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| Rajgad Fort | |
|---|---|
| Part of on Maharashtra | |
| Pune District, Maharashtra | |
 Rajgad Fort | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Hill fort |
| Owner |
|
| Open to the public | Yes |
| Location | |
  Rajgad Fort Rajgad Fort (India) Show map of India | |
 | |
| Coordinates | 18°14′46″N73°40′56″E / 18.2459862°N 73.6821929°E /18.2459862; 73.6821929 |
| Height | 1376 m |
| Site history | |
| Architect | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj |
Rajgad (literal meaningruling fort) is a Hill region fort situated in thePune district ofMaharashtra, India. Formerly known asMurumbdev, the fort was the first capital of theMaratha Empire under the rule ofChhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj for almost 26 years, after which the capital was moved to theRaigad Fort.[1] Treasures discovered from an adjacent fort calledTorna were used to completely build and fortify the Rajgad Fort.[citation needed]
The Rajgad Fort is located around 60 km (37 mi) to the south-west of Pune and about 15 km (9.3 mi) west ofNasrapur in theSahyadris range. The fort lies 1,376 m (4,514 ft) above the sea level. The diameter of the base of the fort was about 40 km (25 mi) 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 Shivaji on any fort.[citation needed]
The fort has stood witness to many significant historic events including the birth of Shivaji's sonRajaram I, the death of Shivaji's wifeSaibai, the return of Shivaji fromAgra, the burial ofAfzal Khan's head in the Mahadarwaja walls of Balle Killa, the strict words of Sonopant Dabir to Shivaji.[citation needed]
The Rajgad Fort was also one of the 12 forts that Shivaji kept when he signed theTreaty of Purandar in 1665, with the Mughal generalJai Singh I, leader of the Mughal forces. Under this treaty, 23 forts were handed over to the Mughals.[2]
| 1647 | Chhatrapati Shivaji captures the fort. | |
| 1649 | Repairs on the fort began and Shamrao Neelkanth Ranzekar was appointed as thePeshwa. | |
| 1654 | The fort was renamed as "Rajgad". Construction on new fortifications and buildings commenced. | |
| 1658 | 14 January | Shivaji returns to Rajgad after conquering North Konkan. |
| 1659 | 11 July | Shivaji shifts toPratapgad in order to battle withAfzal Khan. |
| 1659 | 5 September | Maharani Saibai (Shivaji's wife) died in the Rajgad Fort. |
| 1660 | July | Shivaji escaped from Siddi Jouhar's siege of Panhala and came to Vishalgad and then to Rajgad. |
| 1661 | July | The idol ofBhavanimata, which was to be established in Pratapgad, was first brought to Rajgad to be inspected byJijabai. |
| 1662 | January | The construction of the Rajgad fort was completed and Shivaji 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 | Shivaji'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 Shivaji happened on Riagard Fort[citation needed] |
| 1689 | June | The fort was captured by the Mughals afterSambhaji was murdered. |
| 1692 | Shankarji Narayan captured the fort from the Mughals. | |
| 1697 | Rajaram returned to Maharashtra and made Rajgad his new capital[1] | |
| 1701 | 4 August | Shahaji Mohite was made the havaldar of Padmavati Machi |
| 1704 | 18 February | The fort was handed over toAurangzeb as part of a treaty. The fort was renamed toNabishahagad. 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 duringmonsoon. 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.
