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The mountainous districts of Western Maharashtra are dotted with the ruins of hundreds of mountain forts mainly from theDeccan Sultanates and theMaratha Empire eras. Some such as Daulatabad fort are even older. These forts and the surrounding hills are popular among people interested in trekking, hiking, andheritage tourism related to the life and times ofChhatrapati Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha Empire. Notable forts popular with tourists includeShivaneri,Rajgad,Sinhagad,Raigad, andPratapgad.[1] A group of 11 such forts in Maharashtra along with one fort in Tamil Nadu, officially called theMaratha Military Landscapes of India, were recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 2025.[2][3][4][5]
Many, if not most of these forts were destroyed by theBritish after they defeated the Maratha empire.In order to stop the defeated Maratha forces from regrouping by taking refuge in the mountain forts,the then British governor ofBombay,Mountstuart Elphinstone ordered most of these forts to be demolished, and all that remains today is ruins.[6]