Raigad
नमस्कार Rotaractors! We, the team ‘Mahabloggers’ from Rotaract district 3131, Pune, India, welcome you aboard on this virtual tour, ‘ महाराष्ट्राची चंदेरी दुनिया’ around our glorious and magnificent state of Maharastra with 36 spectacular and eminent districts, each rich with its distinct culture, heritage, and history, yet rooted to the illustrious spirit of valor of this state, which is the जन्मभूमी of innumerous brave and historically significant personalities. So, fasten your seat belts as we take you around the resplendent districts of Maharashtra. Our next destination for this tour is Raigad.
Introduction of Raigad:-
Raigad is a hill fort situated in Mahad, Raigad district of Maharashtra, India. Many constructions and structures that we see on Raigad were built by Chhatrapati Shivaji when he made it his capital in 1674 when he was crowned the King of the Maratha Kingdom which later developed into the Maratha Empire, eventually covering much of western and central India.
The fort rises 820 metres (2,700 ft) above sea level and is located in the Sahyadri mountain range. There are approximately 1737 steps leading to the fort. The Raigad Ropeway, an aerial tramway exists.The height of this ropeway is 400 meters in height and 750 meters in length and takes only 4 minutes. In 1765 the fort was an armed campaign by the British east Indian Company. Finally, on 9 May 1818 fort was looted and destroyed by the British.The rope-way facility is available at Raigad Fort, to reach the fort from the ground in few minutes.
The aesthetically appealing Raigad Fort is a strategically constructed hill fort in the Raigad district of Maharastra, India. Built by the vibrant Maratha ruler, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Raigad was the capital city of the illustrious Maratha Sovereign in the old times.
Culture and traditions of Raigad:-
Chatrapati Shivaji seized the fort in 1656, then known as the fort of Rairi from Chandraraoji More, The King of Jawali. Shivaji renovated and expanded the fort of Rairi and renamed it as Raigad (King’s Fort). It became the capital of Chatrapati Shivaji’s Maratha Empire.The villages of Pachad & Raigadwadi are located at the base of the Raigad fort. These two villages were considered very important during the Maratha rule in Raigad. The actual climb to the top of the Raigad fort starts from Pachad. During Chatrapati Shivaji’s rule, A cavalry of 10,000 was always kept on standby in Pachad village. Shivaji also built another fort Lingana around 2 miles away from Raigad. The Lingana fort was used to keep prisoners.
In 1689, Zulfikhar Khan captured Raigad and Aurangzeb renamed it as Islamabad. In 1707, Siddi Fathekan captured the fort and held it until 1733. After 1733 Maratha Sardar captured Raigad again and hold it until 1818.
In 1765, The fort of Raigad along with Malwan in the present Sindhudurg District, the southernmost district of Maharashtra, was the target of an armed expedition by the British East India Company, which considered it a piratical stronghold.
In 1818, the fort was bombarded and destroyed by cannons from the hill of Kalki. And on 9 May 1818, as per the treaty, it was handed over to the British East India Company.
Culturally, Raigad has been the ever vibrant community with a population of different religions, dialects, ethnicity etc. Few places in the Raigad district are historic hinterland of the Bene-Israeli Jews. Raigad has been bestowed with surreal & magnificent forts viz.
Tourism in Raigad:-
- The Kondana Caves are located in the small village of Kondana, 33 km north of Lonavala and 16 km northwest of Karla Caves. This cave group has 16 Buddhist caves. The caves were excavated in first century B.C. The construction on the wooden pattern is notable.One can reach the cave by descending from Rajmachi village. The bases with the lower parts of all the thirty columns that surrounded the nave, as well as that of one of the two irregular columns that once ornamented the front, have also decayed, and positions only of most of them can now be ascertained. Between these two latter pillars a wooden screen or front originally filled the opening to a height of about 10 or 12 feet, in which were the doorways leading to the interior and it was fixed to them, as seems to have been the case with all the earlier caves. The Chaitya Cave at Bhaja and that at Kondane had similar fronts constructed in wood. The caves at Bedsa and Karla are apparently among the earliest, where these screens were carved in the rock instead of being erected in the more perishable material.
2. Sarasgad, fort is situated near village Pali in the Raigad district of Maharashtra. Pali lies about 10 kilometres East of Nagothane along the Nagothane-Khopoli road. This fort’s height from sea level is 490 meters. On the top is the Shiva temple providing an excellent panoramic view of all the mountain ranges surrounding this area. Sudhagad, Sankshi fort, Sagargad, and TailBaila can be easily viewed from the top of Sarasgad. There are many caves that were used for soldiers and other purposes because the fort has very little area available on its top. There are around ten tanks carved in rocks. They provide a cool water supply throughout the year, which is very important for any fort.
3. Varadavinayaka is one of the Ashtavinayak temples of the Hindu deity Ganesha. It is located in Mhad village situated in Khalapur taluka near Karjat and Khopoli of Raigad District, Maharashtra, India. The temple was built (restored) by Peshwa General Ramji Mahadev Biwalkar in 1725AD.
Food in Raigad:-
The local cuisine here is dominated by Maharashtrian food with a blend of South and North Indian cuisine. This place is known for it’s spicy food of curries and fries.
Misal — a spicy gravy of potatoes, peas and other sprouts, makes for a mouth-watering meal.
This was all about the beautiful district of Raigad from our side. If you hail from Raigad and found this blog great, then please do let us know in our comment section below and share this with your other Raigadkars. Also let us know if we have missed out on any amazing spot from Raigad. Like, share and do comment on our blogs so that they reach maximum rotaractors who wish to travel and know more about our Maharashtra.
Follow our amazing district’s ERYLA page for regular updates of ERYLA and do participate in our 3 days long ERYLA for 2020, full of enthralling and engaging activities with a great and insightful speaker line-up to make it like never before. Stay tuned to this space to take a virtual trip to the next amazing district of Maharashtra.
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