Raigad fort travel india best spot maharashtra.

Raigad fort

The ancient india place 

Soaring to a height of around 820 metres, the captivating Raigad Fort is perched on the Sahyadri mountain range. An exquisite gem of the Indian history, the fort is of great pride for the Marathas and accounts to their glorious past. It is a reminder of the valour and audacity of the Marathas. The Raigad fort is not just a tourist spot, it is a sacred place of pilgrimage which holds the imprints of the grand vision of Hindavi Swarajya as cherished by Chhatrapati Shivaji.

After capturing the Raigad Fort, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj renovated and named it as the capital of Maratha kingdom. The Britishers named it as the Gibraltar of the East as this well-fortified structure atop a hill had defied various attackers. It has several beguiling gates Nagarkhana Darwaja, Mena Darwaja, Maha Darwaja and Palkhi Darwaja. There was also a statue of Shivaji erected in front of the ruins of the main market avenue that eventually leads to his own Samadhi and that of his beloved dog.

The majestic fort is accessible only from one side through a pathway as the other three sides are surrounded by deep valleys. A series of around 1737 steps lead you to the top from where a spectacular view of the surrounding verdant and deep valleys will blow away your mind. Not only for history buffs but for adventure lovers also, Raigad Fort is a paradise. A four-minute ropeway amidst the whizzing winds and clouds is completely refreshing. Also, there are restaurants at the base serving you lip-smacking Maharashtrian food. While most of its parts are in ruins now, the fort still boasts of the brave history of Marathas.

Structure

In the present time, except for Shivaji's samadhi, his coronation site and the Shiva temple, all the parts of the Raigad Fort are in ruins. The ruins of the fort today consist of the queen's quarters which includes six chambers, with each chamber having one restroom. The main palace was constructed using wood, out of which only the bases of the pillars remain now. There are ruins of the watchtowers, the citadel and the durbar hall which attract the visitors. 

The magnificent fort has the Ganga Sagar Lake flowing right in front of it. There is also a famous wall called Hirakani Buruj or Hirkani Bastion, constructed on a cliff. Inside the Raigad Fort, there is a replica of the original throne which faces the Nagarkhana Darwaja, the main doorway. A secondary entrance, called the Mena Darwaja was used as the private entrance for the royal ladies. The door opened in the queen's chamber. The king and his convoy used the Palkhi Darwaja. There is a row of three dark chambers in the right of Palkhi Darwaja which are believed to be the granaries of the fort. 

You can also view the execution point called Takmak Tok from where prisoners were thrown to death. The statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was erected in front of the ruins of the main market avenue that leads to the Jagdishwar Mandir, his own Samadhi and that of his loyal dog, Waghya. The Samadhi of Jijabai Shahaji Bhosale, Shivaji's mother is situated at the base village of Pacha. Other famous attractions of the fort include the Khubladha Buruj, Nane Darwaja and the Hatti Talav.