Raigad

Raigad fort was built by Chandrarao More in 1030. The Maratha king Shivaji Maharaj seized this fort in 1656 and made it the capital of the Maratha Empire in 1674. This fort stands at a distance of 125 kms from Pune and can be reached within duration of two and a half hours. The fort has an elevation of 1356 metres. Stone steps mark the route to the top of the fort. The steps are around 1500 in number and the climb takes approximately an hour. There is also a rope way which has been recently build and leads directly to the top of the fort. The ride via ropeway is truly a thrilling experience. The small cabins that take you to the top of the fort offer breathtaking views of the curves, bends and ridges of the sahyadri and the natural beauty that adorns it.

Amongst all the other forts around Pune Raigad retains the largest number of ruins from the time of Maratha Empire. There are three entrances to the door marked by three Darwajas. The Mahadarwaja is the main entrance to the fort. The Palkhi Darwaja was the door used by the king and his convoys to enter the fort. The Nagarkhana Darwaja was used by general public. The remains of the king’s Darbar are also worth a visit. They have been acoustically designed to aid hearing to the throne. There is a beautiful artificial lake by the name of Ganga Sagar Talav which was the main source of water on the fort. The queen’s quarters are also visible on the fort. These are a group of six spacious chambers. The structure has been specially made for the queen and her attendants. There is a Samadhi of Shivaji Maharaj and his dog Waghya. Since the fort is at towering elevation of 1356 mts there are number of cliffs, ridges and valleys. Hirkani Buruj is a memorial in the memory of a brave lady hirakani who climbed down the fort in adverse conditions to reach her child. Takmak Tok is another cliff from which sentenced prisoners were thrown to death.

The best time to visit the fort is in monsoons as the atmosphere is nice and chilly and the surroundings turn lush green.