FortsinRaigadDistrict
RaigaddistrictinMaharashtraboastsacollectionofawe-inspiringfortsthatwere builtbyvariousrulerstosafeguardtheirkingdomsandsubjects.Thesemagnificent structures,adornedwithintricateartistryandformidabledefensivefeatures,have withstoodthetestoftime.Althoughweatheredbyyearsgoneby,thesefortsstill exudetheirformergrandeur,offeringaglimpseintotherichtapestryofIndian history.Nestledamidstpicturesquelandscapes,thesefortsserveascaptivating touristdestinations,bearingwitnesstocountlessbattlesandchanginghandsover thecenturies.Letusdelveintothedistinctivefeaturesofeachfort,uncovering theirfascinatingstoriesandsignificance.
AvchitgadFort:
SituatedatoptheSahyadrirangesnearRoha,AvchitgadFortstandsasatestament tothearchitecturalprowessoftheShilaharkings.Withitsdenseforest surroundings,thishillfortpresentsamysticalallure Notably,ChhatrapatiShivaji, thegreatMarathaking,undertookreconstructionworkhere,leavinghisindelible markonthefort.
KarnalaFort:
NicknamedFunnelHill,KarnalaFortgracestheRaigaddistrictnearPanvelcity NestledwithintheKarnalaBirdSanctuary,thisprotectedmonumentcomprises twofortsatdifferentelevations.Thefortwitnessednumerousexchangesof possessionandproudlydisplaysPersianandMarathiinscriptions.
KolabaFort:
StandingproudlyneartheshoresofAlibaug,KolabaFortholdsasignificantplace inhistory.Declaredaprotectedmonument,itattractstouristswithitsancient militaryfortification.Surprisingly,theforthousesfreshwaterwells,defyingits proximitytothesea.Moreover,itharborsareveredSiddhivinayaktemple, constructedbyRaghojiAngrein1759.
KorlaiFort:
LocatedinthetownofKorlai,KorlaiFortbearstheremnantsofPortuguese fortification.BuiltonanislandguardingtheentrancetoRevdandaCreek,it initiallysuccumbedtodemolitionbythePortuguesethemselves.Nevertheless, subsequentreconstructioneffortsrestoreditssplendor,andthefortwitnessedthe capturebyvariousrulersovertime.
Murud-Janjira:
SituatedonanislandnearthecoastalvillageofMurud,Murud-Janjirafortholds immensehistoricalsignificance.ThisancientfortwasonceoccupiedbySiddisand standsastheonlyimpregnablestrongholdonIndia'swesterncoast,eluding
conquestbytheMarathas,Dutch,andEastIndiaCompany.Itsformidablepresence atopanoval-shapedrockintheArabianSeasolidifiesitsreputationasoneofthe country'smostrobustmarineforts.
PadmadurgFort:
AlsoknownasKasaFort,PadmadurgFortstandsasatestamenttothegreatnessof KingShivaji.Sadly,thedevastatingeffectsoftheIndonesianTsunamihaveleftthe fortinruins.Althoughitsmainwallshavecrumbled,unabletowithstandthe relentlessseawaves,thefort'ssixbastionscontinuetobearwitnesstoitsglorious past.
RaigadFort:
NestlednearMahadinRaigaddistrict,RaigadFortonceservedasthecapitalof theMarathaEmpirein1674.PerchedatoptheSahyadrimountainrange,thishill fortreachesanimpressiveheightof820meters.Thoughitfellvictimtolooting anddestructionbyBritishtroops,itsconstructionin1030byChandraraoMores resonateswithitsregalpast.
SudhagadFort:
SudhagadFort,alsoknownasBhorapgad,isacaptivatinghillfortlocatedinthe picturesquesurroundingsofLonavla.Datingbacktothe2ndcenturyBC,this well-preservedforthasbecomeapopulardestinationfortrekkers.Fromitsvantage point,visitorscanenjoypanoramicviewsoftheneighboringforts Theslopesof
SudhagadFortareadornedwithPandhritrees,knownfortheiruseincrafting walkingsticks.
RevdandaFort:
NestledatthemouthoftheKundalikaRiver,RevdandaForthasarichhistory datingbacktoitscompletionin1524.OriginallybuiltbyPortugueseCaptainSoj, itremainedunderPortuguesecontroluntiltheMarathascaptureditin1806. Eventually,itfellintoBritishhandsin1818.Thefort'smainentranceislocatedon thesouthernside,invitingvisitorstoexploreitsintriguingarchitecture.
SagargadFort:
LocatedintheAlibagtalukaofRaigadDistrict,SagargadForthasastoriedpast. Whiletheexactdateofitsconstructionremainsuncertain,itwasfamouslyseized byShivajiMaharajfromAdilShahin1660.IntheTreatyofPurandar,thefortwas handedovertotheMughalsbutwaslaterbestoweduponKanhojiAngrebyBalaji VishwanathPeshwain1713.Atwo-hourtrekfromKhandalevillage,Sagargad Fortremainsapopulartouristdestinationyear-round.
ManikgadFort:
PerchedamidstthebreathtakingGherakillaManikgad,Maharashtra,Manikgad Fortstandsasbothamountainfortressandareveredtemple.Constructedby SarkhelKanhojiAngreandlatercededin1718,thisfortoffersamemorable trekkingexperience.OriginallybuilttooverseethetraderoutefromPuneto
coastalports,ManikgadFortnowstandsinruins,yetitshistoricalsignificance remainsintact.
KothaligadFort:
KothaligadFort,alsoknownastheFortofPeth,isasmallbutcaptivatingfort situatedtotheeastofKarjat,Maharashtra.Itsoriginstracebacktothe13th century,anditwitnessedvariousshiftsinpower.AbdulKadircapturedthefortin 1684underthecommandofMughalEmperorAurangzeb,followedbyitsconquest bytheBritishin1716.Eventually,theMarathasreclaimeditin1817underthe leadershipofBapurao,ageneralofBajiraoPeshwa.
OtherfortsinRaigadDistrict:
Inadditiontotheaforementionedforts,RaigadDistrictboastsnumerousother lesser-knowngemsworthexploring.BirwadiFort,DronagiriFort,KonkanDiva Fort,KurdugadFort,LinganaFort,PrabalgadFort,SarasgadFort,SarjekotFort, GhosaleGad,KalavantinDurg,MrugagadFort,PadargadFort,TungiFort,Underi Fort,VikatgadFort,TalagadFort,KhanderiFort,SurgadFort,MangadFort,and MangalgadFortareamongtheremarkablefortificationsthatcontributetothe region'shistoricallegacy.
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