- Raigad Fort (Heaven on Earth)
• Location:
A hill fort in the state of Maharashtra, which is impregnable. And is a symbol of Swarajya and independence.
• Height:
Located some distance from Mahad city in the Sahyadri mountains in the western direction of Maharashtra, it has an average height of 820 meters above sea level.
Rajgad was previously the capital of the Maratha kingdom. But the nearby fort Kondhana fell into the hands of the enemies of Swarajya. Therefore, since the capital seemed unsafe, Chhatrapati Shivaji chose Raigad to secure the capital's stronghold.
• Raigad before coming to Swarajya:
Before joining Swarajya, Raigad was in the possession of the then Adilshahi Sardar Yashwantrao More in the Jawali Valley. At that time, its name was Rairi. Yashwantrao More opposed Shivaji's policy of Swarajya, so Shivaji got angry and took military action against the Mores and captured this fort and the Javali region. And later, knowing its importance, Shivaji made a proper capital for it.
On the way to Raigad, Chitta Darwaza is one kilometer away from Pachad. This gate has been damaged. From here onwards, one has to climb steps. There should be about 1425-30 steps to this fort.
• Mahadarwaja Raigad:
After climbing these steps, the Mahadarwaja is located ahead. The construction of the bastion near the Mahadarwaja is in the Gomukh style. Gomukh means a cow looking back and licking its calf while feeding milk. The advantage of that view, that style of construction, was that no matter how many cannons the enemy fired, it would sit on the bastion and the gate would remain safe. Also, the gate could not be broken. Because it was difficult for the army to attack with such speed. Also, lotus designs are carved on both sides of this gate. They are considered symbols of Lakshmi and Vidyadevi. That means that Lakshmi should be attained by the power of right intellect and should always reside here in Swarajya. The huge bastion near this gate protects this gate like an armed mavla. After entering through this gate, there is a small space called deodya for the guards to stay.
• Hatti Talao:
After passing through the Mahadarwaja, we had to go to the upper part of the fort. There is an elephant pond there. This pond was built for bathing and drinking water for the elephants in Gajshala. The stones here were used for construction. And this pond was built in the lowland created by it. The water that falls during the monsoon flows and accumulates here. And it feeds the elephants and horses throughout the year.
During the reign of Shiva, elephants were brought for coronation. But it was tiring to climb this fort. Then the then foreign British officers wondered how these elephants could have been brought here. Then the answer given by the then Mavla is thrilling, that, the young elephants were brought here earlier. And they were taken care of here. These are the elephants. Which were used during the coronation. This shows the foresight of the Maharaja. That he used to think foresight in any matter.
• Shirkai Devi Temple:
After climbing up from the elephant lake, we see a small temple. It is the temple of Goddess Shirkai. Shirke is the caretaker of this fort. The old keeper has a temple dedicated to his goddess ‘Shirkai’. On the other hand, there is an old small temple on the Holi Mala. Now its platform is left. That is the old Shirkai temple.
• Market:
After going further from the Shirkai temple, the remains of the market are visible. There are twenty-two shops on one side and forty-four shops on both sides, all of them on high beams. There is a large hall on the outside and small rooms on the inside to store materials. This market, which is structured like this, has a wide road running through the rows of shops on both sides. There is a forty-foot wide road that can accommodate two to three trucks at a time. During the Shiva era, a market used to be held on the fort. Many items, clothes, jewelry, food grains, spices, and items needed in daily life were traded.
• Holi garland:
Ahead of the bazaar, a wide plateau garland is visible. It is called Holi garland. On the full moon day of the month of Phalgun, Holi was lit here. Chhatrapati Shivaji himself used to throw coconuts into the Holi. At that time, Shivaji would announce that whoever would remove the coconut from the burning Holi would be rewarded with a golden bracelet. At that time, the fearless and courageous Dharmaveer Yuvraj Sambhajiraj had removed the coconut from the burning Holi. At this place, you can see a magnificent statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji.
• Stone-carved pot
After climbing a few steps from here, you can see a stone-carved pot in front of the Nagarkhana. It is a pot made for horses to drink water. Shivaji had a mare. Her name was Krishna. Some people say that her name was Kalyani. This pot was dug especially for her. The guide says that she used to drink water from this.
• Nagarkhana:
We see a tall, carved door-like structure near the water pot. That is the Nagarkhana. During the Shiva era, drums were played here during festivals and when any happy event happened. And in a way, it was a means of conveying the news to the ryots.
• Rajdarbar/ Rajya Sabha Raigad:
After entering the Nagarkhanya, we can see the remains of a magnificent Rajdarbar. This courtyard is 220 feet long and 124 feet wide. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was crowned here. At that time, the king was seated on a throne of thirty-two maunds of gold. After the Satavahana and Yadav dynasties, the official Chhatrapati of the Hindus was Shivaji Maharaj for Swarajya. The administration of Swarajya was seen from this structure facing east. The structure of this structure is such that even if someone speaks in a low voice near the Nagarkhanya, it can be heard all the way to the throne. Such a beautiful sound transmitting structure can be seen here.
Behind the Rajdarbar and the throne, we can see the remains of many buildings from the Shiva era. Their design gives an idea of the design of the then palaces and rooms.
• Granary:
Two large granaries can be seen on Raigad. When the fort was besieged, to meet the food needs of the above persons. Also, to meet the daily food needs of the fort, Chhatrapati Shivaji had built granaries.
• Secretariat:
There was a spacious secretariat building near the fort. All the accounts of the affairs were kept from here. Now only the ruins can be seen there.
