Rajgad (literal meaning ''Ruling Fort'') is a Hill region fort situated in the Pune district of

Maharashtra Maharashtra (; , abbr. MH or Maha) is a states and union territories of India, state in the western India, western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. Maharashtra is the List of states and union te ...

, India. Formerly known as ''Murumdev'', the fort was the first capital of the Maratha Empire under the rule of Chhatrapati Shivaji for almost 26 years, after which the capital was moved to the Raigad Fort. Treasures discovered from an adjacent fort called Torna were used to completely build and fortify the Rajgad Fort. The Rajgad Fort is located around to the south-west of Pune and about west of

Nasrapur Nasrapur is a village located from Bhor Taluka in the Pune District of Maharashtra, India. It is located south of Pune, the district headquarters, and from the state capital, Mumbai. Major nearby cities are Sasvad, Pune, Wai, and Pimpri ...

in the Sahyadris range. The fort lies above the sea level. The diameter of the base of the fort was about which made it difficult to lay siege on it, which added to its strategic value. The fort's ruins consist of palaces, water cisterns, and caves. This fort was built on a hill called Murumbadevi Dongar (''Mountain of the Goddess Murumba''). Rajgad boasts of the highest number of days stayed by Shivaji on any fort.

History

The fort has stood witness to many significant historic events including the birth of Chhatrapati Shivaji's son Rajaram I, the death of Chhatrapati Shivaji's wife Saibai, the return of Shivaji from Agra, the burial of Afzal Khan's head in the Mahadarwaja walls of Balle Killa, the strict words of Sonopant Dabir to Shivaji. The Rajgad Fort was also one of the 12 forts that Shivaji kept when he signed the Treaty of Purandar in 1665, with the Mughal general

Jai Singh I Jai Singh I (15 July 1611 – 28 August 1667) was a senior general ("Mirza Raja") of the Mughal Empire and the Raja of the Kingdom of Amber (later called Jaipur). His predecessor was his grand uncle, Raja Bhau Singh. Accession and early ca ...

, leader of the Mughal forces. Under this treaty, 23 forts were handed over to the Mughals.

List of chronological events

Tourism

The fort is a significant tourist destination and is most sought after especially during monsoon. Visitors prefer to stay overnight on the fort considering the fort itself is huge and cannot be explored in a single day. The Padmavati temple on the fort can accommodate around 50 people. Water tanks provide fresh water all throughout the year. Villagers from the foothills of Rajgad sell local antiques and items to these tourists.

Gallery

File:Gadancha Raja, Rajancha Gad.jpg, The Fort File:Rajgad 28.JPG File:Rajgad Fort.jpg File:Rajgad 30.JPG File:Rajgad 37.JPG File:Rajgad3.jpg File:Rajgad5.jpg File:Rajgad012.jpg File:Bali Khila Rajgad Maharashtra.jpg, Bale Killa, Rajgad File:Ballekilla, Rajgad.jpg, Ballekilla, Rajgad File:Sanjivani Machi-view from Rajgad Mahadwar.jpg, Sanjivani Machi-view from Rajgad Mahadwar File:.... Rajgad 16.JPG, Rajgad

References

External links