Kurdugad

Kurdugad, also known as Vishramgad Fort is located about 110 km away from Pune in Maharashtra’s Raigad District. Just after monsoon is the best time to visit Kurdugad, when the fort and its surrounding locales are covered in refreshing hues of green.

The fort was developed during the reign of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his Sardar, Baji Pasalkar was involved in its construction. It was mainly used as a watch tower. Later the fort came under the control of the Peshwas. After the Peshwas, Kurdugad was overtaken by the British, but it remained ignored during that time. It was Baji Pasalkar’s descendant Shri. Dattoba Pasalkar, who took efforts to restore the fort.

The village at the base of Kurdugad is known as Kurdu Peth. There are two temples at the foothills of Kurudugad dedicated to Kurdai Devi and Kurdeshwar Mahadev, respectively. On the way to the fort is a water cistern and remnants of a gateway. There is bastion near this northern entrance known as the Hanuman Buruj. The bastion gets its name from the huge 1-meter-high Lord Hanuman idol situated near it. Behind the Lord Hanuman idol, there is a natural groove that can easily accommodate up to 100 people.

Kurdugad Fort has two large pinnacles, one of which forms the top of the fort. The path around the pinnacle is completely damaged in most places, hence climbing it is not advisable. Atop the fort, there are a couple of water tanks. The fort offers absolutely marvelous views of the neighboring region and beautiful valleys of Konkan.