Manikgad is a mountain fortress and temple in Gherakilla Manikgad, India. Located among rolling hills, the temple is a popular hiking spot. Manikgad was built to oversee the trade route from Maval (

Pune Pune ( ; , ISO 15919, ISO: ), previously spelled in English as Poona (List of renamed Indian cities and states#Maharashtra, the official name until 1978), is a city in the state of Maharashtra in the Deccan Plateau, Deccan plateau in Western ...

) to coastal ports. The fort is situated near Vashivali (

Rasayani Rasayani is a town located in Khalapur taluka of the Raigad district, Maharashtra, India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest c ...

MIDC), which is 27 km from Panvel.

History

The fort was built by Sarkhel

Kanhoji Angre Kanhoji Angre (Help:IPA/Marathi, anʱod͡ʒiː aːŋɡɾe, also known as Conajee Angria or Sarkhel Angré (August 1669 – 4 July 1729) was a Maratha Navy admiral. Kanhoji became known for attacking and capturing European Union, European Ea ...

, to whom it was ceded in 1718 by Peshavas.

Description

Only ruins of the fort remain. A big rock-cut cistern on the fort is called the "Darya take". A small

shiva linga A lingam ( , lit. "sign, symbol or mark"), sometimes referred to as linga or Shiva linga, is an abstract or aniconic representation of the Hindu god Shiva in Shaivism. The word ''lingam'' is found in the Upanishads and epic literature, wher ...

and a few small rock-cut cisterns are present. The Ganesh gate is the only standing structure. A circular trench is cut in the rock for

lime Lime most commonly refers to: * Lime (fruit), a green citrus fruit * Lime (material), inorganic materials containing calcium, usually calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide * Lime (color), a color between yellow and green Lime may also refer to: Bo ...

mixing. Other nearby forts include Karnala, Prabalgad, Chanderi, Malang gad, Irshalgad, Sondai, Lohagad, Visapur, and Sankshi.

Gallery

File:Manikgad(Raigad)4.jpg, Sunrise in summer File:Manikgad(Raigad)1.jpg, Hanuman gate File:Manikgad(Raigad)2.jpg, Rock cut water cistern File:Manikgad(Raigad)3.jpg, Fortification

References

{{MarathaEmpire Forts in Raigad district Forts in Maharashtra