The document summarizes the history and importance of Panhalgad Fort in Maharashtra, India. It was built during the rule of the first Shilahar king and originally ruled by tribal people known as Nag. Shivaji Maharaj captured the fort in 1659 after weakening the Adilshahi kingdom. It witnessed battles between the Marathas and their opponents. In 1673, Kondaji Farjand recaptured the fort with just 60 soldiers. It later became the capital of Kolhapur in 1710. The fort has great historical significance and provides lessons for trekkers today.

1. पन्हाळा Elevation 754 m (2473 ft)
( )
Panhalgad Location Kolhapur (30 min drive)

2. Panhala
The Forts of Maharashtra played an important role in the emerging Maratha Empire.
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They were the strongholds which made our history glorious.One such fort which
witnessed some dramatic events in the life of Shivaji Maharaj was Panhalgad.
The fort was built during the regime of the First Shilahar king Bhoj Nrupsingh. In the
olden days it was ruled by people of tribal caste Nag and was known as Pannnagralya.
After the assassination of Afzalkhan, Shivaji Maharaj took advantage of weakening of
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Adilshahi and won Panhalgad in just 18 days (on 28th November 1659). It was further
captured by Adilshah, but the Marathas regained the fort. On 2nd March 1660, Siddhi
Johar set the siege to Panhalgad. We are aware of the famous incidence where Shivaji
Maharaj crossed the Ghod Khind and went to Vishalgad. At that time Panhalgad was
captured by Siddhi Johar. In 1673, Kondaji Farjand captured the fort with just 60
soldiers. In 1710, Panhalagd became the capital of Kolhapur. It was captured by British
in 1844. The fort has a great history and trekkers have a lot to learn from that.
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3. Tabak Van
Udyan Sajja Kothi
Rajwada
Pusati Buruj
Bus Stand Someshwar
Khokad Talao
Talao
Ambarkhana
Tin Darwaja Baji Prabhu
Chauk
From
Kolhapur

5. Guha begins his storyline as Mahalkshmi
Express left from Mumbai for Kolhapur

6. Anil, Rajeev, Sandesh and Amar
listening to Guha

7. Thanks to Amar, we got down one station
before Kolhapur at Hatkanangale

8. Guha, Rajeev, Sandesh, Anil, Amar

9. Taking a bus to Kolhapur

11. In a small lodge (guest house) near
Mahalakshmi Temple for bathe

15. Mahalkshmi Temple

16. Mahalkshmi Temple

17. To bus stand

18. Breakfast of Misal Pav - a Kolhapur Speciality

19. Bus to from Kolhapur to Jyotiba Temple

22. Jyotiba Devasthan

35. Panhala Village Bus Stand

37. Someshwar Temple
seen behind

41. Someshwar (Shiv)

42. In a 'Khanawal' near bus stand for Thaali - Never miss the Mutton Kaala here

43. Guha smiling in anticipation

44. Sandesh

45. Muton Thali - Pandhara &
Tambda Rassa, Mutton
Kaala, Mutton Masala and
Roti

46. Ready to strike Panhalgad

50. Amar is very happy

51. Sajja Kothi or Sadar-E-Mahal
where Sambhaji was under house arrest

52. View from Sajja Kothi

62. Vaagh Darwaja
leading to Tabak Van
Udyan - Botanical Garden

72. We are here, says the board

76. Vishalgad

79. RAJEEV

80. RAJEEV

81. GUHA

82. GUHA

83. AMAR

84. AMAR

85. AMAR

86. ANIL

87. SANDESH

88. SANDESH

89. SANDESH flexing muscles

90. RATNAKAR

91. RATNAKAR

92. RATNAKAR

100. Common Langur

106. Chhatrapati Tararani palace - now a government office

109. Rajwada or palace
Place where
elephants fight

110. A Temple of Shivaji Maharaj

111. The palace
A well situated
close to Palace

117. AMBARKHANA (The Granaries)

125. Imposing Arches of
'Ambarkhana'

130. Yeh Hai Younistan Meri Jaan...

132. Oriental Magpie
Robin

135. Darugola Kothar (Ammunition Storage)

136. Darugola Kothar (Ammunition Storage)

137. Tin Darwaja (The Gateway in the west)

144. Well inside Teen
Darwaja

150. marks of bomb
attacks made by
Siddhi Johar

151. marks of bomb
attacks made by
Siddhi Johar

152. marks of bomb
attacks made by
Siddhi Johar

153. View from outside
Teen Darwaja

155. Andhar Bawadi
(Dark Well) built by
Abu Yusuf of
Adilshah Sultanate

156. Inside View of
Andhar Bawadi
Residential place
This floor has a
byway to get out of
the fort in state of
any crisis
Natural water
storage at the
lowest level

158. View from the
terrace of Andhar
Bawadi

161. View from fort wall
near Andhar Bawadi
Teen Dawaja

162. Bajiprabhu Deshpande Chauk

163. Bajiprabhu Deshpande helped
Shivaji escape to Vishalgad when
Siddhi Johar surrounded
Panhalgad for several months

164. Sambhaji Mandir

167. A Well behind
the temple

168. Entrance to the
Well

174. Sambhaji Maharaj

175. A Temple opposite
Sambhaji Mandir

176. Kalavantin Mahal

177. Entrance to
Panhalgad

178. View from
Kalavantin Mahal of
the village below

179. Kalavantin Mahal
Wall of the fort
in ruins

180. View from
Kalavantin Mahal

181. PARASHAR
RISHI'S CAVE

186. NAGAZARI - Source of yearlong supply of water

187. Vollyball is very
common here and
played by all -
young and old

188. Back to Kolhapur station to
catch Mahalxmi Express

189. ANIL & GUHA

190. SANDESH & AMAR

191. RAJEEV

192. Chatrapati Tararani

193. Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

194. Un spoilt
Un hurried
Un touched
Un confined
Un expected
Un conquered
Un paralleled
Un paralleled
Un matched
Un stressed
Un stressed
Un limited
Standing as silent sentinels to history are the 350‐odd forts of Maharashtra. Beaten by
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the sea waves, lashed at by the torrential Deccan rains, or scorched in the blazing sun,
stand imposing ramparts and crumbling walls , the last lingering memories of
Maharashtra's martial times. Nowhere in the country would you encounter such a
profusion of forts. And such variety. Sited on an island, or guarding the seas or among
the Sahyadri hills, whose zig‐zag walls and rounded bastions sit like a scepter and
crown amidst hills turned mauve.