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'{{For|the town in Chhattisgarh|Raigarh}} {{distinguish|Rajgad Fort}} {{Unreliable sources|date=February 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}} {{Use Indian English|date=December 2012}} {{short description|Historic fortification in Maharashtra, India}} {{Infobox military installation | name = Raigad Fort | partof = | location = [[Raigad District]], [[Maharashtra]]<br />(near [[Mahad]]) | image = Raigad fort towers.jpg | caption = Raigad Fort towers | pushpin_map =India Maharashtra#India | pushpin_mapsize =300 | pushpin_map_caption =Shown within [[Maharashtra]] | coordinates = {{coord|18.2335|73.4406|type:landmark_region:IN-MH|format=dms|display=inline}} | type = Hill fort | code = | height = {{convert|1356|m|ft|-2}} ASL | ownership = *[[Maratha Empire]] (1656–1689; 1707–1818) *[[Mughal Empire]] (1689–1707) *[[British East India Company]] (1818–1858) *[[British Empire]] (1858–1947) *[[Government of India|Central Government]] of (1947–present) | open_to_public = Yes | condition = | built = | builder = Hirojee Indulkar | used = | materials = Stone, Lead | demolished = | battles = | current_commander = | past_commanders = Chatrapati [[Shivaji]] Maharaj, Chatrapati [[Sambhaji]] Maharaj | occupants = Dharmvir Chatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj | events = }} '''Raigad''' is a [[hill fort]] situated in [[Mahad]], [[Raigad district]] of [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]. It is one of the strongest fortresses on the [[Deccan Plateau]].<ref>Here's why you should visit Raigad fort:https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/this-is-why-you-should-visit-maharashtras-raigad-fort/as65783005.cms</ref> Many constructions and structures on Raigad were built by Chhatrapati [[Shivaji]] when he made it his capital in 1674 upon being crowned the King of the Maratha Kingdom, which later developed into the [[Maratha Empire]], eventually covering much of western and central India.<ref name=imp>{{cite web | title =Raigarh |publisher=[[Imperial Gazetteer of India]], Volume 21|pages= 47–48|year=1909| url = https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V21_053.gif| access-date = 2014-02-19 }}</ref> In 1765, the fort was the location of an armed campaign by the British East India Company. Finally, on 9 May 1818, the fort was looted and destroyed by the British. The fort rises {{convert|820|m|ft|-2}} above sea level in the [[Sahyadri]] mountain range. There are approximately 1,737 steps leading to the fort. The [[Raigad Ropeway]], an [[aerial tramway]], reaches 400 meters in height and 750 meters in length, and allows visitors to reach the fort from the ground in only four Minutes ==History== [[File:The Ghats from Ryghur.jpg|thumb|left|The Ghats from Raigad]] [[Shivaji|Chatrapati Shivaji]] seized the fort in 1656, then known as the fort of ''Rairi'' from Chandraraoji More, The King of Jawali. Shivaji renovated and expanded the fort of Rairi and renamed it as Raigad (''King's Fort''). It became the capital of Chhatrapati Shivaji's Maratha Empire.{{citation needed|date=January 2016}} The villages of Pachad & Raigadwadi are located at the base of the Raigad fort. These two villages were considered very important during the Maratha rule in Raigad. The actual climb to the top of the Raigad fort starts from Pachad. During Shivaji's rule, A cavalry of 10,000 was always kept on standby in Pachad village. {{citation needed|date=July 2017}} Shivaji also built another fort [[Lingana]] around 2 miles away from Raigad. The Lingana fort was used to keep prisoners.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}} In 1689, Zulfikhar Khan captured Raigad and Aurangzeb renamed it as ''Islamgad''. In 1707, Siddi Fathekan captured the fort and held it until 1733. After 1733 maratha sardar captured raigad again and hold it until 1818.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Naravane|first1=M.S.|title=The maritime and coastal forts of India|date=1998|publisher=APH Pub. Corp.|location=New Delhi|isbn=9788170249108|page=61|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iHK-BhVXOU4C&q=siddi&pg=PR9}}</ref> In 1765, The fort of Raigad along with [[Malwan]] in present [[Sindhudurg District]], the southernmost district of [[Maharashtra]], was the target of an armed expedition by the [[East India Company|British East India Company]], which considered it a [[pirate|piratical]] stronghold.{{citation needed|date=December 2012}} In 1818, the fort was bombarded and destroyed by cannons from the hill of Kalkai. And on 9 May 1818, as per the treaty, it was handed over to the [[East India Company|British East India Company]].