The rich history of the martial race of Marathas, the indigenous people of the state of Maharashtra mentions numerous warriors who defied the might of intruders, be it the Moguls or the British. But one name which stands out among this motley crowd of braves is the name of Shivaji the Conqueror or Chhatrapati Shivaji.

The Maratha Empire during the 16-18^th Century under the tutelage of young Shivaji adopted the guerilla strategy of hit and scoot and inflicted heavy toll on Moguls. This strategy called for permanent secure bases to operate from and all over the Deccan region numerous forts were built. The forts were primarily sited atop hills for all round defense as well as affording all round view to ward off any attacks. The high, wide walls and observation towers offered the Marathas to attack the oncoming enemy and today offers panoramic views of the scenic Deccan. These forts numbering close to 350 are silent reminders of the glorious martial past of Maharashtra.

Fort of Shivneri

This is the appropriate fort to begin with as Shivaji was born here in the year 1630. The fort is located 75 miles from Pune on a hilltop in a place known as Junner. The climb to the fort is steep and arduous with loose rocks, boulders strewn around. Shivaji’s father Shahaji, serving in the Army of Mogul Chief Adil Shahi, selected the fort with the primary concern of safety of his wife and the unborn child. Shivaji tasted the air of freedom and learnt his art of war in these environs to develop the Maratha Empire three decades later. Jivdhan, another small fort, famous for trekking is located nearby. The Nane Ghat, in the close vicinity, offers a great view of the scenic Konkan below.

Lohagad and Visapur Forts

The twin forts of Lohagad and Visapur is just an hour’s drive from Pune in the scenic settings of Lonavala. The forts are located at a height of around 3500 feet and separated by a kilometer long ridge. The forts were originally built by the Moguls and later captured by Shivaji. Both the forts offer a weekend getaway from the constant buzz of your cellphone.

Raigad Fort

Shivneri saw the birth of a legend and Raigad fort announced it. The coronation ceremony of Shivaji was held in 1674 in the capital of the Kingdom of Marathas, Raigad. The fort is located atop a diamond shaped hill and Google Earth or Wikkimapia virtual view is enthralling and if you happen to be in location, it is just breathtaking.

The split in the ghats make it approachable only from Mahad. The ascent to the fort is tough and best for trekkers. The thousand steps climb is recommended only for the physically fit. The families now can enjoy the getaway with a new ropeway which takes you straight to the Mena Darwaja or the main door of the Fort. The Rani Vasa, Palkhi Darwaja, Raj Bhawan and Samadhi of Chhatrapati Shivaji are some interesting places to see in the Fort. The Fort is around three hour drive both from Mumbai and Pune.

Pratapgad Fort

The Pratapgarh Fort was built during the reign of Shivaji in 1656 near the hill station of Mahabaleshwar atop a hill which offers a splendid view of the Raigad valley and the surrounding hills. The forts in region are generally inter-visible, a major security aspect during the cell phone less society of yore. The fort is linked to the famous skullduggery incident between Shivaji and Afzal Khan; and Afzal Khan with the intent to kill died.

Sinhagad Fort

The fort is just an hour’s drive from Pune city and literally translates to Lion Fort. The fort commemorates the feats of Tanaji Malusare, a valiant Senapati in the Shivaji army. He recaptured the fort with a dare-devil climb on the steep precipice with the help of a rope tied to the tail of an iguana. Tanaji died in the ensuing battle and Shivaji in the memory of the Lion-Hearted general renamed the Kondhana fort to Sinhagad. A memorial was built in the memory of Tanaji and has been recently connected by road. The place is famous with trekkers too who love the gentle slopes around Sinhagad.

Daulatabad Fort

The fort of Daulatabad has an interesting history. It was built for the thriving Hindu city with the name of Devigiri in the 12^th Century AD. The place was later captured by the Moguls and Mohammad Bin Tuglak named it Daulatabad. He even made it as his capital city for a short while.

