Monsoons are here and the greenery of Maharashtra is in its full grandeur. I personally could not fathom a better way of exploring than planning a trek with friends on a weekend and This time our destination was “ Raigad fort.”
Raigad is a hill fortress situated near Mahad, in Raigad district. It was known as the mountain of “Rairi” before it was captured by Shivaji Maharaj.
European historians have described it as ‘The Gibraltar of the East’.
The fort was called by 15 different names at different times – Raigad, Rairi, Islamgad, Nandadeep, Jambudweep, Tanas, Rashivata, Badenur, Raigiri, Rajgiri, Bhivgad, Reddi, Shivlanka, Rahir and Gibraltar of the east.
There are 2-3 ways to reach to the fort from Pune. One is via VarandhaGhat, whereas another route is Pune – Chadani chowk – TamhiniGhat – Mangaon – Take left before Mahad – Pachad village – Rope way base station.
If you are planning a trip to Raigad during post monsoon time then I will suggest you to go by third route which is Pune – TamhiniGhat – Nijampur – take left at Nijampur and then base village Pachad. This route is blessed with nature’s beauty during monsoon or in post monsoon. However, currently the condition of the road is poor near Pachad village.
How do you get started?
1. Pick a vehicle of your choice, which drops you on the footstep of the fort.
2.Climbing the fort by a trek or now, a ropeway is also available in a cheap price money.
3. A view of the execution point called “Takmak Tok”, a cliff from which the sentenced prisoner were thrown to their death (Marathi: kadelot). The area is now fenced.
4. The fort also has ruins of the market, and it has such structure that one can shop even while riding on a horse called as “Haal Bazaar” or “Bazaarpeth”.
5.Maha Darwaja (literary Huge Door) having two very huge bastion on both sides of the door which are approximately 65–70 feet height. the top of the fort is 600 ft higher from the location of this door. Fort was having only once access route which goes through this Maha Darwaja..
6.Khubladha Buruj, Nane Darwaja, Hatti Talav (Elephant Lake), Gangasagar are the famous attractions of the fort.
7. A statue of Shivaji is erected in front of the ruins of the main market avenue that eventually leads to the Jagdishwar Mandir and his own Samadhi (tomb) and that of his loyal dog Waghya.
8. The king’s public court (Durbar) has a replica of the original throne that faces the main doorway called the Nagarkhana Darwaja. This enclosure had been acoustically designed to aid hearing from the doorway to the throne.
9. There are people on the footstep of the fort in taparis (small stalls) where you can order food and till you climb up, the food is ready to serve. Guides are also available.
It includes bhakari (rice roti), pithala (thick besan curry) , chutney and yes bhajiyas (onions fried with a covering of besan).
They have huts on the top of the fort to serve you this.
10. The experience how nature can amuse you at its best.
So what are you waiting for?
Take a bagpack, some friends and go out there to make memories.
Set out into the wilderness and let the nature surprise you.
Happy Monsoon Readers J
35mmBlurB 
nice description, nice Fotos but one Point: what’s the purpose of putting on the Tshirt inside out, or was the Foto mirrored? haha. Nice Foto especially of the maharaj.
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Haha! The picture was a selfiee taken. And if u take such photos, thats how the font appears.
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