Raigad is a beautiful hill fort immensely important in the history of Maharashtra. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of the Maratha Empire in Maharashtra declared Raigad as his Capital Fort in 1674 at the time of his coronation as the king of the Maratha Kingdom. Hindavi Swaraj meaning the Self Rule of the Hindus was Shivaji’s dream and Raigad has played an important role in realizing the dream.
The Gibralter of East
The fort stands 150km away from the city of Pune in the Raigad district named after the fort itself. The European historians describe Raigad as “The Gibralter of East”. Raigad fills every mind with a sense of awe and respect towards King Shivaji. The grandeur and the glory of his biography impart the fort a status of a holy shrine and it is rightly called the “Shivteerth”.
Paragon for the Capital:
The sturdy bastions of the fort touch the skies and stand as a testimony to the indomitable and unconquerable spirit of the Marathas. The fort has stemmed many foreign assaults and seen wanton massacre and bloodshed in the past.
The rocks here don’t allow even a blade of grass to grow. The fort looks like a stone sculpture carved out of the mountain. This also adds to the sturdiness of the site and this was probably the reason for Chhatrapati Shivaji to look at it as a paragon to house the throne.
The Raigad Fort is perched in the widely spread Sahyadri Ranges at an altitude of 2,700ft above the sea level. Over 1400 steps to climb are really a grueling foot slogging. One of the modern developments on the fort is of course the ropeway facility which is a thrilling experience indeed.
Main Attractions:
Raigad makes one of the perfect destinations in Maharashtra for weekend trips. You will find structures galore on the fort worth seeing. The main among them include Queen’s Quarters, Watch Towers, Gateways and the Public Durbar.
There are six spacious chambers in all in the Queen’s Quarters. This structure was specially built for the queen and her attendants. There is a separate restroom with all the plumbing facilities in every chamber.
The construction of the main palace was a wooden work. Most of the parts of this construction are now in ruins. Only the bases of pillars can be seen now.
Right in front of the palace ground, you find three watch towers. These are strategically constructed in such a way that the enemies trying to invade the fort could be seen and the attack could be stemmed.
The beautiful Ganga Sagar Lake next to the main fort offers a soothing relief to your eyes.
Takmak Tok on Raigad, which used to be the execution point during the reign of King Shivaji, fills you with fear and makes you aware of the horrible ways of execution prevalent during those days. It’s a cliff from which the culprits were thrown into the deep valley. Now the government has fenced off the areas to avoid any accidents or mishaps.
The ruins of the market on the fort take you back to the good olden days. You start imagining the lifestyle of the people living in those days here on the fort.
A replica of the original royal throne has been kept in the public Durbar of the king. The main doorway of the palace is known as Nagarkhana Darwaaza. This place amazes the people due to its perfect acoustic design. Whatever one says at the doorway can be heard at the throne.
Apart from that Maha Darwaaza and Palkhi Darwaaza are solid constructions and evergreen attractions on the fort.
A big statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji in front of the market area here is yet another attraction. You do bow down before this great king; it doesn’t matter you know the biography or otherwise. Slightly ahead of it is the Jagdishwar Temple. The cenotaph of King Shivaji and that of his loved dog Waghya are the places of immense historic importance.
How to Reach:
Regular bus service to the Raigad fort is available from Pune.
Food and accommodation:
Food and Accommodation facilities are available at reasonable rates. Ropeway facility costs Rs.150 per head. For students, it’s Rs.85
So when are you planning a trip to Raigad?
If you have visited Raigad fort near Pune, please tell us more about it through comment.
Raigad Fort in Pune on Map
Raigad Fort
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