Rajgad Fort should not be confused with Raigad Fort.
| Rajgad Fort | |||||||
| Partof: | on Maharashtra | ||||||
| Location: | Pune District, Maharashtra | ||||||
| Pushpin Map: | India Maharashtra#India | ||||||
| Pushpin Mapsize: | 300 | ||||||
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Shown within Maharashtra | ||||||
| Coordinates: | 18.246°N 73.6822°W | ||||||
| Type: | Hill fort | ||||||
| Height: | 1376 m | ||||||
| Architect: | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj | ||||||
| Ownership: |
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| Open To Public: | Yes
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Rajgad (literal meaning ruling fort) is a Hill region fort situated in the Pune district of Maharashtra, India. Formerly known as Murumbdev, the fort was the first capital of the Maratha Empire under the rule of Chhatrapati Shivaji for almost 26 years, after which the capital was moved to the Raigad Fort.[1] Treasures discovered from an adjacent fort called Torna were used to completely build and fortify the Rajgad Fort.
The Rajgad Fort is located around 60km (40miles) to the south-west of Pune and about 15km (09miles) west of Nasrapur in the Sahyadris range. The fort lies 1376m (4,514feet) above the sea level. The diameter of the base of the fort was about 40km (30miles) 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 Chhatrapati Shivaji on any fort.
The fort has stood witness to many significant historic events including the birth of Chhatrapati Shivaji's son Rajaram I, the death of Shivaji's wife Saibai, the return of Shivaji from Agra, the burial of Afzal Khan's head in the Mahadarwaja walls of Balle Killa, the strict words of Sonopant Dabir to Shivaji.
The Rajgad Fort was also one of the 12 forts that Shivaji kept when he signed the 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.[2]
| 1647 | Chhatrapati 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 | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj returned to Rajgad after conquering North Konkan. | |
| 1659 | 11 July | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj shifted to Pratapgad in order to battle with Afzal Khan. | |
| 1659 | 5 September | Maharani Saibai (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's wife) died in the Rajgad Fort. | |
| 1660 | July | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj escaped from Siddi Jouhar's siege of Panhala and came to Rajgad. | |
| 1661 | July | The idol of Bhavanimata, which was to be established in Pratapgad, was first brought to Rajgad to be inspected by Jijabai. | |
| 1662 | January | The construction of the Rajgad fort was completed and Chhatrapati 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 | Chhatrapati 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. | ||
| 1674 | 6 June | Coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj happened on Riagard Fort | |
| 1689 | June | The fort was captured by the Mughals after Sambhaji was murdered. | |
| 1692 | Shankarji Narayan captured the fort from the Mughals. | ||
| 1697 | Rajaram returned to Maharashtra and made Rajgad his new capital | ||
| 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 | Shahu made provisions for the repairs of the fort. | ||
| 1818 | The Rajgad Fort passed into the hands of the British. |
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.