Forts are made to withstand enemy attacks since ancient times, and serve as the residence of the ruler of the kingdom. Today we are going to learn about one such fort in Indian history that was almost impossible to capture. It is none other than the Raigad Fort, which was the second capital of the Maratha Empire under Shivaji Maharaj. Raigad fort was described by British Gazetteers as Gibraltar of the East.
Why is Raigad Fort called the Gibraltar of East?
Raigad Fort is called Gibraltar of the East because of its built, which was similar to the Rock of Gibraltar in the Mediterranean sea. British historian Grant Duff and early European travellers were in awe of the fort and named it Gibraltar of the East due to the sheer scale on which it was built and steep cliffs surrounding it which made it almost impossible to attack.
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Where is Raigad Fort Located?
Raigad Fort is situated in the Sahyadri range, 25 kilometers from the town of Mahad. It is approximately 1356 meters above sea level, and is about 820 meters tall from its base.
To reach the top of the fort one has to climb 1737 steps, in 1996, a ropeway of 750 meters long has been introduced that can help you to reach the top in 4 minutes.
Why is Raigad Fort Important?
Raigad Fort is important because it was the second capital of the Maratha Empire, and it was the place where Shivaji Maharaj was crowned as Chhatrapati in 1674. This fort is also known as Rairi, Shivaji captured this fort from Chandrarao More in 1656. At that time Rajgad Fort used to be the capital of Maratha Empire.
Who was the Architect of the Raigad Fort?
The chief engineer of Shivaji Maharaj, Hiroji Indulkar was the architect of the Raigad Fort. He made the fort into a complete city markets and residences for the Maratha army.
When was Raigad Fort Captured by British?
Raigad Fort was captured by the British in 1818, during the Third Anglo-Maratha War. It was heavily bombarded by the British troops.