the Maha gate built in Moghul style with an arch, and a guard room.

Old Dargah

After entering the Maha Darwaja, there is dargah built on a stone platform. Locals say it was built in honour of Aurangazeb's and his favorite wife. There is no inscription of any sort on the dargah to prove the claim though. The dargah has one entrance and a dome. There are ruins of a small court-house near the dargah and remains of the armory.

Laxmi Kothi

There are a few caves inside the fort used for a specific purpose. But the main and important cave for the Marathas was the Laxmi Kothi. This cave was used by the Maratha chief, Nana Phadnavis to hide the treasure looted from the Surat's Nizam.

Water Tank

There are two water tanks inside Lohagad fort supposedly used for drinking purpose. The water tanks are built in octagonal and hexagonal shapes. These tanks are usually dry except during monsoon season.

Vinchu Kata (Scorpion tail)

This is the extension of the fort long and wide enough to offer a fantastic view of the gorgeous Sahyadri range. The specific size of the trail is 1500m in length and 3m in width. It is separated from the main fort and is a part of the mountain. It is named so because of its looks that resemble a scorpion sting. During those days, it was used to watch the nearby areas.

Other attractions you can enjoy at Lohagad fort are Mahadev temple, 16 angle lake, 8 angle lake, Buruj, cannons. Exploring the entire fort will take minimum 2 hours, depending on your pace. The best time to visit it is from September to March. 

Shivaji Maharaj Described by Rabindranath Tagore

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj inspired several freedom fighters and nationalists during India's freedom struggle with his principles and deft leadership. He fought against the Mughals for several years, and defended his subject and state till his last breath. Several nationalists of the pre-independence India from Punjab, Assam, Bengal, Gujarat Bengal, and Tamil Nadu conjured up his heroics to inspire people to rise and fight for the freedom of India. Noble prize winner, Rabindranath Tagore, and Punjab Kesari, Lala Lajpatrai have narrated Shivaji's life through poems and a biography. Tagore's plays on Shivaji Maharaj were staged in Bengal and Assam to ignite the spark for freedom in people. Other luminaries like Bipin Chandra Pal, and Aurobindo Ghosh too glorified him through their writings published in magazines, and newspaper.

Shivaji Maharaj - The Source of Inspiration

The values that Shivaji Maharaj imbibed were rare to find in other rulers. He treated women with respect, and at no time looked at them as a mere object. Unlike other rulers, he never harmed or enslaved women even after defeating his opponents. Whatever qualities and values his mother wished were all found in him. As a leader, his judgment on anything was unquestionable. He was far superior in administration and military strategies than the rulers of his time.

His bravery and courage inspired millions of Indians to rise and fight against the British.  With his values, and immense love for the country, he became a national here for the people during the seventeenth century. Freedom fighters looked up to him as a source of inspiration to fight for India's freedom.

Shivaji Festival and biography

Bal Gangadhar Lokmanya Tilak started Shivaji Festival in 1895 to sow the seeds of nationalism in youngsters of Maharashtra by demonstrating examples of Shivaji. During those days, Bengal, Punjab, Pune, and the then Bombay used to be the base of revolutionaries to form strategies for India's freedom. The festival soon got popular among Bengalis. And when Lokmanya Tilak visited Bengal in 1906 for the festival, he received immense support.

One of the Bengal's revolutionaries, Barindra Kumar Ghosh, younger brother of Aurobindo Ghosh, was deeply influenced by Shivaji. He used to write articles on Shivaji for a revolutionary magazine called “Jugantar.” One more revolutionary group, Anushilan Samiti also contributed in inspiring Bengalis through biographies on Shivaji Maharaj. They published a book in Bengali with the title “Mukti Kon Pathe?.” Its English translation is “Which Way Lies Freedom?.” The book narrated how Shivaji's leadership earned Maharashtra its freedom. They even adopted Shivaji's slogan of “Har Har Mahadev” for the revolutionary movement.

