Sudhagad

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{{Citation style|date=October 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2017}}
{{Infobox military installation
|name = Sudhagad Fort
|partof = Lonavala Hill Range
|location = [[Raigad district]], [[Maharashtra]]
|image = [[File:Sudhagad Fort.jpg|300px]]
|caption = Sudhagad fort
|map_type=India Maharashtra
| map_size = 300
|map_caption = Shown within [[Maharashtra]]
|type = Hill fort
|coordinates = {{coord|18|32|19.8|N|73|19|13.3|E}}
|materials = Stone
|height = 590 m (1935ft)
|used = Capital fort
|condition = Ruins
|ownership = Government of India
|open_to_public = Yes
|controlledby = {{noflag}}[[Ahmadnagar Sultanate|Ahmadnagar]] (1521–1594) {{flagcountry|Portuguese Empire}} (1594) {{flagcountry|Maratha Empire}} (1739–1818) {{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
* {{flagicon image|Flag of the British East India Company (1801).svg}} [[East India Company]] (1818–1857)
* {{flagicon image|British Raj Red Ensign.svg}} [[British Raj]] (1857–1947)
{{flagcountry|India}} (1947–)
}}

'''Sudhagad''' / Bhorapgad is a [[hill fort]] situated in [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]. It lies about {{convert|53|km|mi}} west of [[Pune]], {{convert|26|km|mi}} south of [[Lonavla]] and {{convert|11|km|mi}} east of [[Pali, Raigad|Pali]] in [[Raigad District]]. The summit is {{convert|620|m|ft}} above sea level.<ref name="trek" /> The entire area around the fort is declared a Sudhagad [[wildlife sanctuary]].

== History ==
The origin of this fort is said to date back to the 2nd century B.C.,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://trekshitiz.com/trekshitiz/Ei/Sudhagad-Trek-Hill_forts-Category.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207024007/trekshitiz.com/trekshitiz/Ei/Sudhagad-Trek-Hill_forts-Category.html|archive-date=2019-12-07|url-status=dead|title=Sudhagad}}</ref>{{unreliable source?|date=July 2017}} the same age as the [[Thanale Caves]] and Khadsamble caves nearby. It was then called Bhorapgad<ref>{{cite web|url=http://raigad.nic.in/DG/1964/his_mediaeval_period.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170823195443/raigad.nic.in/DG/1964/his_mediaeval_period.html|archive-date=2017-08-23|title=History}}</ref> (after its presiding deity, Bhoraidevi). In 1436, it was captured by the [[Bahamani]] Sultan. In 1657, the Marathas took over and renamed it "Sudhagad"(''the sweet one''). It was a large fort and Sudhagad was considered by [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj]] as the capital of his kingdom. He surveyed it, but instead chose [[Raigad fort|Raigad]] because of its central location.{{Citation needed|date=January 2009}}

In the regime of the [[Peshwas]], the ‘Pantsachivas’ of Bhor<ref name="gunaji"/> became the custodians of this fort. After the annexation of princely states in 1950 the fort became patron less. As a result, the fort is in a state of ruins, even though it escaped the wrath of the British.

== Major Features ==
The first fort has several ruins of two temples dedicated to [[Lord Shiva]]. However, the temple of Bhoraidevi (its patron goddess) is well maintained temple.<ref name="gunaji" /> On the large plateau at the summit,<ref name="mountain">{{cite book|last=Kohli |first=M.S|title=Mountains of India|publisher=Indus Publishing|year=2004|edition=Illustrated|pages=254|isbn=81-7387-135-3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GIs4zv17HHwC&q=sudhagad&pg=PA254|access-date=2009-03-19}}</ref> there are two lakes, a house, a big granary, some tombs, a shrine (Vrindavan) and numerous other ruins, scattered around the fort area. There are three main gates the largest of which is called the Maha Darwaja.<ref name="gunaji" /> From the top, other forts like [[Sarasgad]], [[Korigad]], [[Ghangad]], Taila-Baila are clearly visible.

==Current use==
Sudhagad is a popular trekking destination as it is one of the better preserved forts in Maharashtra. It takes about 1–2 hours to reach the top of the fort. The trekking route from village Thakurwadi is most popular and regularly used. There are no water cisterns on the way. The night halt at the fort in any season can be made at Pantsachiv wada and Bhorai mata Mandir. There are two water ponds on the fort.<ref name="trek">{{cite book|last=Kapadia |first=Harish|title=Trek the Sahyadris|publisher=Indus Publishing|year=2004|edition=Illustrated|isbn=81-7387-151-5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oICZM5HKRbAC&q=sudhagad&pg=PA131|access-date=2009-03-19}}</ref><ref name="gunaji">{{cite book|last=Gunaji|first=Milind|title=Offbeat Tracks in Maharashtra|publisher=Popular Prakashan|year=2005|pages=40–41|isbn=81-7154-669-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JIjmDLardesC&q=sudhagad&pg=PA40|access-date=2009-03-17}}</ref> On the slopes of the fort there are trees of [[pandhri]]{{which lang|date=August 2021}} which are used to make a popular walking stick.<ref name=gunaji/>

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="200px">
File:Sudhagad entrance 2.jpg|Entrance of Sudhagad
File:Sudhagad 1.jpg|thumb|Shiva Temple on the fort
File:Sudhagad 2.jpg|thumb|PantsachivWada in Rains
File:Sudhagad 3.jpg|thumb|forest around the fort
File:Sudhagad 4.jpg|thumb|Bhoraidevi temple
File:Sudhagad entrance.jpg|thumb|Entrance of Sudhagad as seen from the higher ramparts of the fort
File:Chor vaat sudhagad.jpg|thumb|Secret escape route, Sudhagad fort
File:Sudhagad gates.jpg|Sudhagad main entrance
</gallery>

== References ==
{{reflist}}
* A rendezvous with Sahyadri by Harshal Mahajan 
* 'Sudgagad Darshan', written by Mr. Suresh Potdar 

{{coord|18.54|N|73.32|E|region:IN|display=title}}

== See also ==
{{commons category|Sudhagad}}
* [[List of forts in Maharashtra]]
* [[List of forts in India]]
* [[Baji Prabhu Deshpande]]
* [[Marathi people|Marathi People]]
* [[Maratha Navy]]
* [[List of Maratha dynasties and states]]
* [[Maratha War of Independence]]
* [[Battles involving the Maratha Empire]]
* [[Maratha Army]]
* [[Maratha titles]]
* [[Military history of India]]
* [[List of people involved in the Maratha Empire]]

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

[[Category:Konkan]]
[[Category:Lonavala-Khandala]]
[[Category:Talukas in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Forts in Raigad district]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Lonavala-Khandala]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures of the Maratha Empire]]
[[Category:16th-century forts in India]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Pune district]]
[[Category:Hiking trails in India]]

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Sudhagad