Raigad
The Raigad Fort is special in Maratha history. It was the capital of the legendary Chhatrapati Shivaji. There are so many stories of bravery here that the European historians often used to refer to as “the Gibraltar of the East”. This was the capital of Shivaji way back in the 14th century. For as long as six years, Raigad remained the capital of the Maratha Kingdom. Shivaji was crowned here, and he died at Raigad too. So Raigad is definitely significant for people in Maharashtra and also for historians.
You should certainly visit this fort at least once. It is just a couple of hours from Pune. The Raigad Fort is strategically placed on top of a hill. It is inaccessible from three sides. There are steps that go to the top. During Shivaji’s times, this road was guarded closely night and day by sentries. Once you are inside the fort, you should certainly see the Hirakani Buruj, the famous wall on the huge cliff. You should also see the magnificent monuments and broad gates. You will get a very good view of the wide Sahyadri range from the top as well. The Raigad Fort is a sacred place too. Many pilgrims come here to pay their homage to Hindavi Swarajya.
If you don’t want to climb the 1500 steps, then you can take the ropeway to reach the fort. The journey will take just 4 minutes. The kids love it, and it is also the practical option for aged people too. This is the only fort in Maharashtra that has a ropeway. However, the real charm is in trekking to the top.
How to reach: Maharashtra State Transport Corporation buses ply regularly from Pune and Mumbai to Raigad. There are buses from Mahabaleshwar and Kolhapur too. You can also take a train to reach Veer and then a taxi from there.