The Daulatabad fort is a marvelous creation of the Maratha architecture, with thick stone walls, steep slopes, spiked entrances and a deep encircling ravine. The triple walls create a maze, the trenches with crocodiles and ingenious booby traps made the fort unassailable to any human effort. The fort was later captured by the Moguls through deceit.

The fort has some of the most well preserved structures; the 30 meter high Chand Minar Tower, the Chini Mahal with blue tiles, the erstwhile Jami Masjid now transformed to Bharat Mata Temple, the Elephant water tank and the famous Kila Shikan cannon. The fort is under 10 miles from the Aurangabad airport and remains open to visitors till evening 6’ O’clock.

Panhala Fort

The Panhala fortress 15 miles from Kolhapur is located on a hill station with the same name. The fort was built by the tribal ruler of Naag dynasty of tenth century AD. A century later Silhara Kings ruled the land. The fort with its triangular shape and a 5 mile circumference is possibly the largest of the Deccan fortresses. Many historical relics, like Tabak Udyan, two of the Teen Darwaja, the temple of Sambhaji, the abode of Sajjaji and the Baji Prabhu statue have survived the vagaries of the weather and plunder of man.

Sindhudurg Fort

Shivaji was a great warrior, visionary and military genius. These qualities of the great Maratha Emperor are reflected in the design and construction of Sindhudurg Fort. It is believed that 6000 artisans were employed for the 30 feet high, 12 feet wide and two mile long fortification walls around the fort. The imprint of Shivaji’s palm and his footprint can be seen beneath two small domes on the slabs of limestone.

The location of the fort on a hilly island astride the Malvan Coast was to keep foreign marauders at bay and also restrict the growth opportunities for Siddhis of Murud – Janjira. The location also makes it a picture perfect setting for a great weekend; the uncluttered skyline, luxuriant coconut trees, the cool sea breeze and azure seas.

The Fort of Murud-Janjira

The Siddis were a threat to Marathas and consequently Marathas were also a threat to the Siddis. It was a cold war scenario between the two warrior clans in the Western India, which led to building of Sindhudurg and Janjira. The fort at Murud – Janjira is a fine example of their war craft. The imposing 40 feet high stone walls peppered with number of observation posts and gun positions all along the island is a feat of engineering when no machines were available for construction. This is probably the only fort on the 500 mile coastline of Maharashtra which was never conquered by any enemy army.

The original idea of the fort goes to the local fishermen who had made wooden walls probably to ward off the high tide or the pirates gaining direct entry. The stone walled fort was constructed by Malik Ambar in the fifteenth century AD. The fort housed stately mansions, palaces for the royals and manicured gardens, the ruins of the structures can still be seen on the island, especially the Palace of the Nawab is worth a visit. Many of the large guns have been either stolen or destroyed, however three of these imperial weapons are still displayed in position. There are a couple of unspoiled beaches a few miles away from the fort. The pleasure of a trip to Janjira begins with the boat ride from main land Mumbai and would stay with you for a lifetime.

Bassein Fort

This is the only fort which was constructed on the European architecture. The Portuguese conquistadors constructed Bassein as a town modeled on the European cities. The Portuguese were already occupying the territories of Goa, Daman and Diu, the north of Mumbai was an extension for them. The fort was then annexed by the Marathas but the remains of the European construction, the Cathedral of St. Joseph, the spiral stairway of the watch tower, Porte De Mer are few of the favorite spots with the visitors even today. The area is also known as Vasai. It is around 50 miles from Mumbai on the Mumbai – Ahmedabad highway and a pleasurable get away for Mumbaikers.

The forts in Maharashtra have been revered for the succor it offered the poor and hated for all the atrocities against many innocents caught in the royal ire. The novel ways of punishments devised by the cruel cronies of the Sultans and kings are the basis of many folk tales and songs. The youth of today have a different perception and some of them are trying to repeat the feats of warriors in scaling the steep escarpments and walls the Maratha guerilla way. The perception can be any but the marvel of human endeavor shall prevail.