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{{Short description|Medieval fort in Maharashtra, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox military installation
| name = Panhala fort
| partof =
| location = [[Panhala]] [[Maharashtra]]
| image = Teen darwaza panhala.jpg
| image_size = 300px
| caption = Inner gate of Teen darwaza of Panhala fort, {{circa|1894}}
| pushpin_map = India Maharashtra
| pushpin_mapsize = 300
| pushpin_map_caption = Shown within [[Maharashtra]]
| coordinates = {{coord|16|48|32|N|74|06|33|E|type:landmark_region:IN-MH|format=dms|display=inline}}
| type = Hill fort
| code =
| height = {{convert|845|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} ASL
| ownership = Government of India
| controlledby = [[Shilahara]], [[Yadavas of Devagiri|Yadavas]], [[Bijapur Sultanate|Bijapur]], [[Maratha Empire|Marathas]], [[Mughal empire|Mughals]], [[East India Company]]
| open_to_public = Yes
| condition =
| built = 1178–1209 (construction)<br>1489–1557 (expansion)
| builder = [[Bhoja II (Shilahara dynasty)|Bhoja II]], [[Ibrahim Adil Shah I]]
| used = 1178–1947
| materials = Stone, Lead
| demolished =
| battles = [[Battle of Pavan Khind]]
| events =
| current_commander =
| past_commanders = [[Bhoja II (Shilahara dynasty)|Bhoja II]], [[Ibrahim Adil Shah I]], [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj]], [[Aurangzeb]], [[Tarabai]]
| garrison =
| occupants = [[Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj]], [[Ramchandra Pant Amatya]]
}}
'''Panhala fort''' (also known as '''Panhalgad''' and '''Panhalla''' ([[Literal translation|literally]] "the home of serpents")), is located in [[Panhala]], 20 kilometres northwest of [[Kolhapur]] in [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]. It is strategically located looking over a pass in the [[Sahyadri]] mountain range which was a major trade route from [[Bijapur, Karnataka|Bijapur]] in the interior of Maharashtra to the coastal areas.<ref name="tara"/> Due to its strategic location, it was the centre of several skirmishes in the [[Deccan Plateau|Deccan]] involving the [[Maratha Empire|Marathas]], the [[Mughal empire|Mughals]] and the British [[East India Company]], the most notable being the [[Battle of Pavan Khind]]. Here, the queen regent of [[Kolhapur]], [[Tarabai|Tarabai Ranisaheb]], spent her formative years. Several parts of the fort and the structures within are still intact. It is also called as the 'Fort of Snakes' as it is zigzagged in shape.<ref>800 years old Panhala fort called as Fort of Snakes:https://english.newstracklive.com/news/800-years-old-panhala-fort-called-the-home-of-serpents-sc108-nu910-ta272-1100816-1.html</ref>

== History ==
[[File:Lotus carving Panhala.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Lotus motif on Panhala of Raja Bhoj, who built the fort]]
[[File:Fine detail Panhala.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Peacock motif on Panhala fort of the Adil Shah Sultanis]]
Panahala fort was built between 1178 and 1209 CE, one of 15 forts (others including Bavda, [[Bhudargad]], Satara, and [[Vishalgad]]) built by the [[Shilahara]] ruler [[Bhoja II (Shilahara dynasty)|Bhoja II]]. It is said that aphorism [[Gangu Teli|Kahaan Raja Bhoj, kahan Gangu Teli]] is associated with this fort. A copper plate found in Satara shows that Raja Bhoja held court at Panhala from 1191–1192 CE. About 1209–10, Bhoja Raja was defeated by Singhana (1209–1247), the most powerful of the [[Yadavas of Deogiri|Devgiri Yadavas]], and the fort subsequently passed into the hands of the Yadavas. Apparently it was not well looked after and it passed through several local chiefs. In 1376 inscriptions record the settlement of Nabhapur to the south-east of the fort.<ref name="gazette">{{cite book|title=Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency|publisher=Govt Central Press|location=Bombay, India|year=1866|pages=[https://archive.org/details/gazetteerbombay19enthgoog/page/n321 314]–315|url=https://archive.org/details/gazetteerbombay19enthgoog|quote=norris panhala.|access-date=14 March 2009}}</ref>

