Rajgad Fort – The Ancient Capital of Shivaji

The Rajgad fort, located close to the city of Pune, is among the more important ones in the Sahaydris. It is located on a hill about an hour away from Pune. The importance of this fort comes from the fact that it was the capital of Shivaji Maharaj for more than 25 years before he eventually moved the capital to Raigad fort. Historians tell us that treasure from the Torana fort, which is close, was used to fortify the hill. This is where Shivaji’s Queen Saibai died. Rajaram Chhatrapati was born here.

Of course the Rajgad fort is in ruins now. But you will be able to see some remnants from the past. You can see the gates – the Chor Darwaja or the Gunjavne Darwaja, and the Pali Darwaja. There is also the Rajmata Jijau palace inside the fort and the Saibai Samadhi Sthal. You can see bastions. Padmavati Machi is the chief attraction. There are two houses on the machi, a lake and the Padmavati temple. Reach the top to get a fabulous view of the surrounding hills and valleys. You can even see some of the other forts in the region – Raigad, Pratapgad, Sinhagad, and Torana. You can see the Mahabaleshwar hill station as well on a clear day.

Trekking in the Rajgad Fort

Rajgad fort is probably the most popular trekking destination for Pune residents. But do keep in mind, it is not easy. In fact, the trek can be quite a challenge for most people, particularly during the monsoons. Most trekkers usually start off from the Gunjavne village. There are some other base villages too, as there is more than one route to the top of the fort. However the most popular route is through the Chor darwaja up to the Padmavati machi. That’s because, Suvela Machi, which is the other route, is more difficult to climb. You can also take the route through the Sanjivani machi as well. This route is beautiful too.

Trekkers usually rest at the old temple once they have reached the top. The temple can hold up to 50 trekkers at a time. Most trekkers decide to stay overnight here as it can take up to 8 hours to reach the top. It might take you even longer if you are trekking for the first time. There are water tanks to refill. But it is better that you bring your own water.