• Gangasagar Lake:
We can see a lake below. The coronation ceremony of Chhatrapati Shivaji was organized. At that time, Pandit Gagabhatt of Kashi performed the priestly function. At that time, the water of the seven rivers (Sindhu, Ganga, Godavari, Kaveri, Narmada, Yamuna, Krishna) as well as the water of the three seas were brought. After the coronation, the remaining pilgrims were thrown into this lake. Since then, this lake has been named Gangasagar Lake. This is an uninterrupted source of water on the fort. The water here never runs out.
• Saptamajali Manore:
Tall manores can be seen near Gangasagar Lake. These were seven-storey manores. Whenever Chhatrapati Shivaji returned from a successful campaign, the saffron flag would be hoisted on that manore. Later, the British destroyed these manores.
• Khalbat Khana/ Secret Conversation Room:
There is an underground room near the manore. It is called Khalbat Khana. Political, military or other secret conversations were held here. Secret conversations were held between important leaders, officers, spies, Chhatrapati Shivaji and his trusted servants. From this, the crises facing Swarajya were discussed. Also, what solutions should be taken to overcome them were discussed.
• Taksal:
There is an open space on the east side near the manore. There was a Shivaji-era mint there. Where Shivaji-era gold and copper coins were minted. During that time, gold hono and copper Shivaji coins were mainly in circulation.
• Palace:
The remains of spacious rooms at the back are the remains of the palace of that time. This is where Chhatrapati Shivaji spent his last moments. This is also where Chhatrapati Shivaji died. And on 3 April 1680, the raiyat's wali passed away.
• Palkhi Darwaza Raigad:
The king ugsed to go in a palanquin through Palkhi Darwaza. After going up from there, there is Mena Darwaza, which is adjacent to Rani Vasya. The queens of the Maharaja and their servants used to live here. They used to sit in the mena while going out. For this, they used to come and go sitting in the mena through Mena Darwaza. That is why it got the name Mena Darwaza.
• Rani Vasya:
There were different rooms here for Chhatrapati Shivaji's wife and other servants. They also lived here.
• Mena Darwaza:
There is Mena Darwaza adjacent to Rani Vasya. The women of the royal family used to come and go sitting in the mena.
• Ashta Pradhan's Palace:
There were Ashta Pradhan and other members of the government to rule the fort. Their accommodation was arranged here. Palaces were built for them and their family to live in. Their remains can be seen on one side near the palace.
• Kushawart Lake:
After going along the right path of the Holi garland, a path leads to Kushawart Lake. There is a small Shiva temple there. You can see a Nandi in ruins in front of it.
• Wagh Darwaza:
A narrow gorge begins on the front side of Kushawart Lake. From there, a gate is opened, which is called Wagh Darwaza. It is quite difficult to climb up. However, while descending from here, you have to descend with the help of a rope. This gate was used during that time to escape from the Mughal siege.
• Hirkani Buruj:
A narrow path leads west from the right side of Gangasagar Lake. It goes straight to Hirkani Buruj, this place became famous due to the Hirkani gavlan. From this side, a gavlan Hirkani had descended from the fort with her sons. Shivaji built a tower at that place. That is the Hirkani Buruj. Many places come within the range of the cannon fire of this tower. This is a very important place in terms of war.
• Takmak Tok:
After going down the slope near the market place, we see some ruins on the side. They are the ruins of an ammunition depot. From there, a narrow path leads. On its right side, there is a deep and narrow ridge. After walking forward from there, we reach a ridge. That is Takmak Tok. From this place, traitors to Swarajya and criminals who have become dissolute were sent to this place. This was a place of punishment.
• Jagdishwar Temple:
Walking further down the market square, one can see the remains of the palace of the priests who worshipped Jagdishwar and the Brahmin settlement. From there, one can see a huge Jagdishwar temple. There is a Nandi in the premises of this temple. It has been vandalized a little. The beautiful assembly hall is still in good condition. A beautiful tortoise is seen in front of it, and in the hall, a beautiful statue of Jagdishwar, i.e. Shivshambhu, can be seen. There is an inscription on the steps of the entrance to this temple. It is about Heroji Indalkar, who was ready to serve. Shivaji, who built the entire Raigad, was pleased with the construction of the fort and asked him to ask for some reward. Then he demanded from Shivaji. That a step with my name should be placed at the entrance of Jagdishwar and whenever I come to see Jagdishwar, the dust of my feet should fall on this step. That's all he asked for. This shows his selfless attitude.
There is a difference in the construction of the Jagdishwar temple. In which the construction of its spire is like the dome-shaped akara of a mosque. From this it seems that it was built in such a way to deceive the enemy.
• Jagdishwar Temple Entrance Inscription:
On the right side of the Jagdishwar Temple, an inscription is seen carved in black stone. It is in the Shiva era Modi Marathi script. The meaning on it is written as (On the orders of the great Chhatrapati Shivaji Raja, the palace of Jagdishwar, which gives joy to the whole world, in the year 1596, when the Anand Naam Samvatsar was going on, a sculptor named Hiroji Indalkar, seeing the auspicious time, has built and erected wells, ponds, gardens, roads, pillars, pavilions, palaces, and palaces. They will last as long as the sun and moon exist.)
• Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Samadhi:
After coming out of the eastern gate of the temple, immediately at a short distance, on a high octagonal square, we can see the Samadhi of Chhatrapati Shivaji. After Shivaji himself reached Kailash, he was cremated in this area. His Raksha and ashes are resting in this Samadhi. When you go there, your mind becomes restless and sad. For a moment, you don't feel like moving from there. The same image of Shivaji begins to appear before your eyes. And tears flow.
A little further from there was a liquor warehouse. Now its ruins can be seen. Also, nearby, you can see the ruins of the huts built for the Mavlas in Shibandi to live.
• Friends, you should climb this fort at least once. And remember the prowess of Shivaji. Which will create an inspiration in you.
Ll Remember the form of Chhatrapati Shivaji, remember the glory, this place of the earth.ll