It was an outpost of the [[Bahmani Sultanate|Bahamanis]] of [[Bidar]]. [[Mahmud Gawan]], an influential prime minister, encamped here during the rainy season of 1469. On the establishment of the Adil Shahi dynasty of [[Bijapur Sultanate|Bijapur]] in 1489, Panhala came under Bijapur and was fortified extensively. They built the strong ramparts and gateways of the fort which, according to tradition, took a hundred years to build. Numerous inscriptions in the fort refer to the reign of Ibrahim Adil Shah, probably Ibrahim I (1534–1557).<ref name="handbook"/>

=== Under Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ===
[[File:baji-prabhu.jpg|thumb|Statue of [[ Veer Baji Prabhu Deshpande]] at Panhala]]

[[File:panhala.11.jpg|thumb|Statue of Veer Shiva Kashid at Panhala fort]]
In 1659, after the death of the Bijapur general [[Afzal Khan (general)|Afzal Khan]], in the ensuing confusion [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj]] took Panhala from Bijapur.<ref>{{cite book|last=Kulkarni|first=A.R.|title=Marathas and the Marathas Country |publisher=Books and Books|year=1996|isbn=9788185016504|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kyBuAAAAMAAJ&q=panhala+fort|access-date=2009-01-28}}</ref> In May 1660, to win back the fort from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Adil Shah II (1656–1672) of Bijapur sent his army under the command of Siddi Johar to lay siege to Panhala. Shivaji Raje fought back and they could not take the fort. The siege continued for 5 months, at the end of which all provisions in the fort were exhausted and Shivaji Raje was on the verge of being captured.

Under these circumstances, Shivaji Raje decided that escape was the only option. He gathered a small number of soldiers along with his trusted commander [[Veer Baji Prabhu Deshpande]] and, on 13 July 1660,<ref>{{cite book|last=Indian Institute of Public Administration Maharashtra Regional Branch|title=Shivaji and Swarajya|publisher=Orient Longman|year=1975|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ytQgAAAAMAAJ&q=panhala+fort|access-date=2009-01-28}}</ref> they escaped in the dead of night to flee to Vishalgad. Veer Baji Prabhu and a barber, veer Shiva Kashid, who looked like Shivaji Raje, kept the enemy engaged, giving them an impression that veer Shiva Kashid was actually Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. In the ensuing battle (''see [[Battle of Pavan Khind]]''), almost three quarters of the one thousand strong force died, including Veer Baji Prabhu himself.<ref name="diamond">{{cite book|last=Rana|first=Bhawan Singh|title=Chhatrapati Shivaji|year=2005|publisher=Diamond Books|pages=40–42|isbn=81-288-0826-5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HsBPTc3hcekC&q=panhala+fort&pg=PA41|access-date=2009-01-28}}</ref><ref name="gordon">{{cite book|last=Gordon|first=Stewart |title=The Marathas, 1600–1818|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=1993|isbn=0-521-26883-4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iHK-BhVXOU4C&q=panhala+fort&pg=PA68|access-date=2009-01-28}}</ref> The fort went to Adil Shah. It was not until 1673 that Shivaji Raje could occupy it permanently.