{{citation needed|date=December 2012}} ==Major features== [[File:MahaDarwaja Raigad Fort.JPG|thumb|The Maha Darwaja]] [[File:Jijamata Samadhi at Pachad, Raigadh, Maharashtra.jpg|thumb|The Samadhi of Rajmata Jijabai]] The Raigad Fort was built by Chhatrapati Shivaji{{citation needed|date=February 2021}} and the chief architect/engineer was Hiroji Indulkar. The main palace was constructed using wood, of which only the base pillars remain. The main fort ruins consist of the queen's quarters, six chambers, with each chamber having its own private restroom. In addition, ruins of three watch towers can be seen directly in front of the palace grounds out of which only two remain as the third one was destroyed during a bombardment. The Raigad Fort also has ruins of a market which was accessible to horseback riders. The fort also overlooks an artificial lake known as the Ganga Sagar Lake.{{cn|date=February 2021}} The only main pathway to the fort passes through the "Maha Darwaja" (Huge Door) which was previously closed at sunset. The Maha Darwaja has two huge bastions on both sides of the door which are approximately 65–70 feet in height. The top of the fort is 600&nbsp;ft above this door. The King's Darbar, inside the Raigad Fort has a replica of the original throne that faces the main doorway called the ''Nagarkhana Darwaja''. This enclosure had been acoustically designed to aid hearing from the doorway to the throne. A secondary entrance, called the ''Mena Darwaja'', was supposedly the private entrance for the royal ladies of the fort that lead to the queen's quarters. The convoy of the king and the king himself used the ''Palkhi Darwaja.'' To the right of Palkhi Darwaja, is a row of three dark and deep chambers. Historians believe that these were the granaries for the fort.<ref>[http://www.raigadropeway.com/fort.htm Write-up from the Raigad ropeway]</ref> From the fort, one can view the execution point called ''Takmak Tok'', a cliff from which sentenced prisoners were thrown to their death. This area has been fenced off.<ref name="gunaji">{{cite book|last=Gunaji|first=Milind|title=Offbeat Tracks in Maharashtra|publisher=Popular Prakashan|year=2005|pages=41|isbn=81-7154-669-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JIjmDLardesC&q=raigad+fort&pg=PA41|access-date=2009-03-17}}</ref> The statue of Chatrapati Shivaji is erected in front of the ruins of the main market avenue that leads to the ''Jagdishwar Mandir'' and his own [[Samādhi|Samadhi]] and that of his loyal dog named ''Waghya''. The Samadhi of Jijabai, Shivaji's mother, can be seen at the base village of Pachad. Additional famous attractions of the fort include the Khubladha Buruj, Nane Darwaja and the Hatti Talav (Elephant Lake). ===''Hirakani Buruj''=== The fort has a famous wall called "Hirakani Buruj" (Hirakani Bastion) constructed over a huge steep cliff. The legend goes "that a woman by the name of Hirakani from a nearby village had come to sell milk to the people living at the fort. She happened to be inside the fort when the gates got closed and locked at sunset. Hearing the cries of her infant son back at the village echo after nightfall, the anxious mother couldn't wait till dawn and courageously climbed down the steep cliff in pitch darkness all for the love of her little one. She later repeated this extraordinary feat in front of Shivaji and was bravely rewarded for it." In appreciation of her courage and bravery, Shivaji built the Hirakani Bastion over this cliff. ==Incidents== * The statue of Shivaji's pet dog was removed by alleged members of the [[Sambhaji Brigade]]<ref>{{cite news|title=73 held for removing Shivaji's dog's statue from Raigad fort|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_73-held-for-removing-shivaji-dogs-statue-from-raigad-fort_1723352|access-date=4 August 2012|newspaper=DNA}}</ref> in July 2012 as a protest but was re-instated by Shri Shivaji Raigad Smarak Samiti, the [[Archaeological Survey of India]], sculptor Rambhau Parkhi and the District Administration<ref>{{cite news|title=Vaghyacha putala punha basavala|url=http://72.78.249.107/Sakal/3Aug2012/Enlarge/PuneCity/page8.htm|access-date=4 August 2012|newspaper=Sakal}}</ref> == Gallery == <gallery> File:Raigad fort towers.jpg File:Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Raigad.JPG File:Raigad 1896.jpg|Raigad 1896 File:Raigad fort walls hidden in the green.JPG|Hidden Walls of the Raigad Fort File:RaigadFort1.jpg|Raigad Fort Palace Ruins </gallery> ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== {{commons category|Raigad Fort}} * [http://indiaouting.com/maharashtra/raigad-fort/ Raigad Fort Travel Guide] * [http://www.yashwantnaik.com/outing/one-trip-raigad-travel-guide-tourist-information/ (Raigad Fort Place to See)] == See also == * [[List of forts in Maharashtra]] * [[Mughal–Maratha Wars]] {{Forts in Maharashtra}} {{Forts in India}} {{MarathaEmpire}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Raigad Fort}} [[Category:Former capital cities in India]] [[Category:Buildings and structures of the Maratha Empire]] [[Category:Forts in Raigad district]] [[Category:16th-century forts in India]] [[Category:Tourist attractions in Pune district]] [[Category:Former populated places in India]] [[Category:Hiking trails in India]]'