Prachitgad Fort
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Prachitgad is a
fort A fortification (also called a fort, fortress, fastness, or stronghold) is a military construction designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from La ...
in the Sahyadri mountain range in
Sangli Sangli (ISO 15919, ISO: ''Sāṁgalī''; ) is a metropolitan town and the headquarters of Sangli District in Maharashtra, in south-western India. It has earned the nickname "Turmeric City of India" for being the hub of the Asia's largest produ ...
district of
Maharashtra Maharashtra () is a state in the western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. It is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west, the Indian states of Karnataka and Goa to the south, Telangana to th ...
state State most commonly refers to: * State (polity), a centralized political organization that regulates law and society within a territory **Sovereign state, a sovereign polity in international law, commonly referred to as a country **Nation state, a ...
,
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 country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
. It covers an area of .


Location

It is located at on the western edge of Chandoli National Park in Sangli district but easiest way to reach is from Ratnagiri district at Shringarpur.It is located on the boundaries of 4 districts Sangli, Kolhapur, Ratnagiri and Satara. It is very remote place to reach from Sangli side due to dense forest and mountain terrain. The closest city is
Sangameshwar Sangameshwar Taluka is a taluka in Ratnagiri subdivision of Ratnagiri district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The headquarters for the taluka is the town of Devrukh. In Sangameshwar the two rivers Sonavi and Shastri flow together. The mea ...
which is approximately 22 km away. The place is accessible only by foot from Shringarpur near sangmeshwar which is a 5 to 8 hour climb and trek through treacherous terrain or from chandoli dam which is a 14- to 15-hour walk through the forest.


History

Prachitgad was built by Rana Jakhuray Surve in 1404. It's masonry suggests that it was rebuilt by Rana Suryarao Surve during the
Muslim rule The terms Islamic world and Muslim world commonly refer to the Islamic community, which is also known as the Ummah. This consists of all those who adhere to the religious beliefs, politics, and laws of Islam or to societies in which Islam is p ...
(16th century). The
Maratha The Marathi people (; Marathi: , ''Marāṭhī lōk'') or Marathis (Marathi: मराठी, ''Marāṭhī'') are an Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group who are native to Maharashtra in western India. They natively speak Marathi, an Indo-A ...
king
Shivaji Shivaji I (Shivaji Shahaji Bhonsale, ; 19 February 1630 – 3 April 1680) was an Indian ruler and a member of the Bhonsle dynasty. Shivaji carved out his own independent kingdom from the Sultanate of Bijapur that formed the genesis of the ...
captured the fort in 1660s, and repaired it.Early English and French Settlements
Maharashtra State Gazetteer: Ratnagiri
RaoRana Shurveer Suryarao (Suryaji) Surve, Maratha noble, who was respected and valued by Chatrapati Shivaji despite being his adversary. His divan Shirke betrayed him which led Shivaji to win this fort in 1660. The battle was led by Tanaji Malusare with 1000 soldiers. RaoRana Suryajirao Surve had only 150 soldiers as Shirke - divan had purposely intoxicated all soldiers. After surrendering this fort RaoRana Shurveer Suryajirao moved his capital to Sonawade near Shringarpur, due to cowardly winning the battle Shirkes were not allowed to interfere Prachitgad activities.
Sambhaji Sambhaji (Sambhajiraje Shivajiraje Bhonsle, ; 14 May 1657 – 11 March 1689), also known as Shambhuraje, ruled from 1681 to 1689 as the second king ( Chhatrapati) of the Maratha Empire, a prominent state in early modern India. He was the elde ...
use to come there to meet RaoRana Shurveer Neelkanthrao surve who shifted his capital from Sonawade to Tulasani near Devrukh . Today Jadhavs and Mhaskes are staying there. After Chatrapati Sambhaji, it does not appear in historical records as the site of any notable event until 1817, when it was captured by Chitursingh, the younger brother of the Raja of Satara. On 10 June 1818, the fort was captured by a
British East India Company The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company that was founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to Indian Ocean trade, trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (South A ...
force led by Colonel Cunningham. By 1862, the fort was in ruins, and had been deserted.


Places to visit

*Being in the Chandoli National park Prachitgad is studded with beautiful spots. Two main spots being Sada and Kandhar Doh. Sada is the formation made up of frozen lava. Kanddhar Doh is the water fall on the Warana River. *There is old Bhairav Bhawani temple at Prachitgad *Ancient Sun temple called as Kunkeshwar near Sangameshwar


Nearest towns

*
Sangli Sangli (ISO 15919, ISO: ''Sāṁgalī''; ) is a metropolitan town and the headquarters of Sangli District in Maharashtra, in south-western India. It has earned the nickname "Turmeric City of India" for being the hub of the Asia's largest produ ...
*
Ratnagiri Ratnagiri (IAST:Ratnāgirī ; ət̪n̪aːɡiɾiː is a port city on the Arabian Sea coast in Ratnagiri District in southwestern Maharashtra, India. The district is part of Konkan division of Maharashtra. The city is known for the Hapus or ...
*
Kolhapur Kolhapur () is a city on the banks of the Panchganga River in the southern part of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Kolhapur is one of the most significant cities in South Maharashtra and has been a hub of historical, religious, and cultural a ...
* Islampur * Shirala


Nearest railway stations

*
Sangli railway station Sangli railway station is a major railway station serving the city of Sangli in Maharashtra, India. It is classified as a Class A station within the Pune Railway Division of the Central Railway Zone under Indian Railways. Location and infrastr ...
*
Sangameshwar Sangameshwar Taluka is a taluka in Ratnagiri subdivision of Ratnagiri district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The headquarters for the taluka is the town of Devrukh. In Sangameshwar the two rivers Sonavi and Shastri flow together. The mea ...
*
Ratnagiri Ratnagiri (IAST:Ratnāgirī ; ət̪n̪aːɡiɾiː is a port city on the Arabian Sea coast in Ratnagiri District in southwestern Maharashtra, India. The district is part of Konkan division of Maharashtra. The city is known for the Hapus or ...
*
Kolhapur Kolhapur () is a city on the banks of the Panchganga River in the southern part of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Kolhapur is one of the most significant cities in South Maharashtra and has been a hub of historical, religious, and cultural a ...


References


See also

*
List of forts in Maharashtra The Forts of Maharashtra are often referred to as ''Green Canyon of India''. This is a list of forts in Maharashtra, a state of India.(District) * Harshal Fort (Nashik district, Nashik) * Agashi Fort * Ahmednagar Fort * Mandar Fort * Ajinky ...
{{Forts in Maharashtra Forts in Maharashtra Ratnagiri district Forts in Ratnagiri district