[[Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj]], Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's son and successor to the throne Shivaji Raje met his brave son after he escaped from the Camp of Diler Khan after executing his father political agenda to bring Aurangzeb's successor over to the Maratha's.<ref>{{cite book|last=Takakhav|first=Nilkant Sadashiv |author2=Kr̥shṇarāva Arjuna Keḷūsakara |title=Life of Shivaji, Founder of the Maratha Empire|publisher=Sunita Publications|year=1985|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F-q1AAAAIAAJ&q=panhala+fort|access-date=2009-01-28}}</ref> He escaped from here along with his wife on 13 December 1678<ref name="glimpses">{{cite book|last=Gupta|title=Glimpses of Indian History|date=January 2002|publisher=Anmol Publications PVT. LTD.|pages=96–97|isbn=81-261-1186-0|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WJpgdh2tA1UC&q=panhala+fort&pg=PA96|access-date=2009-01-28}}</ref> and attacked Bhupalgad. He returned to Panhala, however, on 4 December 1679 to reconcile with his father<ref name="glimpses"/> just before his father's death on 4 April 1680. At the height of Shivaji's power in 1678, Panhala housed 15,000 horses and 20,000 soldiers.<ref>{{cite book|last=Krishna|first=Bal|title=Shivaji the Great|publisher=Arya Book Depot|year=1940|url=https://archive.org/stream/shivajithegreat035466mbp/shivajithegreat035466mbp_djvu.txt|access-date=2009-01-28}}</ref>
also the main darwaza was chaar darwaza

=== Under the Kolhapur kings ===
[[File:panhala.20.jpg|thumb|upright|Konkan Darwaja - Another entrance to the fort]]
When Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj died, Sambhaji Raje was able to convince the garrison at Panhala to join him in overthrowing his stepbrother [[Rajaram Chhatrapati|Rajaram Raje]] thus becoming the [[Chhatrapati]] (king) of the Maratha Empire. In 1689, when Sambhaji was imprisoned by Aurangzeb's general Mukkarab Khan at Sangameshwar, the Mughals came to possess the fort.<ref name="gazette"/> However, it was re-captured in 1692 by Kashi Ranganath Sarpotdar under the guidance of Parshuram Pant Pratinidhi a Maratha garrison commander of the fort of [[Vishalgad]]. In 1701 Panhala finally surrendered to Aurangzeb, who came for it in person.<ref name="gazette"/> On 28 April 1692 the Mughal Emperor famously received the English ambassador [[Sir William Norris, 1st Baronet|Sir William Norris]] at Panhala fort. Norris spent "300 pounds in fruitless negotiation" with Aurangzeb but the details of what was being discussed were not disclosed.<ref name="gazette"/> Within a few months the fort was retaken by the Maratha forces under [[Ramchandra Pant Amatya]].<ref name="gazette"/>

In 1693, Aurangzeb attacked it again. This led to another long siege in which Rajaram escaped disguised as a beggar to [[Gingee Fort]],<ref name="Mughal">{{cite book|last=Agrawal|first=Ashwini |title=Studies in Mughal History|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|year=1993|pages=167|isbn=81-208-2326-5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AZdCrUxFAHEC&q=panhala+fort&pg=PA167|access-date=2009-01-30}}</ref> leaving his 14-year-old wife [[Tarabai|Tarabai Ranisaheb]] in Panhala. As Aurangzeb pursued Rajaram Raje, Tarabai Ranisaheb would stay at Panhala for almost five years before meeting her husband again. During this formative period of her life, Tarabai Ranisaheb looked after the administration of the fort, resolved disputes, and gained the respect of the people. The time she spent at Panhala provided her with experience in courtly matters and the support of her officers,<ref name="tara">{{cite book|last=Eaton|first=Richard Maxwell|title=The New Cambridge History of India|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2005|pages=180–194|isbn=0-521-25484-1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DNNgdBWoYKoC&q=panhala+fort&pg=PA180|access-date=2009-01-28}}</ref> which would influence later events. Rajaram Raje did send reinforcements from Gingee, and Panhala came into Maratha's hands in October 1693.<ref name="Mughal"/>

