Sudhagad

{{Infobox military installation

|name = Sudhagad Fort

|partof = Lonavala Hill Range

|location = Raigad district, Maharashtra

|image = 300px

|caption = Sudhagad fort

|map_type=India Maharashtra

| map_size = 300

|map_caption = Shown within Maharashtra

|type = Hill fort

|coordinates = {{coord|18|32|19.8|N|73|19|13.3|E}}

|materials = Stone

|height = 590 m (1935ft)

|used = Capital fort

|condition = Ruins

|ownership = Government of India

|open_to_public = Yes

|controlledby = {{noflag}}Ahmadnagar (1521–1594)
{{flagcountry|Portuguese Empire}} (1594)
{{flagcountry|Maratha Empire}} (1739–1818)
{{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}

{{flagicon image|Flag of the British East India Company (1801).svg}} East India Company (1818–1857)
{{flagicon image|British Raj Red Ensign.svg}} British Raj (1857–1947)

{{flagcountry|India}} (1947–)

}}

Sudhagad / Bhorapgad is a hill fort situated in Maharashtra, India. It lies about {{convert|53|km|mi}} west of Pune, {{convert|26|km|mi}} south of Lonavla and {{convert|11|km|mi}} east of Pali in Raigad District. The summit is {{convert|620|m|ft}} above sea level. The entire area around the fort is declared a Sudhagad wildlife sanctuary.

History

The origin of this fort is said to date back to the 2nd century B.C.,{{cite web|url=http://trekshitiz.com/trekshitiz/Ei/Sudhagad-Trek-Hill_forts-Category.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207024007/trekshitiz.com/trekshitiz/Ei/Sudhagad-Trek-Hill_forts-Category.html|archive-date=2019-12-07|url-status=dead|title=Sudhagad}}{{unreliable source?|date=July 2017}} the same age as the Thanale Caves and Khadsamble caves nearby. It was then called Bhorapgad{{cite web|url=http://raigad.nic.in/DG/1964/his_mediaeval_period.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170823195443/raigad.nic.in/DG/1964/his_mediaeval_period.html|archive-date=2017-08-23|title=History}} (after its presiding deity, Bhoraidevi). In 1436, it was captured by the Bahamani Sultan. In 1657, the Marathas took over and renamed it "Sudhagad"(the sweet one). It was a large fort and Sudhagad was considered by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as the capital of his kingdom. He surveyed it, but instead chose Raigad because of its central location.{{Citation needed|date=January 2009}}

In the regime of the Peshwas, the ‘Pantsachivas’ of Bhor became the custodians of this fort. After the annexation of princely states in 1950 the fort became patron less. As a result, the fort is in a state of ruins, even though it escaped the wrath of the British.

Major Features

The first fort has several ruins of two temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. However, the temple of Bhoraidevi (its patron goddess) is well maintained temple. On the large plateau at the summit,{{cite book|last=Kohli |first=M.S|title=Mountains of India|publisher=Indus Publishing|year=2004|edition=Illustrated|pages=254|isbn=81-7387-135-3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GIs4zv17HHwC&q=sudhagad&pg=PA254|access-date=2009-03-19}} there are two lakes, a house, a big granary, some tombs, a shrine (Vrindavan) and numerous other ruins, scattered around the fort area. There are three main gates the largest of which is called the Maha Darwaja. From the top, other forts like Sarasgad, Korigad, Ghangad, Taila-Baila are clearly visible.

Current use

Sudhagad is a popular trekking destination as it is one of the better preserved forts in Maharashtra. It takes about 1–2 hours to reach the top of the fort. The trekking route from village Thakurwadi is most popular and regularly used. There are no water cisterns on the way. The night halt at the fort in any season can be made at Pantsachiv wada and Bhorai mata Mandir. There are two water ponds on the fort.{{cite book|last=Kapadia |first=Harish|title=Trek the Sahyadris|publisher=Indus Publishing|year=2004|edition=Illustrated|isbn=81-7387-151-5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oICZM5HKRbAC&q=sudhagad&pg=PA131|access-date=2009-03-19}}{{cite book|last=Gunaji|first=Milind|title=Offbeat Tracks in Maharashtra|publisher=Popular Prakashan|year=2005|pages=40–41|isbn=81-7154-669-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JIjmDLardesC&q=sudhagad&pg=PA40|access-date=2009-03-17}} On the slopes of the fort there are trees of pandhri{{which lang|date=August 2021}} which are used to make a popular walking stick.

Gallery

File:Sudhagad entrance 2.jpg|Entrance of Sudhagad

File:Sudhagad 1.jpg|Shiva Temple on the fort

File:Sudhagad 2.jpg|PantsachivWada in Rains

File:Sudhagad 3.jpg|forest around the fort

File:Sudhagad 4.jpg|Bhoraidevi temple

File:Sudhagad entrance.jpg|Entrance of Sudhagad as seen from the higher ramparts of the fort

File:Chor vaat sudhagad.jpg|Secret escape route, Sudhagad fort

File:Sudhagad gates.jpg|Sudhagad main entrance

References

A rendezvous with Sahyadri by Harshal Mahajan
'Sudgagad Darshan', written by Mr. Suresh Potdar