Rajgad Fort

Rajgadh as the name suggests is the 'King of all Forts'. About 85 kms from Pune, this fort has great historical relevance, as it was Shivaji's favourite fort and is first mountain capital. At the base village we parked ourselves at 'Shivteerth Rajgadh Pratishton' a nice homely hotel kind of place. Most trekkers stop here to park their bikes and vehicles and have a quick bite. A complete model of the 'Rajgadh fort' that has been built by the locals is here. One can get a complete view of how the fort is structured and which are the various places to visit when atop the fort. There is also a small museum that the locals have built in this hotel. It houses photographs of Rajgad and few memorabilias of Shivaji's times which the locals keep finding when they get on a cleaning spree.

There are several routes to get up to the fort. If you want to really do it the easy way you can travel by bus for two hours to Wazheghar, Bhutonda or Pali from Pune and the it will take you right to the foothills of this legendary fort. The most difficult route that is the 'Chor Darwaza' route is also the most preferred route for trekkers, otherwise there is an easier route through Pali, which while being a cakewalk is a longer one too.

Rajgad fort, which is 1350 mts in height consists of three long ridges leading from the central 'Bale Killa' (the central place), which is almost 500 feet high and really difficult to climb. Then you have the Padmavati machi/ridge towards the south is where the main temple and water tank is situated. It offers a good place to stay! Then there is the Sanjivani Machi ,Suvela Machi. TheSuvela Machi is one of the strongest places on the fort. The third machi - Sanjivani is very beautiful too.

Rajgad is truly a place to visit and remember the greatest Maratha King. One must visit the fort and enjoy the nature and the beauty of the great fort.

for more details you could visit Rajgad Fort
or Maharashtra travel Guide

Rajgad Fort

Rajgad Fort

Rajgad literally means King of forts is one of the most glorious forts of Maharashtra. Situated in Maharashtra, India this fort is approximately 4250 feet above sea level.

Formerly known as Murumdev, it was capital of the Maratha Kingdom (Hindavi Swarajya) ruled by Shivaji for almost 26 years, after which he moved to Raigad.

Treasure found on adjacent Torna was used to fortify this hill.

Location
The fort is 42 km to the south west of Pune, about 15-16 km west of Nasrapur, in the Sahyadris range.

Parts of the fort
The fort can be divided into four different parts based on geographical terrain and fortification. Those are three sub-plateaus (Machee) namely Padmavati Machee, Suvela Machee and Sanjevani Machee surrounding a central volcanic plug called Ballekilla (meaning "small fort").

Padmavati Machee (north end)
Padmavati Temple, Padmavati Lake, Chor darwaja, Pali darwaja, Gunjavane darwaja, Daru Kothar (storage of arms and ammunition), Diwankhana, Rajwada (ruins), Ghod tale (Horse Lake), Sadar, (Office) Dhalkathi (flag hoisting place).

Sanjeevani Machee (south west - west end)
This huge, beautiful and royally constructed machi faces west and has 3-stepped (layered) fortified structure. Each of the lower levels is separated from the higher one by a fortified bastion with a gate that could be defended independently. The lowest level is beautifully fortified by double curtain walls (chilkhathi) separated by a deep trench, on average 12 feet across. One can walk between these walls. The outer wall has openings to let soldiers out for sudden attack.

Suvela Machee (south east)
This is another grand machi facing east with lots of secret routes and doorways. This one is double stepped fortified machee with the steps separated by a beautiful bastioned doorway. At the end of first step a hole cuts across the rock; one can sit on this hole (nedhe).

The final (lowest) step like Sanjeevani Machee is has a double curtain wall.

To the south side to this machee one can find a beautiful triangular bastion called Kaleswari buruz having an escape door near it. This machee housed homes of noted Subhedar NarveerTanaji Malusare. and

Bale Killa (centre)
This is the highest part of the fort which has remains of palaces, water cisterns and caves. It has a beautiful entrance door called Mahadarwaja. One can view the whole fort and the vast surrounding expanse.

Surrounding hills
To the north one can see Singhagad with its marked television tower. To the west lie Torna, the pinnacle fort Lingana and down in Konkan (read "Kokan") Raigad.

To the east one can see the twin forts of Purandar and Vajrangad.

To the south east one can locate Rohida. To the south are Kenjalgad and Raireshwar plateau at a distance Mahabaleshwar (seen through the "W" of Kaleshwar plateau range behind Raireshwar.)

History
Rajgad boasts the highest number of days stayed by Chhatrapati Shivaji on any fort.

This fort has witnessed lots of historic events, including the birth of Chhatrapati Rajaram, the death of Shivaji's beloved queen Saibai, the return of Shivaji from Agra, the antyayatra of Tanaji Malusare to his Konkan village, the burial of Afzal Khan's head in Mahadarwaja walls of Ballekilla, the strict words of Sonopant Dabir to Shivaji and the Khandoji Khopade episode.

Hardly anybody dared to attack this mighty fort. Possibly need for huge logistics and fear of Marathas may be the reason. The diameter of the fort at the base is 40 km making it tough for anybody to lay siege to it.

Tourism
This fort is a significant site for trekkers and adventurous tourists to visit. Accommodation for 50 people is available in Padmavati Mandir. Water tanks provide water all over the year.

Routes
One can climb the fort from numerous route from villages at the base of Rajgad, namely Gunjavne (Gunjavne Darwaja or Chor Darwaja both on Padmavati Machee, and a tough route to Chor Darwaja near Nedhe on Suvela Machi); Chirmudi (Chor Darwaja on Padmavati Machee, the route meets corresponding route from Gunjavne); Wajeghar (Chor Darwaja on Padmavati Machee, the route meets corresponding route from Gunjavne); Pali (Rajmarga to Pali Darwaja on Padmavati Machee); Bhutunde (Alu Darwaja on Sanjeevani Machee); and Male (Chor Darwaja on Kaleshwari Buruj, Suvela Machee).

Another route from Budhla Machee of Torna comes through a connecting ridge to Alu Darwaja on Sanjeevani Machi.

The best way to reach Rajgad is to take a Maharashtra State Transport bus to one of the base villages for the ascent, and descend to another base village for the return to Pune, in order to experience different facets of the terrain.

For more details please get in touch with Pune Travel Guide
or Rajgad Fort on Puneritraveller.com