In 1700, [[Rajaram Chhatrapati|Rajaram Raje]], died leaving behind a 12-year-old son—[[Shivaji II]]—by his wife [[Tarabai]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Kulkarni|first=A.R.|author2=Nayeem, M.A|title=History of Modern Deccan|publisher=Abul Kalam Azad Oriental Research Institute|year=2000|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IjJuAAAAMAAJ&q=panhala+fort|access-date=2009-01-28}}</ref> In 1705, [[Tarabai]] asserted her autonomy by founding an independent dynasty in the name of her son Shivaji II and ruling it as regent with Panhala as her headquarters. In Tarabai Ranisaheb's war with [[Shahuji]] of Satara in 1708, Shahu took Panhala and Tarabai fled to [[Malvan]] in Ratnagiri. Shortly after, in 1709, Tarabai again took Panhala, established [[Kolhapur#Kolhapur as a princely state|a separate state]] (Kolhapur
[[Rajaram Chhatrapati|Rajaram]] Raje by his second wife Rajasbai Ranisaheb succeeded to the throne. He died without issue in 1760. His widow Jijabai Ranisaheb  adopted the son of a Sahaja Bhonsle of Canvas. Thus, Jijabai Ranisaheb became the acting regent during the time that her adopted son was a minor. She came to believe that to prevent the fall of Panhala, the Mahakali shrine at the fort had to be ritually offered human blood for the appeasement of Goddess Kali. She would periodically send out her soldiers at night to scour the neighboring villages for victims.<ref name="gazette"/> This practice would continue until her death in 1772. One of the towers near were these sacrifices occurred is still called the Kali tower. There were reports of Jijabai Ranisaheb bestowing a plot of land to an oilman or [[Teli]] in return for the grant of his daughter-in-law to be buried alive under one of the Panhala towers.<ref name="gazette"/> A shrine to the Teli's daughter-in-law (Gangubai) was subsequently erected and it is still a pilgrimage site for the people of the Teli community.<ref name="rediff"/>

In 1782, the seat of the Kolhapur government was moved from Panhala to Kolhapur. In 1827, under [[Shahaji I]]<ref>{{cite web|title=shahaji 1|url=http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?topic=19667.0}}</ref> (1821–1837), Panhala and its neighboring fort [[Pavangad]] were given over to the [[British Raj]]. In 1844, during the minority of [[Shivaji IV]] (1837–1860), Panhala and Pavangad were taken by rebels who seized Colonel Ovans, the Resident of Satara, when he was on tour and imprisoned him in Panhala. A British force under General Delamotte was sent against the rebels and on 1 December 1844 breached the fort wall, took it by storm and dismantled the fortifications.<ref>{{cite book|last=Divekar|first=V. D.|title=South India in 1857 War of Independence |publisher=Lokmanya Tilak Smarak Trust|year=1993|pages=163|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XZNuAAAAMAAJ&q=panhala+fort|access-date=2009-01-28}}</ref> Thereafter, a British garrison was always left to guard the fort. The administration of the fort remained with Kolhapur until 1947.

== Major features ==
[[File:Pavangarh fort.jpg|thumb|left|Plan of the fort]]

It is one of the largest forts in the Deccan, with a perimeter of {{convert|14|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} and 110 lookout posts. It is {{convert|845|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} above sea level.<ref name="imperial">{{cite book|title=Imperial Gazetteer of India|publisher=Sup. Govt. Print|year=1909|pages=523|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-R62AAAAIAAJ&q=panhala+fort|access-date=2009-01-28}}</ref> This fort is built on the [[Western Ghats|Sahyadris]], rising more than {{convert|400|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} above its surrounding plain. Numerous tunnels stretch out from underneath the fort, one of which is almost 1 km long.<ref name="rediff"/> Most of the architecture is of the Bijapuri style with the peacock motif of the Bahmani Sultanate prominently visible on several structures. Some of the older bastions also have the lotus motif of Bhoja II. There are several monuments at the fort which are considered notable by the [[Archaeological Survey of India]].<ref name="nic">{{cite web|url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_maharashtra_mumbai.asp|title=List of monuments by the Archaeological Survey of India|year=2008|publisher=Government of India|access-date=2009-03-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929104703/http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_maharashtra_mumbai.asp|archive-date=29 September 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
[[File:Insite Panhala fort.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Andhar Bavai - the Hidden Well]]
[[File:Panhala walls on Konkan side.jpg|thumb|Panhala fortifications (tatabandi)]]

