This Hill Fort is one of the most significant forts in Maharashtra and testimony of many significant events.
Located in Sahyadris mountain range Raigad, which was once capital of Marathas led by Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and center of Maratha Kingdom.
Built on a hill 820 meters above sea level you need to climb ~ 1700+ stairs to reach to the top if you are an adventure enthusiast.
For rest, the easier way is rope-way from the base which takes you to the top of the fort in 5 minutes.
The fort is in complete ruins, but the stories of Maratha valor are ingrained in every part of this Fort.
The Fort is huge and it can easily take 2-3 hours to explore all the parts of this magnanimous part of an era gone by.
Shivaji Maharaj observed that mountain of " Rairi" was the best place, steep on all sides and tallest of all, the whole mountain being a seamless rock and almost impregnable . "This Fort is formidable. All sides appear as if chiseled from a mountain of solid rock. Not even a blade of grass grows on the sheer vertical rock. This is a paragon to house the throne "
History
Built by a King of Maurya Dystansy and was called Rayri. Seized and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and made it his capital in 1674 and remade it to Raigad. His Rajabhishek was done here when he was coronation as King of the Martha Empire. On 3rd April 1680, Shivaji Maharaj passed away on this fort In 1689, the Mughals captured this fort, and Aurangzeb renamed it "Islamabad". In 1765, the Raigad Fort was the target of an armed expedition by the British East India Company who saw it as a piratical stronghold and thereby bombarded and destroyed in 1818, and the looted the fort, it is believed they even robbed fort of golden throne weighing 1000kg.
On the way to Fort in Monsoon season
View from Ropeway
Queen's Quarters "Rani Vasa", six chambers, and attached restrooms.
Ruins of Market place, it is interesting to know that the market is elevated from the ground as the people used to shop on horses.
Jagdishwar Mandir
How to reach
Tips
You can stay overnight in the fort as there are rooms available by MTDC Famous among trekking & photography enthusiasts. Best time to visit is Monsoon Months ( July - October) and winter months ( December - Feb) Please book a guide, who can the significance of all the main points well.
