RAIGAD FORT — Trekking To The Fort Capital Of Maratha, India

P erched on Sahyadri mountains of Maharashtra in India, this majestic fort capital of Maratha kingdom built by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his chief architect/engineer Hiroji Indulkar truly depicts the warfare strategies, bravery, and audacity of the Maratha king. Accessible by one side only through a pathway of about 1737 steps, it can also be quickly reached alternatively by a ropeway. While most of its parts of the fort are in ruins now, the fort still boasts of the brave history of Marathas. The Britishers had named it as the Gibraltar of the East as this well-fortified structure atop a hill had defied various attackers. There is also a statue of the Maratha king Shivaji erected in front of the ruins of the main market avenue that eventually leads to his Samadhi and that of his beloved dog.

The fort houses huge door (Maha Darwaja) in addition to few other gateways, palace with queen’s quarters, chambers, granaries, market, watchtowers, Jagdishwar temple, Ganga Sagar Lake and the legendary wall called “Hirakani Buruj” (Hirakani Bastion) constructed over a huge cliff. From the fort, one can view the execution point called Takmak Tok, a cliff from which sentenced prisoners were thrown to their death.