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. 

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

Information About Panhala Fort

Panhala comes from the word ‘Panalla’, meaning the home of serpents. Located 20 kilometers northwest of Kolhapur, Maharashtra, the Panhala fort or Panhalgad was once one of the major trade centers of the state.

Built between the years 1978 - 1209 CE, the remains within the fort prove the rule of Raja Bhoj for a particular duration.  And it is perhaps because of this, that the famous colloquial quotations “Kahaan raja Bhoj or kahaan Gangu teli” is related to Panhalgad according to many history lovers. After being reigned by a number of rulers, Panhala was then taken over by Shivaji Maharaj in the year 1659.

Pavan Khind

Panhala Fort is famous for the battle of Pavan Khind. In the year 1960, Adil Shah II sent his army to blockade Panhalgad under the commandment of Siddi Jauhar. Shivaji’s army stood strong and fought back Adil Shah Forces for sometime; however, as the siege continued, the fort forces got exhausted, and Shivaji had no options apart from escaping from the area to gather and train enough army to fight back.

In this battle of Pavan Khind, Shivaji lost one third of his army and the fort was taken over by Adil Shah. It was only in the year 1673, that Shivaji recaptured the fort and housed 15,000 horses and 20,000 soldiers.  Over the years, Shivaji’s son Shambhaji had points of disagreement with his own father and fell out of favor with the king. Therefore, he was imprisoned in Panhalgad from where he managed to escape within a few years of time.

In and around Panhala Fort:

Panhala is one of the largest forts in Deccan. Standing 400m above the Sahyadris, Bijapuri style architecture featuring a peacock motif is very prominent in most of its structures. Some of the important fortifications of Panhala are discussed below:

Ambarkhana: 

One of the most popular destinations of this fort is the Ambarkhana centrally structured and built by the Marathas, as the administrative division and granary. It consisted of 3 sections known as Ganga, Yamuma and Saraswati Kothis, out of which Ganga was the largest with maximum storage capacity.

The Three important Darwaza:

Panhalgad has three important Darwazas, known as - Teen Darwaza, Char Darwaja and Wagh Darwaza. Teen Darwaza is a double gate and is the main entrance to the fort. Char was destroyed during the British siege and has no remains for historical study. Wagh Darwaza was the second entrance to  Panhalgad and has a beautiful Ganesh motif designed, that stands as a center of attraction for all tourists. Wagh had an interesting design that helped to elude invaders and then get them trapped inside.

Kalvanticha Mahal:

Also known as Nayakini Sajja, meaning Courtesans Terrace Rooms, it was mostly used during the Bahmani Sultanate as Rang Mahal or court of the ladies.

Temples and Mausoleums: 

Panhalgad has different temples devoted to Shambhaji  II, Someshwar, along with Ambabai, and Mahakali. Out of these, Ambabai was the oldest where Shivaji made offerings after every expedition and major event. Next, Shambaji II temple is another masterpiece gaining much of tourist attention.

Mausoleums of Jijabai and Ramchandra Pant Amatya have been superbly crafted in memories of their struggle and contribution towards Maratha emprire.

This was all about Panhala fort and the untold history behind. The place is suitable to be visited at any part of the year and therefore remains crowded by history lovers all over the country. 

Information About Purandar Fort

Purandar Fort is a huge hilltop built in the 13th Century AD. It stands as an epitome of Shivaji’s rising battle against Mughals and the Adil Shahi Bijapur Sultanate. This fort is also the proud birthplace of Shivaji’s eldest son Shambhaji, who later became the second Chattrapati of the clan.

Purandar spreads across the Western Ghats and is 4472 ft above the sea level. Being just at 50KM southeast of Pune, slightly ahead of Saswad village, the fort is a popular destination for all par gliders and trekkers around the city.
 
Golden History of the Purandar Fort:

In the year 1596, Maloji Bhosale was granted the fort by one of the Ahmednagar Sultanate rulers. At a very young age of mere 19 years, Shivaji took control of the fort, amongst many of his initial victories. However, just after a year, Shivaji lost the fort to Aurangazeb’s forces.

Murarbaji Deshpande, the Killedar, made every attempt to retain the fort. However, his efforts had gone in vain as he lost his life and Purandar was besieged by the Mughal forces.

