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| {{More citations needed|date=September 2009}}{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}} | | {{Short description|Fort in Maharashtra, India}}{{Unreferenced|date=October 2025}} |
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| {{Use Indian English|date=August 2018}} | | {{Use Indian English|date=August 2018}} |
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| {{Infobox military installation | | {{Infobox military installation |
| | name = Ramshej Fort | | | name = Ramshej Fort |
| | native_name = | | | native_name = |
| | partof = | | | partof = |
| | location = [[Nashik]], [[Maharashtra]], India | | | location = [[Nashik]], [[Maharashtra]], India |
| |image = [[File:Ramshej Fort.jpg|300px]] | | | image = [[File:Ramshej Fort.jpg|300px]] |
| |caption = Ramshej fort from base village | | | caption = Ramshej fort from base village |
| | map_alt = Ramshej Fort within the map of Maharashtra | | | map_alt = Ramshej Fort within the map of Maharashtra |
| | pushpin_map = India#India Maharashtra | | | pushpin_map = India#India Maharashtra |
| | pushpin_map_caption = Ramshej Fort | | | pushpin_map_caption = Ramshej Fort |
| | coordinates = {{coord|20.112195|73.767354|type:landmark_region:IN-MH|display=inline}} | | | coordinates = {{coord|20.112195|73.767354|type:landmark_region:IN-MH|display=inline}} |
| | type = [[Fortification|Fort]] | | | type = [[Fortification|Fort]] |
| | code = | | | code = |
| | height =3200 feet | | | height = 3200 feet |
| | ownership = Govt. of India | | | ownership = Govt. of India |
| | controlled by = | | | controlled by = |
| | open_to_public = Yes | | | open_to_public = Yes |
| | condition = Ruins | | | condition = Ruins |
| | built = <!--{{Start date|YYYY}}--> | | | built = <!--{{Start date|YYYY}}--> |
| | builder = | | | builder = |
| | used = | | | used = |
| | materials = Stone | | | materials = Stone |
| | demolished = | | | demolished = |
| | battles = | | | battles = |
| | events = | | | events = |
| | past_commanders = Suryaji Jadhav | | | past_commanders = |
| | garrison = | | | garrison = |
| | occupants = | | | occupants = |
| |controlledby = {{flagcountry|Maratha Empire}} (<small> -1687</small>)<br />{{flagicon image|Flag of the Mughal Empire (triangular).svg}}Moghul Empire(<small>1687-1752</small>)<br />{{flagcountry|Maratha Empire}} (<small>1752-1818</small>)<br />{{flagcountry|United Kingdom}} | | | controlledby = {{flagcountry|India}} (<small>1947-</small>) |
| * {{flagicon image|Flag of the British East India Company (1801).svg}} [[East India Company]] (<small>1818-1857</small>)
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| * {{flagicon image|British Raj Red Ensign.svg}} [[British Raj]] (<small>1857-1947</small>)
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| {{flagcountry|India}} (<small>1947-</small>) | |
| }} | | }} |
| '''Ramsej''' or '''Ramshej Fort (Ramshej - Rama's bed)''' is a small fort located {{Convert|10|km|mi}} north-west of [[Nashik]], in the Indian state of [[Maharashtra]]. Lord [[Rama]] stayed in the fort for a short time while traveling to [[Sri Lanka]].<ref>{{cite web|date=2019-07-07|title=Ramshej Fort,Forts Maharashtra|url=https://www.fortsmaharashtra.com/ramshej-fort/|access-date=2022-01-14|website=Forts of Maharashtra|language=en-US}}</ref> The fort is located on the [[Nashik]]-[[Vapi]] route. | | '''Ramsej''' or '''Ramshej Fort''' is a small fort located {{Convert|10|km|mi}} north-west of [[Nashik]], in the Indian state of [[Maharashtra]]. The fort is located on the [[Nashik]]-[[Vapi]] route. |
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| ==History==
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| {{Main|Siege of Ramsej}}
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| '''Ramsej Fort''' is an historic fort in India.
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| == History ==
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| The fort was used in the fight against the [[Mughal Empire]] that lasted for six and a half years.<ref name="ramaur">{{cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-siege-of-ramsej-aurangzeb-was-frustrated-for-years-2672396|title=Siege of Ramsej: Aurangzeb was frustrated for years}}</ref> The fort's first [[Kiladar|''Killedar'']] (Fort commander) was Suryaji Jadhav. He was transferred after five and a half years, as per the rotation policy of the [[Maratha Empire]]. In 1682 [[Aurangzeb]] sent Sahabuddin Khan to conquer the fort. Shahbuddin Khan, with his 40,000 man army and artillery, vowed to capture the fort within a few hours, but the 600 Maratha soldiers in the fort held their posts and pushed the forces back for many months with a fierce array of slingshots, lit haystacks, and huge stones - even though they had no cannons. Mughal artillery managed to break the fort walls one evening. They assumed that the fort would be captured easily. However, the soldiers worked all night to rebuild the broken section of the wall, much to the despair and awe of the Mughals.