Rabindranath Tagore's Poem on Shivaji

The poem “Pratinidhi” by Tagore on Shivaji is popular throughout India. In the poem, Tagore describes how Shivaji adopted Bhagva Dhwaj (Saffron Flag) to represent Hinduism. The prelude to the poem starts with a brief narration of the meeting between Shivaji Maharaj and his guru, Ramdas at Satara Fort. It goes this way - One morning, seeing his guru begging from door to door, Shivaji wonders why the mendicant is not happy since he, the king himself is his disciple. So to satisfy him, he summons his courtier Balaji and asks him to deliver a hand-written note to Guru Ramdas. Ramdas finds out that Shivaji has donated his entire kingdom to him.



Ramdas goes to Shivaji the next day and says, “Now that you have given away your kingdom, what use will you be”? Shivaji humbly replies that “I will happily sacrifice my life in your service.”  Ramdas then asks Shivaji to join him for begging. Together, they collect alms from a few houses. After some time, Ramdas then suggests Shivaji that he should continue to rule not as a king, but as his 'Pratinidhi' (representative). That way, the kingdom will be ruled by someone who has no kingdom, and the ruler will be free of all the worldly things. He then blesses Shivaji and gives his saffron cloth, and says “From now on, this 'Bhagwa Dhwaj' will be your Royal Standard.”

The poem sheds lights on how Shivaji's guru, Ramdas infuses the idealism of representing the country, and how freedom is greater than himself.

Here is the English translation of the poem “Pratinidhi” by Rabindranath Tagore

“So fate has made you the representative of a beggar
You will be a king but at the same time poor (deen) udaseen (detached)
You will follow the Raj dharma
As though it were my karma
Despite having a kingdom you will be without one
Vatsa so with my blessings take this saffron attire of mine
Make this wanders’s (sanyasi) (bairagi) cloth your flag
Said Guru Ramdas”

Another famous poem of Rabindranath Tagore's on Shivaji Maharaj was published in 1904 for a book with the title “Shivaji Utsab,” which was distributed to the people for free at Shivaji Festival in Calcutta.

This is the English translation of the poem that was published for a book.

“In what far away century on what unmarked day
I no longer know today
Upon what mountain peak, in darkened forests,
Oh King Shivaji,
Did this thought light up your brow as a touch of lightning
As it came to thee –
“The scattered parts of this land with one religion
‘Shall I bind for eternity.” (11)

The poem highlights Shivaji's character and its importance in contemporary India rather than being a mere description of his life's events. 

Information About Rajgad Fort

Maharashtra has several great forts that have seen many significant events and handovers. Most of these forts were built on hills and offered a natural protection due to their geographical conditions. One such hill fort that is famous in the history of Maratha empire is Rajgad Fort.

Location

Rajgad fort is situated 60 km from Pune in the stunning ranges of Sahyadri mountains. It's 4250 feet above the sea level and is one of the huge forts with a base diameter of 40 km. The fort is built on Murumbadevi mountains, and hence it was initially called Murumdev fort. It was the capital of the Maratha empire for more than two decades.

How to reach Rajgad fort

There are three routes that will take you to Rajgad fort – Gunjawane, Bhor, and Pali. Catch a state transport bus from Swargate and get down at the base village called Gunjawane. If you are willing to shell out a few extra bucks, take a private transport. Cross Katraj tunnel and reach Nasrapur via NH 4. The distance from Swargate to Nasrapur is 35 km approx. From Nasrapur, head to the west and reach Gunjawane village. Or take NH4 and reach Bhor to head to Bhutonde village.

Best time to visit Rajgad Fort

To enjoy the greenery of Sahyadri mountains, the best time to visit is monsoon. If you are planning to stay overnight, then winter season is the best since the trek is not that slippery as it is during the monsoon.

Where to stay?

There is no accommodation facility available at or near the fort. If you decide to stay for an overnight, you have to camp in the fort itself. There is a temple in the fort where you can stay for the night. It can accommodate 50 people at a time.

What to see at Rajgad Fort

Padmavati Temple

Constructed by Shivaji Maharaj, this temple is dedicated to the goddess Padmavati. It offers shelter to trekkers. Many enthusiasts who want to see the entire fort spend a night at this temple.