Thereafter, Shivaji was made to sign a treaty with Aurangazeb which took away 23 forts owned by the Maratha Empire including the Purandar. Nevertheless, it took only 5 years for Shivaji to fight back the Aurangazeb rule and reestablish his control on all the fortresses. It is because of this reason that the fort is known for Shivaji’s rising battle against the Mughals.

Shivaji then spend a considerable part of his life in this fort. And it is here that the Chattrapati was blessed with his eldest son, Shambhaji.

Architectural Overview - Places to visit within the fort:

Over the years, Purandar fort has had a number of occupants and thus built in different stages by various rulers. However, despite the architectural variety, Purandar is definitely a highly defensive fort and was therefore chosen to be the detention camp by the British during the Second World War.

The fort has been constructed in two different and vivid parts. The lower part is known as the “Machi” while the upper part is known as the “Ballekilla.”

Structures within the Machi: 

As you enter the fort and go ahead towards the north of Machi, you will come across various cantonments and hospitals that had been built within the fort.

Moving ahead, you will come across various temples dedicated to lord Purandareshwar after whom the fort has been named. You will also find temples dedicated to Madhavrao Peshwa in this area.

The statue of Murarbaji Deshpade, who had sacrificed his life in an effort to save the fort from the Mughals grabs most of the tourist attention.

Structures within the Ballekilla: 

Taking a staircase from the machi, you reach the upper part of the fort known as Ballekilla. One of the most popular structures to witness in this area is the Dilli Darwaza or Delhi Gate. The temple of Lord Shiva, Kedareshwar temple is also a beautiful and soothing place within the fort.

The Koli Chabutra stands as a beautiful monument built to acknowledge the love and sacrifice made by the Koli community towards Swarajya, who were later mercilessly killed by Aurangazeb.

Purandar Fort is a beautiful and a must visit place for all history lovers. People who have visited the place are also of the opinion that the fort has an easy trek and can be the best, first time experience for all aspiring trekkers.

Information About Pratapgad Fort

‘Pratapgad’ is a hill fort located around 24Kms away from ‘Mahabaleshwar’. The fort is around 1080 meters above the sea level and is one of the best vacation destinations in and around the city. The fort provides an alluring view of the entire costal ‘Konkan’. It is this mesmerizing look that accounts for the perpetual tourist visits to this place.

Historical Summary: 

The fort holds a significant position in Maratha history, for it was here that the famous battle between Afzal Khan and Shivaji Maharaj was fought. Thereafter, the fort had been a victim of many political controversies. It was in the year 1818, during the third Anglo - Maratha war, the fort was surrendered through private negotiation. It caused a great loss to the Maratha Empire.

The visit of Jawahar Lal Nehru to the fort in the year 1957 as the then Prime Minister holds special mention. It was again in this year that a road to the fort was constructed. Jawahar lal Nehru unveiled a bronze statue of Shivaji within the premises and is still a beautiful structure to witness.  Few years later, in the year 1960, a national park and guest house were constructed within the premises.

Architecture - Dual section fortification: 

The unique construction of this fort is what makes it a place worth visiting. The fort has been constructed into two parts - Upper fort and lower fort. The two sections appear as two different forts that are clubbed together. The upper fort occupies the north - western part of the hill; whereas the lower occupies the south - eastern side. This unique construction was completed under the supervision of ‘Moropant Trambak Pingale’ - Prime Minister of Maratha Empire.

Attractions within the fort:

Apart from the construction, the fort has number of places that interests visitors. Some of them are:

Afzal Buruj: 

During the great battle of ‘Pratapgad’, Afzal Khan lost his life at the hands of Shivaji. His death was fierce as he was beheaded and was hung before all to witness. The place where Afzal Khan’s head was hung has been now turned into his tomb under which he was buried.

Bhavani Temple: 

The lower fort holds the ‘Bhavani’ temple that was built by Shivaji in the year 1661. It is said that Shivaji Maharaj was once on his way to visit the great temple of ‘Bhavani’ at Tuljapur. However, unfortunately, due to extreme rains and adverse weather conditions, he failed to reach the temple.

This made him realize that he needs to construct a beautiful ‘Bhavani’ temple within the premises of his own forts. And therefore, he selected ‘Pratapgad’ to be the appropriate place where the ‘Bhavani’ temple could be constructed. The temple till today has suffered least damage and is a beautiful place to visit.

