Raigad Fort

Raigad

It was month of March, climate was so hot here in Bombay, n our Sahyadri sangh guys decided 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. Its a 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… which takes 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 he decided to make this his capital. He entrusted Hiroji Indulkar with the task 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….

Raigad is the heart 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 Fort atleast once in life…. You will feel like u enter in Marahi Swarg, if u have Marathi Heart…

Jay Bhavani …….. Jay Shivaji

Sahaydri Sangh