Travelgiri Blog

Built by the Sultan of Bijapur in 1727, the Jaygad or the Jaigad fort has been ruled by many different dynasties. It has been under the possession of the Sultan of Bijapur, Kanhoji Angre, who served as Shivaji’s naval commander, the Maratha Empire during its heydays, Sangameshwar chiefs and Konkan pirates till it was finally taken over by the British at the end of the Maratha War. With such a lot of history here, the Jaigad fort could be an interesting weekend trip. You don’t really have to be a history buff to enjoy a trip to this fort. You will love the natural surroundings of Jaigad. And if you are a student of history, then this is the perfect destination for you.

Also known as the Morrow or Castle Curlew, Korlai fort was built by the Portuguese in 1521 near the small town of Korlai in today’s Maharashtra. It was specifically built atop a small island (Morrow de Chaul according to the Portuguese) to keep vigil over the Revdanda Creek. It was constructed to serve as a companion fort to one at Chaul. Because of its strategic location, the Korlai Fort commands an unobstructed view of the creek, best suited for monitoring ships approaching the area.

The Bhairavgad Fort is located at a considerable height, twenty miles south-west of Patan and few more miles west of Mala. The fort sits on a rounded hill that forms an escarpment of the Sahyadri range. The hill also boasts of a temple dedicated to Bhairav. This is where the name comes from. The fort’s special significance lies in its apparent invisibility from a distance. It is nicely merged with the forest cover provided by the adjoining sanctuary. However, it is apparent from the construction that the fort was built largely for keeping vigil over the surrounding areas, and not for any warfare.

Panhala is an important fort in Maharashtra. Some historians even say that it is perhaps the most important fort in the Deccan region as it has witnessed a lot of history. Panhala is also among the largest forts in the area. It covers an area of more than seven kilometers. Its elegant and impressive look is sure to impress you. Thousands of tourists from all across the state visit Panhala Fort every year. There are visitors from other states too.

The name Sindhudurg means Sindhu, which is sea, and Durg, which means fort. Shivaji wanted to construct a fort on an island to counter the foreign forces that came by the sea. The fort was also constructed to keep a check on rival kingdoms, particularly the ones from Murud-Janjira. Today it stands as a testimony to the strategic moves of this great Maratha leader.

Superbly maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India, the sprawling Kandhar fort is located at the town of Kandhar in the Nanded district of Maharashtra. It attracts hordes of visitors throughout the year. Believed to have been built by the Rashtrakuta King Krishna-III of Malkhed who described himself as Kandharpuradhiswar or the lord of Kandhar, the fort is open to all. Surrounded by a moat which is filled by naturally flowing water, the fort consists of several areas that are earmarked for different purposes.

The city of Aurangabad in Maharashtra is an interesting one. There is fort here, and there are also the caves of Ajanta and Ellora close enough. There are some other good forts in the region too. Take the Antur fort for example, which is about an hour away from the city.

Akluj fort is a historically significant fort that is situated near Solapur in Maharashtra. It has withstood many skirmishes involving both the Mughal and the British forces. Built by the Yadav king Raja Singhan during the end of 13th century, the fort’s possession was taken over by the Mughals for quite a while. Emperor Aurangzeb’s principal Subhedar for the Deccan region, Bahadur Khan was responsible for appointing two key representatives for this fort, namely, Shaik Ali who was the chief officer and Ranmast Khan who was the killedar.

Vishalgad Fort is among the larger and the more important forts in Maharashtra. In fact, its size is reflected in the name itself – Vishal. However, this fort is also often known as Khilna or Khelna. The Vishalgad Fort name was given by none other than Shivaji Maharaj, who annexed it in 1659 to the Maratha Empire. The previous ruler was Adilshah of Bijapur.

Most visitors see both the Vajragad and the Purandar fort together. Most people tend to favor the Purandar fort as it is the larger of the two. However both of them have seen a lot of history, they have gone through many upheavals. The forts figure frequently in the rising of the legendary Maratha leader Shivaji against the Bijapur kingdom and the Mughals. These forts, tucked high in the Western Ghat at 4,472 feet offered immense power to young Shivaji in his heydays.