Rajgad Fort

2021-05-28T11:25:08Z

136.232.244.170: /* History */

{{short description|Hill fort in Pune district, Maharashtra, India}}
{{distinguish|Raigad Fort}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2017}}
{{Infobox military installation
| name = Rajgad Fort
| partof = on Maharashtra
| location = [[Pune District]], [[Maharashtra]] {{flagicon|IND}}
| pushpin_map =India Maharashtra#India
| pushpin_mapsize =300
| pushpin_map_caption =Shown within [[Maharashtra]]
| coordinates = {{coord|18.2467|73.6823|type:landmark_region:IN-MH|format=dms|display=inline}}
| type = Hill fort
| height = 1376 m
|
}}

'''Rajgad''' (literal meaning ''Ruling Fort'') is a hill fort situated in the [[Pune]] district of [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]. Formerly known as ''Murumdev'', the fort was the capital of the [[Maratha Empire]] under the rule of [[Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj]] for almost 26 years, after which the capital was moved to the [[Raigad Fort]].<ref name="Kulkarni2008">{{cite book|author=Prof. A. R. Kulkarni|title=Medieval Maratha Country|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OY5LDwAAQBAJ|date=1 July 2008|publisher=Diamond Publications|isbn=978-81-8483-072-9|chapter=Rajgad: The first capital of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj}}</ref> Treasures discovered from an adjacent fort called Torna were used to completely build and fortify the Rajgad Fort.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}}

The Rajgad Fort is located around {{Convert|60|km|mi|abbr=on}} to the south-west of Pune and about {{Convert|15|km|mi|abbr=on}} west of [[Nasrapur]] in the [[Sahyadris]] range. The fort lies {{Convert|1376|m|ft|abbr=on}} above the sea level. The diameter of the base of the fort was about {{Convert|40|km|mi|abbr=on}} which made it difficult to lay siege on it, which added to its strategic value. The fort's ruins consist of palaces, water cisterns, and caves. This fort was built on a hill called Murumbadevi Dongar (''Mountain of the Goddess Murumba''). Rajgad boasts of the highest number of days stayed by Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on any fort. {{citation needed|date=July 2017}}

==History==

The fort has stood witness to many significant historic events including the birth of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's son [[Rajaram I]], the death of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's Queen [[Maharani Saibai|Saibai]], the return of [[Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj]] from [[Agra]], the burial of [[Afzal Khan (general)|Afzal Khan]]'s head in the Mahadarwaja walls of Balle Killa, the strict words of Sonopant Dabir to [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj]].{{citation needed|date=July 2017}}

The Rajgad Fort was also one of the 12 forts that [[Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj]] kept when he signed the [[Treaty of Purandar (1665)|Treaty of Purandar]] in 1665, with the Mughal general [[Jai Singh I]], leader of the Mughal forces. Under this treaty, 23 forts were handed over to the Mughals.<ref>{{cite web|url =http://www.travelomy.com/rajgarh-fort/ | title =Rajgarh Fort History |publisher = Travelomy | access-date = 2012-02-08}}</ref>

