Raigad – Come Visit The Raigad Fort

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“Raigad – Come Visit the Raigad Fort”
Raigad is a district in the Indian State of Maharashtra, located in the Konkan region. The district was renamed as Raigad after the Raigad fort. The Raigad fort is a very famous tourist destination. The fort was built by the Maratha leader, Shivaji in the interior dense forests of the district. The fort is built atop a spur of the Western Ghats in the Sahyadri Mountain ranges. The district faces the Arabian Sea on one side and is close to Pune, Thane and Mumbai harbor. Raigad also houses the natural harbor of Pen Madwa. Raigad also includes the isle of Gharapuri or Elephanta which is known for its ancient Hindu and Buddhist caves.
The Raigad fort is an imposing structure three thousand feet above sea level and is referred to as the “king of all forts” in Maharashtra. The fort was the capital of the great Maratha leader, Shivaji Chhatrapati.
Walking up to the fort also makes for a great trek. For those who prefer an easy walk, they can use the Raigad Ropeway.
A visit to the fort is incomplete without visiting the Raigad Museum. The museum is located at ...
... Lower Station of the fort. The fort contains the “Queen’s Palace” along with other impressive structures. The Queens Palace is elegant and showcases the rich living quarters of the royal ladies. The quarter consists of six chambers; each chamber is equipped with a toilet that is fit with modern day like plumbing. The entire palace is constructed using wood. The chambers are vast, elegant and well preserved.
Shivaji himself used the “Raj Bhawan” from where he administered the kingdom. The palace rests on a dual podium and has wooden columns to carry the structure.
Tourists can also visit other sites in Raigad. The Gangasagar Lake is an artificial manmade lake adjacent to the fort. Legend has it that the water in the Lake is from the Holy Ganges. Shivaji was a practicing Hindu and built the famed Jagadishwar temple in his palace. The temple is a combination of Hindu and Mughal architecture. The ruins of the Jijamata Palace belonging to Shivaji’s mother can also be visited. Trekkers love visiting the “Takmok Tok” which is a rock face of over twelve hundred feet. It provides amazing views of the surrounding Sahyadri Mountains. It is believed that Shivaji used the point to punish traitors by throwing them off this very cliff.
A small town on the bank of the Savitri River, Mahad is often visited for the holy shrine of Shri Varad Vinayak. The incredible sight here is the eternal lamp which is said to have been burning here from 1892 AD. The temple is one of the Ashta Vinayak shrines of the State.
Raigad can be reached by road from Mumbai and Pune on the NH4. The Konkan railway line passes through Raigad. To know more about Raigad and Raigad-Hotels visit HolidayIQ