A trip to ‘Mahabaleshwar’ is simply incomplete without a visit to this fort. Due to the archaeological specialty, the fort has remained a very important site for related study. Besides, the historical importance that adds to the glory of the Maratha Empire attracts history lovers to this place. 

Information About Sinhagad Fort

Sinhagad’ meaning the Lion’s fort is structured 700 meters above the sea level on the Sahyadri mountain ranges. The fort is around 30KM from the main city of Pune in the southwest direction. This fort is perhaps one of the most visited forts, as it is easily reachable from the city.

The name ‘Sinhagad’ or Lion’s fort was originally named as ‘Kondana’. In the famous Battle of ‘Sinhagad’, fought in the year 1671 , the fort received its present day name to honor a great warrior in Shivaji’s army - Shri. Tanaji Malusare. The fort is a symbol of bravery and loyalty of this great martyr who lost his life for the glory of the great Maratha Empire.

‘Sinhagad’ Fort is a great place to be in, not only for history lovers; but also for anybody who likes to travel and explore the beauty of nature.

In and around Sinhagad: 

Just as we fight back this exhausting summer and the monsoons are just about to enter, visiting ‘Sinhagad’ is perhaps the best plans to make. With beautiful waterfalls and greenery all around, the fort is truly magical to witness.

The entire trip to ‘Sinhagad’ from Pune is a short journey that can take half of your day. The fort has an easy climb unlike many forts in and around the district. Besides, it is not very far from the main city and thus you spend lesser time on commute.

Apart from the glory of this fort, ‘Sinhagad’ is a popular picnic spot for tourists as it has many things to offer in relation to number of places not only within the fort but also around the fort. To begin with:

Panshet: 

If water adventure is what goes you crazy, this is the best place to be in. A one day excursion filled with fun and thrill, the place has that all you may want. Water scooters, banana, speed boat rides are only few things that you can try.

Lavasa: 

A family trip to Lavasa is something that you can opt for this summer. However, you only need to skip the climb to the fort. A beautiful planned and structured hill destination, Lavasa is a beautiful place with all its natural beauty and the apt climate that it offers.

Varasgaon: 

Varasgaon dam also know as Veer Pasalkar dam. This dam along with Panshet and Khadakwasla form the primary water reservoir of the entire city. It is a 50 KM distance from the fort and people who visit the fort do proceed to this dam as well. This place is also a great attraction for cyclists in the city.

Nilkantheshwar Temple: 

One of the greatest attractions of ‘Sinhagad’ after the fort is this temple of Lord Shiva. It is a must watch for all who visit the place as it has loads to offer from its ample sculptural beauty and uniqueness. The temple has remarkable carvings of many mythological characters on walls. Some of them are ‘Ashta Vinayak’, ‘Dashavatara’ etc.

Besides, ‘Sinhagad’ also has two important water parks that are the greatest holiday destination for kids in the city. Thus, apart from the climb that makes ‘Sinhagad’ fort a tedious visit during summers, the place has loads to offer for such seasons as well. Thus, visiting ‘Sinhagad’ has to top the holiday destination spot for the year. 

Information About Sindhudurg Fort

‘Sindhudurg‘Fort -  the naval headquarter of the Maratha Empire. This fort is an ocean fort surrounded by the Arabian Sea. Standing on one of its islet known as the Kurte Island in Malvan town of ‘Sindhudurg ‘district, the fort is just around 450KM south of Mumbai and 130 KM from Goa.

Historical Overview:

The beautiful location of the fort, where it stands today is said to be chosen by Shivaji Maharaj himself. The Emperor had himself gone and chosen the location for the fort to be constructed and had asked one of his exceptionally skilled architect or engineer, Hiroji Indalkar Deshmukh, to construct the fort.

With an aim to keep intruders away from finding ways to the land through water ways, the fort was build and named ‘Sindhudurg’; meaning the fort of the waters.

Architectural Description:

As the fort is surrounded by water on all sides, a strong and mighty construction was imperative. It took around 3 years and 100 Portugal architects, who together worked to build this mighty and beautiful fort.

 

The fort spreads over 48 acres and has 30 feet high walls with a thickness of 12 feet. It is said that around 70,000 KG of iron was consumed in its construction, thus giving it the structure and strength it possesses.

