The Pratapgarh Fort is the place from where the history of the Maratha Emperor Shivaji turned into a decisive course. This is here that Afzal Khan met his death.
The Pratapgarh Fort is 900 m above sea level. It is 24 km west of Mahabaleshwar. The fort from a distance gives the appearance of a round topped hill. The wall of the lower fort forms a sort of a crown round the brow. The western and northern sides of the fort are gigantic cliffs with an almost vertical drop in many places of seven or eight hundred feet. Both covered with huge masses and a vast precipice of trap rock. On the east and south the hills were more sloping and covered with a dense wood in contrast with the rocky west and north, and gradually descended to the valleys separating Mahabaleshwar and the Kineshvar range on the east and the KonkanValley on the west.
RahatLake :
There are total four lakes on the fort, Rahat lake being the largest among them. On the eastern bastion lie the ponds known as ‘Naske Tale’ and ‘Gode Tale’.
Mahadarwaja :
Road on the left side of the Watch-tower takes us to the entrance steps of the fort. Mahadarwaja lies here in between the two bastions
Bhavani Mandir :
The stone from which Goddess Bhavani Mata’s idol is carved has been brought by Shivaji Maharaj with the help of King Leelasen.
Temple of Lord Hanuman :
Temple lies before the entrance door of citadel. The idol of Lord Hanuman was established by Samarth Ramdas Swami.
Statue of Shivaji Maharaj :
As we go ahead from Kedareshwar temple, we comes across a huge statue of Shivaji Maharaj mounted on horse-back with sword in his right hand, raised up towards the sky, and bridle in left hand. This statue has been created by Shri. Kamat, a craftsman from Mumbai. This statue was unveiled by our Late Prime Minister Shri Jawaharlal Nehru.
Apart from above mentioned places, there are many other structures, viz., ‘Yeshwant Buruj’ to the east, ‘Surya Buruj’ near Hanuman Temple to the south and besides it lies a secret-doorway, ‘Rajpaharyachi Dindi’, a place to keep watch-on to the north of the fort.
Shivneri Fort is having most important value in every forts in History of Shivaji Maharasht… cuz it is the Shivaji Maharaj Birth PlaceShivaji spent his childhood in the fort and took lessons of all his military training here only… . Shivneri Fort is located approximately 110 kilomtr… far from Pune. Its in Junner…
The people who are loves trekking, Shivneri Fort are the ideal place for them to visit…. The boundary wall of the Shivneri Fort was built so high to protect the fort from the enemies.
Inside of this fort there is a temple of goddess ‘Shivai Devi`. A larger than life statue of Shivaji is situated in front of the Shivneri Fort. A traveler has to cross seven doors to reach in the Shivneri Fort.
Inside of the Shivneri Fort there is a water pond called ‘Badami Talav`, which is located in the middle of the fort. A statue of Jijabai, with a Bal Shivaji attracts you.
One interesting feature of is a mosque with two towers which are joined by a graceful arch… its so wonderful to watch…. .
Many other tourist attractions are located very near to this fort….
So Rajesh, Vaibhav, Sachin & me (Bhushan), Sahaydri Sangh Decided to go for one of the most important & valuable fort in Shivaji Maharaj History, in the month of December…
We took the S.T. from Kalyan for Junner at around 6.45 p..m. & reached Junner at around 9.30.. Wow, what was the Climate.. its feels so cool in Junner…. Thandi Wajat hoti.. We halft at Aashiyana loudge their, having the good facility includes good Food….
Second route to climb this fort is to ascend from the eastern face. We Climted to up from Salkhal Dand (one of the most Dangerous route ) to reach top of the Fort…this route is also tiring. From this route it hardly takes 1 hour to reach at the top from the base stand.
On the way there is a temple of Hanuman. One has to take a path on the right side of the temple.. This small path takes us to the reserved forest…. In this forest there lays the path to reach to top. One has to be careful, as there are many paths that can mislead us. Traversing upwards for 20 minutes takes us to the rock cut caves on the eastern side of the fort. On the left we can see steps running upwards. After ascending this steps we can reach top in 15-20 to minutes. But how we feel when we got the top of the Fort, cant explain in Word here… It was a Terrific experience, which Sahaydri Sangh like to Sahre with you all.. By the time we reached top.. We found Mata Jijabamata Statue..
Then for next 2 hours we saw each & every Historical place on the Top of the Forts, like ShivajiTemple, Shivaji Birth Place, Kudale, Water Places & Many More….
