Raigad Fort
Raigad Fort | |
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Shown within Maharashtra | |
Coordinates | 18°14′01″N 73°26′26″E / 18.2335°N 73.4406°E |
Type | Hill fort |
Height | 1,356 metres (4,400 ft) ASL |
Site information | |
Owner |
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Open to the public | Yes |
Site history | |
Architect | Sardar Hiroji Indalkar |
Materials | Stone, Lead |
Garrison information | |
Past commanders |
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Occupants | Chhatrapati |
Raigad, situated in the Raigad district of Maharashtra, India, is a hill fort located in the town of Mahad. It is one of the strongest fortresses on the Deccan Plateau and was historically referred to as Rairee or Rairy fort.[1]
Chhatarpati
Located at an elevation of 820 metres (2,700 ft) (2,700 ft) above its base and 1,356 m (4,449 ft) (4,449 ft) above sea level within the
Major features
The main palace was constructed using wood, of which only the base pillars remain. The main fort ruins consist of the queen's quarters, and six chambers, with each chamber having its private restroom. The chambers do not have any windows. 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 fort also overlooks an artificial lake known as the Ganga Sagar Lake.[3]
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 20–21 m (65–70 ft) in height. The top of the fort is 180 m (600 ft) above this door.
The king's court, inside the Raigad Fort, has a replica of the original throne that faces the main doorway called the Nagarkhana Darwaja. It faces the East Side. It was here where Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's
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.[5]
A statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is erected in front of the ruins of the main market avenue that leads to the Jagdishwar Mandir, which has
Hirakani Buruj
The fort has a historic buruj called "Hirakani Buruj" (Hirakani Bastion) constructed over a huge steepcliff. The legend goes "that a milkmaid named as 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 Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and was rewarded for her bravery." Noticing that this was a potential loophole, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj built a bastion over the cliff and named it after the milkmaid as Hirakani Buruj.[3][6]
Incidents
The statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji maharaj's pet dog was removed by alleged members of the Sambhaji Brigade[7] in July 2012 as a protest but was re-instated by Shivaji Raigad Smarak Samiti, the Archaeological Survey of India, sculptor Rambhau Parkhi and the District Administration.[8]
Gallery
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Raigad 1896
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Hidden Walls of the Raigad Fort
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Raigad Fort Palace Ruins
See also
- List of forts in Maharashtra
- Mughal–Maratha Wars
References
- ^ Sengar, Resham. "This is why you should visit Maharashtra's Raigad Fort". The Times of India.
- Imperial Gazetteer of India, Volume 21. 1909. pp. 47–48. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
- ^ ISBN 81-230-1002-8.
- ^ "Write-up from the Raigad ropeway". Archived from the original on 5 January 2007. Retrieved 13 January 2007.
- ISBN 81-7154-669-2. Retrieved 17 March 2009.
- ISBN 978-81-7991-578-3.
- ^ "73 held for removing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's dog's statue from Raigad fort". DNA. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
- ^ "Vaghyacha putala punha basavala". Sakal. Retrieved 4 August 2012.