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Fact about raigad and its places Incredible Raigad
1. Fact about Raigad and its Places-Incredible Raigad
Raigad is located in south western side of Maharashtra State. The Situated on western
coast of India and on the shore of Arabian Sea, Raigad is on a west-facing spur of the
Western Ghats of Sahyadri range. The district is bounded by Mumbai Harbor to the
northwest, Thane District to the north, Pune District to the east, Ratnagiri district to the
south, and the Arabian Sea to the west.
Its believed that Raigad was named after the Rairi hill, on which the Raigad fort was
constructed and fortified by Shivaji and his engineers, notably Abaji Sondev, the then
governor of Kalyan.
Situated in western coastal stretch of
Maharashtra- Konkan region is the
mountainous terrain of Raigad, famed
for its breathtaking natural beauty as
evident from its canyons, deep gorges
and lush vegetation. The beauty of the
place is further enhanced by the
crisscrossing rivers of Gandhar and Kal
that rushes down through the beautiful
valley. Raigad is a beautiful hill fort
immensely important in the history of
Maharashtra.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of the Maratha Empire had declared Raigad as
his Capital Fort in 1674 at the time of his coronation as the king of the Maratha Kingdom.
Raigad fills every mind with a sense of awe and respect towards its grandeur and glorious
past. Gifted with a mountainous terrain and nestled in the Sahyadri mountain range this
lovely place offers breathtaking views of natural splendor. Raigad is distinguished from
the nearby mountains by lovely and profound canyons. A verdant valley with rivers
flowing beneath makes the surroundings scenic and tranquil
The region is filled with historical monuments and many favorite hot spot of tourists.
Besides being a popular trekking point it is also a center of adventurous tourism. Adorned
with a hilly terrain and natural foliage, Raigad's awesome beauty gains a prominent place
in the tourism sector. It's serene, calm topography is certainly a solace to those who are
coming from a busy city life
2. Forts In Raigad
Raigad has a quite a few renowned forts of which many have become an attraction for
visitors. Most of these forts have been constructed by the Marathas. The forts are
remarkable constructions, mostly built of stone.
Korlai Fort- Situated among the Raigad Fort is the Balekilla with three angular bastions.
A steep and risky climb leads to this spot. The main entrance is through Nagarkhana
which leads to the Janani temple, the Chandratale a water tank and the remains of the
houses of the chiefs, the Ambarkhana (a granary), and the market place. The views of
captivating Sahyadris and the auspicious Bhatghar Lake from this place are really
incredible. The top of the Balekilla offers a panoramic view of the forts of Purandar,
Vichitragad, Rayreshwar, Lohgad, Visapur, Tikona and Sinhagad. It takes about two
hours to complete the visit of Balekilla.
Birwadi Fort- Situated on the Pune-Mumbai highway near Panvel is the Prabalgad fort
which was used as a temporary residence by Umaji Naik, a freedom fighter, in 1823.
Broken ramparts and protective walls, water tank and a Ganesh temple can be found here.
Prabalgad Fort- Located 11 km east of Mahad in Raigad is the Birwadi fort on the way
to Bhor. It was built by Chhatrapati Shivaji along with the Lingana fort to improve the
protection of Raigad fort.
Raigad Fort- Raigad Fort is situated 30 km
east of Mahad in Raigad. Known to be Shivaji s
impregnable capital, this was the place where
he was crowned and died. The Raigad Fort was
also called as the Gibraltar of the east . Placed
at an altitude of 2700 feet on an irregular
wedge-shaped mass of rock, the fort is
inaccessible from three sides. A massive fort,
nested on a steep vertical rock face, appears
defiant and insurmountable. This Fort presents
a terrifying look and it is very difficult to get
into the fort through the rocky path.
Revdanda Fort- Revdanda Fort was built by Chhatrapati Shivaji and is located at
Revdanda in Raigad District. It rests on the shores of Arabian Sea and during high tide
waves thrash into the old weak ramparts of the fort. One can get magnificent views of the
creek and the beach from the fort. The fort is now in ruins.
3. Beaches In Raigad
Alibag, Dist. Raigad
Mandwa and Kihim Beach Tal. Alibaug, Dist. Raigad
You will find these two beach fronts 12 miles north of Alibag on the north coast and
easily accessible from Mumbai. Mandwa is a beautiful, untrodden beach. On a clear day
one can enjoy a long, breathtaking view across the bay, up to the Gateway of India.
Mandwa village too, has a charm of its own -- with its beautiful groves of coconut palms.
MURUD - JANJIRA
Formerly the capital town of the Siddis of Janjira, Murud is today popular for its alluring
beach, whispering casurina, coconut and betel palms and an ancient fort. On a hillock to
the north is the shrine of Lord Dattatreya, the three heads representing Brahma, Vishnu
and Maheshwara.
Battered on all four sides by sea
waves, its strong walls yet standing
intact and 40 feet high even at full tide
is the majestic island fortress of the
Siddis -- Murud-Janjira. Never
conquered by an enemy for over 350
years since its construction by the
Ahmednagar rulers under the
supervision of their regent Malik
Ambar in the 15th century, Murud-
Janjira is probably the only impregnable fort on the 720 km Maharashtra coastline.
Hari-Harihareshwar Beach
Hari-Harihareshwar Dist. Raigad.
Gentle winds, soft sands and inviting waters make Shriwardhan Bay irresistible to beach
lovers. And if one relishes sea-food, there is no dearth of delicacies to sample here. The
adventuerers can even take a small boat to the north side of the bay and explore a land
where the "Peshwas" or prime ministers of the Maratha Kingdom, Originally resides. The
"Peshwas Smarak" is of interest to most people who visit Shriwardhan.
4. Murud Janjira
A trip to Murud - Janjira from Dighi 15 mins from Diveagar is what can make your
Diveagar trip truely unforgettable. A 20 minute ferry from Dighi will get you to this
formidable sea fortress. There are a few majestic cannons, which have their own names,
and remind you of the many ships they must have destroyed in wars. You could also visit
the janjira caves from here.
Diveagar is approximately 170 kilometers from Pune and the drive to Diveagar will take
about 4-5 hours. The route to Diveagar via the Tamhini ghats is amazingly beautiful
especially during and after monsoons. From Mumbai to reach Diveagar one has to take
the NH17 uptil Mangaon. For the detailed information on how to reach Diveagar, and
road map to Diveagar from Pune and Mumbai click here
Diveagar Beach
Diveagar, is a splendid beach about 15 kms from Shrivardhan and Harihareshwar.
Diveagar is popular for its secluded beaches however, watch out for the crowd that
throngs the suvarna ganesh temple housing a pure gold idol. Diveagar beach is not a flat
beach unlike most of the other beaches in this region, be careful while playing in the
waves as there are rocks strewn across at some parts of the beach.
Find out More Hotels in Raigad in various Place like:
Diveagar Hotels
Murud Janjira Hotels
Harihareshwar Hotels
Alibag Hotels
Shriwardhan Hotels
Fore More Details on Raigad
Visit the Website Incredible Raigad