One very interesting part of the construction is the main entrance of the fort. It has been constructed in such a way that, the gateway could confuse intruders for a wall, as it was intelligently constructed to appear as a wall from a distance. It was only when people could see it from close, they could realize the true structure of it.

Places of Visits:

The fort with its picture perfect ambience is in itself a treat to your eyes. The mighty fort and the soothing water combination could give a tough competition to many tourists spot in and around the state and the country as a whole.

Temples within the Fort:

Besides, there are a few temples within the fort. The designs of the temples and the carvings on them are no less than the construction of the fortress. The three important temples in the fort are - Temple of Goddess Bhavani, Hanuman Temple and Jarimari.

Shivaji Maharaj Temple

However, the greatest attraction within the fort is the temple of Shivaji. Rajaram, son of Shivaji had constructed this temple within the premises and it is only one of its kinds till date.

Coconut tree with branches:

Another very interesting attraction of the fort is the coconut tree that has branches. It is one of the rarest of the coconut trees that has branches and also bears fruits. It is because of this tree that many tourists and biologists visit the place from around the world.

Water Sports:

The fort also provides number of water sports to visitors who love adventure and explore the deep beautiful ocean. This serves as a major earning source for many residents of the place.

Thus, it would not be wrong to say that ‘Sindhudurg ‘is one of the exotic holiday destinations in Maharashtra and therefore a trip to ‘Sindhudurg ‘in the mid part of the year is a must for all history and water lovers.

Information About Torna Fort

Torna Fort, also known as “Prachandagad,” meaning massive or huge. The hill fort is located in the Pune district with and elevation of 4603 ft, making it the highest fort in district.

Torna fort is of utmost importance as it was the first fort captured by Shivaji Maharaj. It was around 1643 when Shivaji Maharaj had captured this fort at a young age of 17 years. Historians refer to this as the starting of “Hindavi Swarajya.”

Torna fort - Points of Attractions: 

The structure of the fort traces back to the 13th century architecture. Because of its remarkable elevation, the fort is unique in itself and has always been a great attraction for tourists.

Some people believe that the fort had many trees of the type ”Toran” and therefore was named Torna Fort.
 

• Toranjai and Menghai: The fort has two important temples where goddess Toranjai and goddess Menghai are worshipped. The temples have simple yet remarkable construction that can give a sense of solace to people who spend some time in these temples. Some visitors also plan a stay in the ‘Menghai’ temple to experience the real beauty and peace of the environment. 

• Two major “Machi”: Machi is the Marathi word for wings. The fort has two major wings known as ‘Zunzar Machi’and ‘Budhala Machi’.
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  Budhala Machi

   Out of the two, ‘Budhala Machi’ has been described as a breadth taking site to witness. ‘Budhla’ means vessel and the structure of the ‘Machi’ is such that it appears to be a vessel placed upside down. Some although refer to it as a rocky structure appearing as a thumb held up.

  

  Zunjar Machi

  ‘Zunjar Machi’ had also been a beautiful spot. However, in recent times this part has been considerably destroyed and the route leading to the ‘Machi’ is not in good condition; thus making it a difficult destination to reach. 

  

  Konkan Darwaza

• Binicha Darwaza and Konkan Darwaza: This serves as one of the main entrance to the fort from northwest direction. Moving a short distance ahead, we reach another important gate way known as the ‘Kothi Darwaza’. On the other hand, ‘Konkan darwaza’ leads us to the ‘Budhala Machi’. 

  

  Kothi Darwaza

• Kothi Darwaza: It is an east facing gate that leads us to the Toranjai temple. This area is seen to have nothing much that few guardrooms and other store houses. However, the ‘Kothi Darwaza’ can also lead us to the Hanuman Bastion. 

  

  Hanuman Bastion

• Hanuman Bastion: One of the most popular spots within the fort is the Hanuman idol facing south. This is yet another remarkable architectural beauty to witness in the premises. 

The fort is around 60KM away from the main city of Pune. In order to reach the fort visitors need to be in the Velhe village or the Rajgad Fort. The route through Velhe opens to ‘Bini darwazaa’ and ‘Rajgad’ route leads to ‘Budhala Machi’.

Due to its magnificent height and structure, the fort is better suited for experienced trekkers as far as trekking and adventure within the fort is concerned. However, from tourist point of view, it is definitely a must visit fort.