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| The inability of the artillery to capture the fort made Aurangzeb very frustrated and uneasy. He raised a wooden platform to storm the fort. [[Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj]] and his son [[Chatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj]] had a policy of keeping a healthy supply of ammunition in the fort, even though it had no cannons or guns. Ramsej was no exception and, even though it did not have cannons, its ammunition was sufficient. The Fort Commander came up with the idea to use amply-available animal skin and wood to make wooden cannons. Coupled with the ammunition already available in the fort, these wooden cannons inflicted heavy damage to the Mughal army. The retaliation from the Marathas was so strong that Aurangzeb left the command to Bahadurkhar Khan Kokaltash and fled to [[Junnar]].
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| Bahadurkhan tried to capture the fort by fooling Marathas into believing that the Mughals were preparing for a full-fledged frontal assault, while his real plan was to send 200 of his best troops to climb the steep cliff on the rear side of the fort. The Maratha commander became aware of the plan and allowed those soldiers to climb the rope. While they were climbing, he cut the rope, dooming the Mughal soldiers. Bahadurkhan was distraught and found that Marathas were receiving secret supplies from nearby forts. He carefully blocked all the paths to nearby Maratha forts, creating a dire food shortage. Seeing the situation, Maratha King Sambhaji acted quickly by sending his sardars - Rupaji Bhosle and Manaji - with 8,000 extra soldiers and supplies.
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| They tried to break through the Mughal line but were unable to supply the fort. Sambhaji worried greatly that his fiercely loyal and brave warriors were fighting without food. However, the weather supported the Marathas and due to severe weather conditions, Bahadurkhan relaxed his encirclement for one day. This enabled Rupaji and Manaji to deliver enough supplies for six more months. Bahadurkhan then tried to win the fort with the help of a 'mantrik' believing that the Marathas had ghosts under their control.
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| The Marathas again fooled him as the Mantrik was as a Maratha soldier in disguise who led the Mughal army to a deadly ambush. Bahadurkhan and Mughals fled the deadly ambush and several Mughals were killed in this surprise attack. Bahadurkhan was unable to siege the fort. Finally, he burnt the wooden platform and left the battle. [[Aurangzeb]] sent Kasim Khan Kirmani to lead the battle<ref>{{cite web |url=http://trekshitiz.com/trekshitiz/marathi/Ramshej-Trek-R-Alpha.html |title=Ramshej, Sahyadri,Shivaji,Trekking,Marathi,Maharastra |website=trekshitiz.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120828221722/http://www.trekshitiz.com/trekshitiz/marathi/Ramshej-Trek-R-Alpha.html |archive-date=2012-08-28}} </ref> and the Mughals ultimately conquered Ramshej Fort.
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| Ramsej was one of the forts that surrendered to the British Army in 1818 after the fall of [[Trymbakgad]] fort.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cultural.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/Nasik/022%20Places/001%20Place.htm#RamsejFort |title=Nasik District Gazetteers |publisher=Cultural.maharashtra.gov.in |date=1965-03-31 |accessdate=2022-08-12}}</ref> Captain Briggs reported 8 guns, 9 small cannons called ''jamburas''and 21 ''jingals'' there.
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| ==Geography==
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| The Fort is located on a high tableland with escarpments on all sides. Steps on the eastern side of the fort lead to the entrance gate. A temple of [[Lord Ram]] is at the entrance. A water cistern near the temple holds potable water.
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| On the eastern side of the fort is the main gate, which is chiseled from the parent rock. Rock-cut water cisterns are present in the fort. The hidden entrance gate on the eastern side of the fort leads to the path to Bhorgad fort which is about 3.21 km. (two miles) north-west of Ramsej
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| ==Gallery== | | ==Gallery== |
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| * [[List of forts in India]] | | * [[List of forts in India]] |
| * [[Sambhaji]] | | * [[Sambhaji]] |
| * [[Marathi people|Marathi People]]
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| * [[List of Maratha dynasties and states]]
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| * [[Maratha War of Independence]] | | * [[Maratha War of Independence]] |
| * [[Battles involving the Maratha Empire]] | | * [[Battles involving the Maratha Empire]] |
| * [[Maratha Army]]
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| * [[Maratha titles]]
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| * [[Military history of India]]
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| * [[List of people involved in the Maratha Empire]]
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| ==References== | | ==References== |
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| [[Category:Caves of Maharashtra]] | | [[Category:Caves of Maharashtra]] |
| [[Category:Tourist attractions in Nashik]] | | [[Category:Tourist attractions in Nashik]] |
| [[Category:Indian rock-cut architecture]] | | [[Category:Rock-cut architecture of India]] |
| [[Category:Former populated places in India]] | | [[Category:Former populated places in India]] |
| [[Category:Hiking trails in India]] | | [[Category:Hiking trails in India]] |
| [[Category:Backpacking|*]]
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| [[Category:Hiking]]
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India (1947-)
plateau on Fort
Outside view
Sunshine on the fort
Tree stood alone on the fort
Staircase
Rockcut water cistern
Inscriptions on the temple wall
Main entrance gate