=== Fortifications and bastions ===
More than 7 km of fortifications (''Tatabandi'') define the approximately triangular zone of Panhala fort. The walls are protected for long sections by steep [[escarpments]], reinforced by a parapet with slit holes. The remaining sections have {{convert|5|–|9|m|ft|abbr=on}} high ramparts without a parapet, strengthened by round bastions the most notable of which is Rajdindi. (See later section)

=== Andhar Bavadi ===
Whenever an army besieged a fort, their first action was to poison the main water source of the fort. To counter this, Adil Shah commissioned the building of the Andhar Bavadi (Hidden Well).<ref name="rediff">{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/travel/1998/feb/24kol.htm|title=A Long Weekend in Kolhapur |last=Srinivasam|first=V.|access-date=2009-01-31}}</ref> This is a three-storey structure<ref name="gunaji"/> with winding staircases that conceal the well which was the main water source for Panhala fort. There are recesses in the wall so that soldiers can be permanently stationed. Several hidden escape routes in the Andhar Bavai lead outside the fort. With its own water source, living quarters and its own exit routes, likely this structure was designed like a fort within a fort with the intention of making it an emergency shelter in case the main fort fell.<ref name=fort>{{cite book|title=Forts of India|last=Verma|first=Amrit|year=1985|publisher=The Director of Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India|location=New Delhi|page=89-90|isbn=81-230-1002-8}}</ref>

=== Kalavanticha Mahal ===
[[File:Kalavantin's Mahal (Dansuese's Palace) Panhala.jpg|thumb|Kalvanticha Mahal (The courtesan's palace)]]
The name of this building, which is also called ''Nayakini Sajja'', literally means "Courtesans' Terrace room". It stands on the east side of the fort close to the rampart. By 1886, it had become a complete wreck with only traces of ornamental work on the ceiling.<ref name="gazette"/> This was used during the occupation of the fort by the Bahmani Sultanate as a Rang Mahal<ref name="ceylon"/>(residences for the ladies of the court<ref name="rang">{{cite book|last=Nath|first=R. |title=History of Mughal Architecture|publisher=Abhinav Publications|year=2006|edition=Illustrated|isbn=81-7017-414-7|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ah9yDUfWvBcC&q=rang+mahal&pg=RA2-PA357|access-date=2009-03-17}}</ref>)
[[File:Ambarkhana on Panhala.jpg|thumb|left|Amberkhana(the granary)]]

=== Ambarkhana ===
The Amberkhana, situated in the center of the fort, were three granaries built in the [[Bijapur Sultanate#Art and architecture|Bijapuri style]] of architecture. They enabled Shivaji to withstand a 5-month siege by Siddhi Johar.<ref name="ceylon">{{cite book|last=Keating|first=Richard |author2=John Murray |author3=Arthur Hamilton Gordon |author4=Charles Edward Buckland |author5=George William David Starck Forrest |author6=Norwood Young |title=A handbook for travellers in India, Burma and Ceylon|publisher=J. Murray|year=1898|edition=3|pages=[https://archive.org/details/ahandbookfortra05murrgoog/page/n461 299]|url=https://archive.org/details/ahandbookfortra05murrgoog|quote=panhala gates.|access-date=2009-03-16}}</ref> It consists of three buildings called the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati Kothis. The Ganga kothi, which was the largest, had a capacity of 25,000 khandis<ref>{{cite book|last=Sarkar|first=Jagadish Narayan|title=Some Aspects of Military Thinking and Practice in Medieval India|publisher=Ratna Prakashan|year=1974|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ULdXAAAAMAAJ&q=panhala+fort|access-date=2009-01-28}}</ref> (with one khandi being 650 lbs). It covers an area of 950 sq m and is 10.5 m high.<ref name="maha"/> Rice, [[Finger millet|nachni]] and [[warai]] were the major provisions stored.<ref name="gunaji"/> Stairs on both sides lead the top of the buildings. It has sixteen bays each with its own flat vault with a hole on top through which grain used to be passed.<ref name="gazette"/> The eastern entrance has a domed chamber with a balcony and plasterwork of the Bijapuri style.<ref name="amber">{{cite book|last=Forbes|first=Geraldine|author2=B. R. Tomlinson |author3=Sugata Bose |author4=Stewart Gordon |author5=J. S. Grewal |author6=P. J. Marshall |author7=C. A |title=The new Cambridge history of India|year=1999|publisher=Cambridge University Press|pages=44–45|isbn=0-521-56321-6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aHcfv6zkJgQC&q=panhala+slits&pg=PA44|access-date=2009-03-16}}</ref>{{clear}}
[[File:Inside Sajja Kothi on Panhala.jpg|thumb|The plasterwork inside Sajja Kothi]]
[[File:Panhala.24.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Wagh Darwaza, Panhala]]

