Mahipatgad is a

hill fort A hillfort is a type of earthwork used as a fortified refuge or defended settlement, located to exploit a rise in elevation for defensive advantage. They are typically European and of the Bronze Age or Iron Age. Some were used in the post-Roma ...

situated on the east of the Khed. It is one of the largest forts in Maharashtra, with an area of 120 acres. This fort is located 19 km from the

Khed City Khed City is an Industrial park near Pune, India. With an area of over 4200 acres, Khed city is a joint venture between Kalyani Group, Kalyani group and MIDC (Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation, Maharashtra Industrial Development Corpo ...

. The Mahipatgad. Suamargad and

Rasalgad Rasalgad is a fort in the Maharashtra state of India. It lies 15 km east of Khed City. The fort has been developed as tourist attraction. Its fortification in good condition. The fort lied on a south end of a narrow spur which joins with S ...

are situated on a same spur 8 km long, which runs parallel to the western ghats. The Mahipatgad is on the northernmost end of the spur. The altitude of Mahipatgad is 3090 feet.

History

This fort was built by Adilshah of Bijapur in the 15th century. This fort was captured by King

Shivaji Shivaji Bhonsale I (; 19 February 1630 – 3 April 1680), also referred to as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, was an Indian ruler and a member of the Bhonsle Maratha clan. Shivaji carved out his own independent kingdom from the declining Adil ...

in 1661. Later it passed to the Peshwas and finally to the British in 1818. There are 10 houses in the Beldarvadi village, which is at the foot hill of the fort. The villagers are said to have been brought by Shivaji as bricklayers for construction of the fort.

Places to see

The Mahipatgad looks like a hill-top covered with dense forest of Jamun, Pisa and similar trees found at higher altitude similar to that of

Mahabaleshwar Mahabaleshwar () is a small town and a municipal council in Satara district, Maharashtra, India. It is a place of pilgrimage for Hindus because Krishna river has its origin here. The British colonial rulers developed the town as a hill station ...

. There are leopards, wild pigs and barking deer on the fort. The fort is a table land with six battlements and six gateways. The gateways are in a ruined state. The gateways are: * Laldevdi, on north-eastern side * Pusati, on eastern side, formerly entered by a ladder * Yeshwant, on south-eastern side * Khed, towards southern side; this route is still in use and connects the village Beldarwadi to the fort * Shivganga, on western side; there is a rock cut

shivling A lingam ( sa, लिङ्ग , lit. "sign, symbol or mark"), sometimes referred to as linga or Shiva linga, is an abstract or aniconic representation of the Hindu god Shiva in Shaivism. It is typically the primary ''murti'' or devotional i ...

near this entrance * Kotwal, on northern side; the pathway from this gate leads to the village Kotwal in

Poladpur taluka Poladpur taluka is a taluka in Raigad district of Maharashtra an Indian state. Raigad district As of August 2015, there were 8 sub-divisions, 15 talukas, 1970 villages, 60 revenue circles and 350 sazzas in Raigad district. The talukas being Alib ...

Here the foundation of temples of Maruti and Ganapati are seen with half walls still standing. On the southern side of the fort are remnants of horse stables which are 350-700 in numbers. There are two heaps of unused mortar on the fort. There are two large wells on the fort, one near the Khed entrance and the other near Pareshwar temple. The water from these wells is used for drinking by the villagers. The best time to visit the fort is from October to February.

How to reach

There is a new road being built up to the village Wadibeldar. At present by state transport bus, one can reach the village Wadi-jaitapur. From this village there is a steep trek of two hours to the village Wadibeldar. From Wadibeldar the trek to the fort is about 45 minutes. The Pareshwar temple is ideal for halting at night.

Gallery

File:Mahipatgad1.jpg, Southern Bastion File:Mahipatgad2.jpg, Pareshwar temple File:Mahipatgad3.jpg, Maruti and Ganpati idol File:Mahipatgad4.jpg, Jungle on the fort File:Mahipatgad5.jpg, Wadibeldar village from the fort

References

{{Reflist Forts in Maharashtra Ratnagiri district Forts in Ratnagiri district