Shivajimaharaj Fort Visit: December 2008

Rajgad - The King of All Forts

Rajgad, considered as the King of all forts is at about 40km south west of Pune and is at a height of 4514 ft. almost. Rajgad was the main fort Shivaji for over 5 years till he became Chhatrapati….. After the Rajgad he shifted his capital to Raigad.

Rajagad is built on a hill named Murambdev which was not captured for a long time. In 17^th Century Aurangzeb laid siege on Rajgad and changed its name to Najibgad. Around Rajgad are the rivers Velwandi and Gujavani, so that all routes to the routes to the fort are across rivers. The main gates to the fort are Alu Darwaja, Gunjavane Darwaja, Pali Darwaja and Chor Darwaja…

Alu Darwaja. From Pune, second is to enter the fort via Gunjavane Darwaja you take the Pune-Velha bus to Margasani Village….From here, it is a two hour climb to the Gunajvane Darwaja. & the easiest route is from Vazeghar or from Pali and then to the Pali Darwaja. This takes about 1 1/2 hours to reach the top.

We Sahayadri Sangh (Sachin, Nilesh, Santosh & Bhushan) started our Journey from Dadar St. stand from we took ST from Pune (Swargate) at 1.00 p.m. on 6^th December 08. We reached Swargate at around 5.10…. As our main & last Gunjavane village ST was missed by 10 minutes… Its departed on exact 5.00. We already carried some cakes for night as we don’t aware that we’ll get good food or not. Then we picked Navy village from the stand at around 6.15.. which goes from the Margasane Phata… we reached their at arund 8.00.. n luckily we got one Jeep for Gunjavane.. At gunjane village is the point where the fort in almost nearby 5 mints.. … We stay their in Suvela Hotel where we had good food…

After lunch we went for a night walk cuz we decided to start trekking on a next day early morning.. we found 60 little champs with their 10 senior guides… They are supposed to start their trek at around 10.00 p.m. only… n by the taking the name of Jay Jay Jay Jay Jay Shivaray.. Jay Bhavani,….. Jay Shivaji… they are started their trek on moon light… How brave they all little champs.. Cuz this Rajgad trek is not easy one… You have to very alert… as some route is dangerous.. as like as sakhaladand… & in the Night specially…. We salute that all little champs, as they are all started the trekkkk in the mid-night…

Then we stared our Photo session.. don’t surprise, yes that’s true,, cuz the room which we spent our night.. its involves lovely n amazing pictures of Forts.. some of them are captured by Uddhav Thakre as well…. Their was also Shivaji Maharaj statue, shivkalin coins, weapon n many more things.. to watch.. I cant explain how we feel that time…

Then second we had our nastha (Kandapohe) at exact 5.30 a.m. yes…… truly,… what was a climate that time… Solid khandi padali hoti… haat pay nusate thar thar kapat hote.. but we hv almost deicided as that 60 little champs can start their treeking at mid-night why don’t we in early morning… & after having tea n nashta we left for the mission…. At exact 6.20.. A.M. ahhahhaha....

.. Sun was going to Rise very soon.. as we decided do not fault for more than 5 mits.. n we reached Padmavati Lake… Pali Darwaja, at 7.45 a.m… we found that little champs der…. N many more Trekkers who spend their night on the Fort… Then after having another tea.. we saw Padmavati Lake, Suvela Machi, Bale Killa…

The Padmavati temple, & Padmavati lake, the Maharaja residential palace, the havaldar’s wada (constable’s residence) can all be seen here. We saw all of that… The only place which can be used by trekkers for an overnight stay here is the Padmavati temple. Of the three Plains, the narrowest is the Suvela Machee.

The another one Sanjivani machee is about two Kilometer in lengthhhh. Double fortification can be seen here. There is a direct route from this point, through the Alu Darwaja on Torna. The stronghold of Rajgad is said to be its finest point and can be reached with some effort. Once you enter the main gate you can see the palace ruins, the Janani Mandir and the Bramhrisi temple and a water tank…. The quality of the Water is also good… There is quite wonderful view from the top, you can see various mountain ranges and spot several forts from here including the Mahabaleshwar Raireshwar Plateau, Raigad, Makarandgad, Lingana, Torna, Visapur, Tung, Sinhgad and Purandar…. Yes not believing na.. but you can see all of them from the Top.. just u need to know with a Sharp eye.. as Purandar & Torana u can see easily…

Bale Killa route was very toughest one…We saw all the imt. Place on the Fort.. then at around 2.00 we started getting down… n reached down at around 3.20… Then after having lovely Chiken food we left for the home….