=== Dharma Kothi ===
This was an additional granary next to the three granaries that constituted the Amberkhana. It was a stone building 55 feet by 48 feet by 35 feet high. This has an entrance and a staircase that leads to the terrace.<ref name="gazette"/> Grain was distributed from here to the needy.{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}}

=== Sajja Kothi ===
Sajja Kothi is a one-storey structure built by Ibrahim Adil Shah in 1500 CE.<ref>{{cite book|last=Directorate of Tourism Maharashtra (India)|title=A Panorama of Maharashtra|publisher=Govt. Central Press|year=1962|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9IHM7fJZWBUC&q=sajja+kothi|access-date=2009-01-30}}</ref> It is also built in the [[Bijapur Sultanate#Art and architecture|Bijapuri style]]. Sajja Kothi was constructed as a viewing pavilion looking over the valley below. The domed upper chambers have faceted [[pendentive]]s with the balconies hanging over the ramparts of the fort.<ref name="amber"/><ref name="maha"/> {{clear}}
[[File:Panhala fort entrance.jpg|thumb|upright|Inner gate of Teen darwaza]]

=== Teen Darwaza ===
The Teen Darwaza was one of the three double gateways of the fort - the others being the Char Darwaja and Wagh Darwaja.<ref name="kolhapur"/> The Char Darwaza was destroyed when during the British siege. The Teen Darwaja gate which is the main entrance to the fort is located north of the Andhar Bavai<ref name="gunaji"/> on the West side of the fort.<ref name="ceylon"/> It is a double gate with a court in between that has [[Arcade (architecture)|arcades]]. The outer gate has an ornate chamber on top with decorated [[eaves]]. The inner gate from the court is highly decorated with the [[lintel]] having finely carved motifs,<ref name="amber"/> including one of [[Ganesh]]. The latter has been placed by the Marathas during their occupation of the fort.<ref name="amber"/> There are three Persian inscriptions—one on top and one each on either side. All three declare that the gate "was built in the reign of Ibrahim Adil Shah I by Malik Daud Aki son of Minister Ahmed" in 954 [[Islamic calendar|AH]] (1534 CE).<ref name="gazette"/><ref name="handbook">{{cite book|last=Eastwick|first=Edward B.|title=Handbook of the Bombay Presidency: With an Account of Bombay City|publisher=John Murray| year=1881 |edition=2| pages=[https://archive.org/details/handbookbombayp00firgoog/page/n290 268]–269| url=https://archive.org/details/handbookbombayp00firgoog|quote=panhala fort.|access-date=2009-01-30}}</ref>

=== Wagh Darwaza ===
This was another entrance to the fort. It was designed to elude invaders such that they would get trapped into a small courtyard and could then be easily neutralized. It has an elaborate [[Ganesh]] motif at the entrance. {{Citation needed|date=March 2009}}

=== Rajdindi bastion ===
The Rajdindi bastion was one of the hidden exits of the fort to be used in times of an emergency. It was used by Shivaji to escape to [[Vishalgad]] during the [[Battle of Pavan Khind]].<ref name="gunaji"/><ref name="maha"/> Rajdindi is still intact.<ref name="maha">{{cite web|url=http://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/MTDC/HTML/MaharashtraTourism/TouristDelight/Forts/Forts.aspx?strpage=PanhalaFort.html|title=Maharashtra State Tourism Website|access-date=2009-01-28}}</ref>