===List of Chronological events===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
! style="width:6%" | Year || style="width:10%" | Date || Event
|-
| 1490 || || [[Malik Ahmad Nizam Shah I|Ahmed Bahiri Nizamshah]] captured the fort.
|-
| 1626 || || During the Nizam's last struggle, Adilshah captured the fort.
|-
| 1630 || || The fort was recaptured by Nizamshah with the help of [[Shahaji]].
|-
| 1642 || || The fort was in the [[jagir]] of Shahaji Raje.
|-
| 1647 || || Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj captured the fort.
|-
| 1649 || || Repairs on the fort began and Shamrao Neelkanth Ranzekar was appointed as the [[Peshwa]].
|-
| 1654 || || The fort was renamed as "Rajgad". Construction on new fortifications and buildings commenced.
|-
| 1658 || 14 January || Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj returned to Rajgad after conquering North Konkan.
|-
| 1659 || 11 July || Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj shifted to [[Pratapgad]] in order to battle with [[Afzal Khan (general)|Afzal Khan]].
|-
| 1659 || 5 September || [[Sai Bhosale|Maharani Saibai]] (Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's wife) died in the Rajgad Fort.
|-
| 1660 || July || Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj escaped from Siddi Jouhar's siege of Panhala and came to Rajgad.
|-
| 1661 || July || The idol of [[Bhavani]]mata, which was to be established in [https://www.newblogger.in/2020/04/Pratapgad-information-hindi.html Pratapgad], was first brought to Rajgad to be inspected by [[Jijabai]].
|-
| 1662 || January || The construction of the Rajgad fort was completed and Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj returned to the fort after capturing Pen and Kalyan.
|-
| 1664 || February || The booty of Surat was brought to Rajgad.
|-
| 1665 || 30 April || The Mughals were unsuccessful on their attack of the fort.
|-
| 1665 || June || Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's letter of accepting defeat was sent to Jaisingh.
|-
| 1670 || 24 February || Rajaram was born on the Fort.
|-
| 1671 || || The repairing of the fort began at an expected cost of 10,000 hons.
|-
| 1689 || June || The fort was captured by the Mughals after [[Sambhaji Maharaj]] was murdered.
|-
| 1692 || || Shankarji Narayan captured the fort from the Mughals.
|-
| 1697 || || Rajaram returned to Maharashtra and made Rajgad his new capital<ref name="Kulkarni2008"/>
|-
| 1701 || 4 August || Shahaji Mohite was made the havaldar of Padmavati Machi
|-
| 1704 || 18 February || The fort was handed over to [[Aurangzeb]] as part of a treaty. The fort was renamed to ''Nabishahagad''. Sidojirao Thopte and Santaji Shilimkar were killed here by Aurangzeb.
|-
| 1707 || 29 May || Gunaji Sawant captured the fort and The Maratha War of Independence ended.
|-
| 1709 || || [[Chhattrapati Shahu]] made provisions for the repairs of the fort.
|-
| 1818 || || The Rajgad Fort passed into the hands of the British.
|}

==Tourism==
The fort is a significant tourist destination and is most sought after especially during [[monsoon]]. Visitors prefer to stay overnight on the fort considering the fort itself is huge and cannot be explored in a single day. The Padmavati temple on the fort can accommodate around 50 people. Water tanks provide fresh water all throughout the year. Villagers from the foothills of Rajgad sell local antiques and items to these tourists.

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Gadancha Raja, Rajancha Gad.jpg|The Fort
File:Rajgad 28.JPG
File:Rajgad Fort.jpg
File:Rajgad 30.JPG
File:Rajgad 37.JPG
File:Rajgad3.jpg
File:Rajgad5.jpg
File:Rajgad012.jpg
File:Bali Khila Rajgad Maharashtra.jpg|Bale Killa, Rajgad
File:Ballekilla, Rajgad.jpg|Ballekilla, Rajgad
File:Sanjivani Machi-view from Rajgad Mahadwar.jpg|Sanjivani Machi-view from Rajgad Mahadwar
File:.... Rajgad 16.JPG|Rajgad
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Portal|India}}
* [https://www.newblogger.in/2020/04/Rajgad-fort-information-in-hindi.html Rajgad fort full information in hindi]
*[[List of forts in Maharashtra]]

{{Clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Clear}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Rajgad Fort}}
* [http://www.amazingmaharashtra.com/2012/12/rajgad.html Amazing Maharashtra]
* [http://www.punetrekkers.com/rajgad-fort Pune Trekkers]

{{Forts in Maharashtra}}
{{Forts in India}}
{{MarathaEmpire}}

[[Category:Forts in Pune district]]
[[Category:Former capital cities in India]]

Bharatpedia - User contributions [en]

Rajgad Fort