Padmavati Tank

If you are trekking from Gunjawane, you will reach the Chor Darwaja. The trek is around 2 to 2.5 hours with 4 to 5 breaks. Though it is difficult, it offers stunning views of the surrounding Sahyadri ranges. Once you reach the Chor Darwaja, you will see this tank. It was the source of drinking water for the residents of the forts. The tank's wall is still in the same condition, and it's filled with water throughout the year.

Rameshwaram Temple

This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is not as big as the Padmavati temple though, but can accommodate 5 to 6 people for an overnight stay. There is a beautiful idol of Lord Hanuman in this temple.

Palace Ruins

Ahead of the Rameshwaram Temple lies the palace ruins which were once used by Shivaji Maharaj and his family. The ruins are of a tank, meeting room, and queen's room, and an armory.

Pali Darwaja

It was specially built for the king to enter the fort. The route leading to the Darwaja is huge and well built . The fortified door leads to Padmavati Machi or bastion.

Padmavati Machi/bastion

This bastion is the biggest of all the three bastions in the fort that were used for vigilance. It was an important military point as well as a residential junction.

Suvela Machi/bastion

From this bastion, you will see the residential ruins of the prominent military commander of Shivaji's army -  Tanaji Malusare, Yasaji Kank, and Shilimkar. There is also a secret door called Medhe Darwaja and water tanks.

You May Also Like to Download: Shivcharitra in PDF

Weapons of Shivaji Maharaj

Shivaji Maharaj expanded his empire up to Deccan and central India with his administration and military skills. He dominated the entire range of Sahyadris with valor and martial skills of his infantry and cavalry. He was also the inventor of the guerrilla style of fighting in which his soldiers used to ambush enemies without giving them any chance to retaliate, and disappear into the thick bushes taking advantage of darkness.

The weapons that he and his army used in guerrilla and pitched battle contributed a lot for the expansion of his empire. Here are the weapons of Shivaji Maharaj that are glorified in history.

Talwar

An Indian sword that was a quintessential weapon during the medieval war. It has a curved blade with its one projecting edge covered in a wooden or metal hilt and protected with a pommel. The hilt also consists of a knuckle guard. The talwar has a thick pointed tip that can pierce into the chest of enemies.

Firangi

This is a colloquial used to refer foreigners with white skin. It is a sword based on European design and hence is called 'firangi.' It has a straight blade that is sharp on one entire side and six inches from the top on the other side. This European sword also inspired Shivaji to make its variants in 'Bhavani' and 'Jagdamba' talwars.

Shamshir

While the origin of this sword is unknown, it has a Persian name 'Shamsir' because Seljuk Khanate, Islamic Seljuk Empire, brought it to Persia in the 12th century. Since Persian sword are usually straight, and Arabian sword curved, Shamshir sword had both the features, but with a curved hilt. Though the Persian used it for hunting, the Marathas did for fighting enemies.

Khanda

This sword has a sharp edge on both the sides. Its width is less at the handle, but grows large in length. Being broader at the middle and upper part, this sword was used to cut enemies into two pieces. It doesn't has a pointed tip.

Khanjar

It is a dagger mostly used in close combat. It is short in length, curved, double-edged, and with a pointed tip. Covered in a sheath, khanjar has its origin in Oman. But it has donned an Arabic name.

Kataar

This is another close combat weapon ideally used for piercing. It has a short blade with a 'H' shaped handle. Like the khanjar, it too is covered in a sheath. Being short, it is easy to mount near the waist and pull it out instantly when required.

Gupti

This is a short, pointed, but effective sword that is still used by gangsters. With its pointed tip, it can be easily pierced into the enemy's stomach. It is covered in a scabbard made of wood because of which it is difficult to guess whether a person is carrying a weapon or a stick.

Dhanushya-Baan (Bow and arrow)

This is a traditional weapon used to attack enemies from a long distance. The bow is of wooden which is heated-treated to make it flexible and give a curve shape.  A string is attached tight to both its end that is instrumental in propelling the arrow.

Bichwa

It is an Indian dagger with one end curved and the other pointed out. It has a small looped hilt for easy gripping and piercing.

Kurhaad

It is a Marathi word for an axe and is generally a tool made of metal with a sharp and thick edge in a lunar shape mounted on a wooden shaft. Kurhaad is most effective in breaking the skull of enemies.

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