=== Temples and mausoleums ===
[[File:Shivaji temple on Panhala fort.jpg|thumb|upright|Shivaji temple, Panhala fort|alt=Shivaji temple, Panhala fort]]
There are temples devoted to Sambhaji II, Someshwar and Ambabai in addition to the Mahakali temple. The Ambabai temple is very old and it was here that Shivaji would make offerings before embarking on major expeditions. The mausoleum of Jijabai lies opposite to that of her husband, Sambhaji II.<ref name="imperial"/> [[Ramchandra Pant Amatya]] (who wrote ''[[Adnyapatra]]'', a treatise on Maratha policy) was the youngest minister in Shivaji's fort. He died at Panhala fort and a mausoleum was erected here for him and his wife. The mausoleums were covered with rubble till 1941 and till 1999 had not undergone any restoration work.<ref name="express">{{cite news|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/ie/daily/19990501/ige01112.html|title=Shivaji's minister awaits a fair deal|last=Jathar|first=Dayanesh|date=May 1, 1999|publisher=Indian Express|access-date=2009-03-16}}</ref> Also a mausoleum to [[Moropant]] an 18th-century Marathi poet who wrote poetry in the adjacent [[Panhala#Parashar caves|Parashar caves]] can be seen. A shrine to a Muslim saint Sadhoba is also present.<ref name="kolhapur">{{cite web|url=http://kolhapur.nic.in/KolhapurGazetteer/places_Panhala.html|title=Kolhapur District Gazetteer|publisher=Government of India|access-date=2009-03-16}}</ref>

== Current use ==
[[File:Green Valley of Panhala.jpg|center|750px|Green Valley of Panhala, an view from Jotiba Ghat Road]]
The palace of [[Tarabai]], arguably the fort's most famous resident, is still intact. It is now used to house a school, several government offices and a boys' hostel.<ref name="gunaji">{{cite book|last=Gunaji|first=Milind|title=Offbeat Tracks in Maharashtra|publisher=Popular Prakashan|year=2005|pages=29–31|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JIjmDLardesC&q=panhala+fort&pg=PA29|access-date=2009-01-28 | isbn=978-81-7154-669-5}}</ref> there are two buildings for food storage .The rest of the fort is in ruins though the structures within the fort are frequented by tourists who visit Panhala town- a major hill station. It has been declared as a protected monument by the government.<ref>{{cite web|title=List of the protected monuments of Mumbai Circle district-wise|url=http://www.asimumbaicircle.com/images/list-of-protected-monuments-n-forts.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606093840/http://www.asimumbaicircle.com/images/list-of-protected-monuments-n-forts.pdf|url-status=usurped|archive-date=6 June 2013}}</ref> The Masai Pathar behind Panhala fort was chosen as an alternative location to shoot [[Padmaavat]] film.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sengar |first1=Resham |title=Padmavati shooting location Masai Pathar is breathtakingly beautiful! |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/padmavati-shooting-location-masai-pathar-is-breathtakingly-beautiful/as61765924.cms |access-date=13 July 2020 |work=Times of India Travel |date=November 23, 2017}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{commons category|Panhala Fort}}
* [[List of forts in Maharashtra]]
* [[Baji Prabhu Deshpande]]

== External links ==
* {{cite web|url=http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/pdf/gazeetter_reprint/Kolhapur/appendix_e.html|title=Translations of Panhala inscriptions|publisher=Government of Maharashtra|access-date=2009-03-19}}
* [http://www.punetrekkers.com/panhala-fort Pune Trekkers]

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

{{Forts in Maharashtra}}
{{Forts in India}}
{{MarathaEmpire}}
{{Kolhapur district topics}}

[[Category:Forts in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures of the Maratha Empire]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Kolhapur district]]
[[Category:1178 establishments in Asia]]
[[Category:12th-century establishments in India]]

Panhala Fort - Revision history

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