Category: forts

It all started in 1533 AD when Malik Tughan, a commander under Bahadur Shah, the Sultan of Gujarat built a fort-like structure in Vasai or Bassein. It was located 48 kilometers north of the present day Mumbai. The Vasai fort was constructed to train up the Sultan’s insignificant naval force. However, the commander’s wishes were short-lived because in the very next year, the Portuguese forcibly took over the structure from the feeble Sultan to build a strong and sturdy fort for themselves. And true to their words, a magnificent fort soon took shape on the sea shore, complete with bastions and other fortifications.

The Sahyadri mountain range in the Indian state of Maharashtra is literally dotted with innumerable forts. These forts were constructed to offer protection against enemies during war. However, many of these were also constructed to guard critical trading routes. But a lot more were built to protect the 60 ghats (of the Western Ghat Mountains) in the Sahyadri range. In another age, the forts at Lohgad and Visapur near Lonavala were used for this. Another example of this is the Prachitgad Fort. This fort is also known as Uchitgad or Rangna. It is located on the western edge of the Chandoli National Park in the Ratnagiri district at Shringarpur. The Prachitgad Fort is today a noteworthy tourist spot. Thousands of people come here to learn about history and see its natural splendors.

Some people believe that Lohgad is actually a hill station in the state of Maharashtra, while others rightly point out that it is a fort. Historians and history buffs point out that the great Maratha leader Shivaji Maharaj’s name is associated with this fort. He captured it in 1648. After Shivaji, this fort passed on to Nana Phadnavis of the Peshwa Period. Several structures were constructed within the fort between 1742 and 1800 AD. You can see many of them even today. The good thing about this fort is that, it is still in relatively good condition. You will be able to see the large gates – there are four gates at Lohgad.

All around Pune you will find many wonderful places that are perfect for a weekend trip. But there is one place that has remained extremely popular for a very long time. It is the Sinhagad Fort. This is a popular weekend picnic spot for many residents of the city. One reason for its popularity is the close proximity of the fort to the city. The Sinhagad Fort is just 30 kilometers from Pune. It takes less than an hour to reach it. Once it was known as Kondhana, but these days, there are several names for the Sinhagad Fort. Some people refer to it as Sinhgad, while others call it Sinhgarh.