& while returning we saw Ozar & Lenayari fw kilometers asway from Shivneri..Shri Vighneshwar situated at Ozar near Junnar town.. we had lunch at Ozar & then come back to home...
It was month of March, climate was so hot here in Bombay, n our Sahyadri sangh guysdecided to trek for Raigad, due to some reason some of our members not able to joined us…. Vaibhav, Rohit & Umesh..missed this trek.. So atlast my Sahyadri Sangh five members Sachin, Bhushan, Rajesh, Nilesh & Mahesh ready for the one of Biggest Historical Fort of Shivaji Maharaj n Indian history… i.e. Raigad.Itsa hill fortress situated in the Raigad District of Maharashtra….
So at Ranghpanchami day, around 3.30 p.m. we left from GTB Nagar STN. To Panvel.. after reaching the panvel at 4.30… Due to holi season most of the Kokanwasiy mandali are already reserved the seats for village… luckily around 6.00 we got ST … for the Mahad from panvel stand… Its takes 2 hrs. to reach Mahad….. after reached their, one of my friend already booked one place for us.. Its nearby the Mahad ST station only,, 10 mints. Walk… & u also wont believe.. around that Rangpanchmi day, we got light rain… buz of that rain…. Environment just near our place was just wonderful due to surprised rain… Second day around 7.30 we took ST for Raigad… after a 45 mints journey we reached one village “ Pachad” , from where we can start going up for the trek… you can also reach up by Rope Way, one the fastest way to reach Raigad top is Rope Way… whichtakes you right to the Mena darwaja from where you can enter directly into the Queens Palace premises and Maharaj's Palace... but as we comes here for trek… so we used our way….. the time we reached Starting point of Raigad, we met one big tekking group.. their…. They are around 25-30 peoples….By taking Shivaji Maharaj name, we starts the trek… Shivaji Maharaj Ki Jay.. Jay Bhavani – Jay Shivaji…
entire groups shouted loudly… .. wow..... what was the Noise of that voice… we get inspired from the name Shivaji, angamadhe janu Josh sancharato tya naavane… The tek to the top is 2 hrs.. and is a very easy… The steps in between can be a bit tiring….
Shivaji Maharaj captured this fort and unfurled the Bhagwa. This fort was tough to win … Impressed by the impregnability of this fort,then hedecided to make this his capital. He entrusted Hiroji Indulkar with thetask of converting this fortress into the majestic fort that it is today, despite of the destruction carried out by the cowardly British. Shivaji Maharaj was coronated king here on June 6th 1674….
While reaching the Bale-Killa u can see the beautiful sorroudings forts… You can See, Raj Bhavan, Queen palace, Jagadishwar temple, Hatthi Talao, Samadhi, Ganagasagar, Takmak Tok, 12 Haud of water,Hanuman taka, Hirkani Buruj, Palkhi Darwaja, Mena Darwaja, Maharaj’s Chatti, Ashtrapradhan mandal place Place in Raigad… One of Biggest historical fort in Maharashtra, every mavala on that period who’s the responsibility to save this fort has Great power…
Raj Bhavan
Palace complex,
Hatthi Talao,
Samadhi,
Ganagasagar,
Takmak Tok,
Hanuman taka,
Hirkani Buruj,
Palkhi Darwaja,
Main Darwaja,
Maharaj’s Chatti,
Ashthpradhan Mandal Place
While going up, nilesh, sachin, rajesh & Mahesh… even me tooo almost tired.. but we just have one target in mind.. to go each Balekilla as quick as possible….. We saw each n every place carefully, also saved them in mobile.. n from eyes in our mind for the lifetime memories….
Around 2.30 p.m. we had lunch on the top of the fort.. at MSRDC hotel… the food quality was awesome… after lunch we get down… but while getting down, we also had Kokam sarbam.. many times… after 1 hr.. we get down… n way back to home, from mahad again….
Raigadis theheart of Maratha country, the capital of Chhatrapati Shivaji's kingdom. Strategically perched atop a wedge-shaped block of hill, split off from the Western Ghats and inaccessible from three sides……… It was here that Chhatrapati Shivaji built his capital city in the 17th century, and here that he crowned himself Chhatrapati. For six years upto his death, Raigad remained the capital of the Marathas with its broad gates and magnificent monumentsssss. There was only one pathway leading to the top….
What a Wonderful Lifetime memory it was…. I & my Sahaydri Sangh request all of you specially All Marathi person must visit this Fortatleast once in life…. You will feel like u enter in Marahi Swarg, if u have Marathi Heart…
