Pratapgad

Sunday, 06 January 2013

Pratapgad Fort, Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra - Indian Historical Fort at Hill Station Video

Discover Maharashtra Season - 2 Episode 3 PROMO (Pratapgad)

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Achalgarh Fort
Achalgarh is a fort situated at 24°36′56.14″N 72°46′7.03″E / 24.6155944°N 72.7686194°E / 24.6155944; 72.7686194 about 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) north of Mount Abu, a hill station in Rajasthan, India. The fort was originally built by the Paramara dynasty rulers and later reconstructed, renovated and named as Achalgarh by Maharana Kumbha in 1452 CE, one of the several forts built during his reign.
The fort is in a dilapidated condition now. The first gate of the fort is known as Hanumanpol, which served as the entrance to the lower fort. It comprises two towers built of large blocks of grey granite. After some ascent, stands Champapol, the second gate of the fort, which served as the entrance to the inner fort.
There are some features of historical and religious importance in and around the fort. Achaleshwar Mahadeva temple is just outside the fort; the toe of Lord Shiva is worshipped there and a brass Nandi is also located there. Near the temple there are three stone buffaloes standing around a pond. There are Jain temples in the fort. These were built in 1513.

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Agra Fort
Agra Fort, is a monument, (Hindi: आगरा का किला, Urdu: آگرہ قلعہ) is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is about 2.5 km northwest of its more famous sister monument, the Taj Mahal. The fort can be more accurately described as a walled city. After Panipat, Mughals captured the fort and a vast treasure - which included a diamond that was later named as the Koh-i-Noor diamond - was seized. Babur stayed in the fort in the palace of Ibrahim. He built a baoli (step well) in it. Humayun was crowned here in 1530. Humayun was defeated in Bilgram in 1540. Sher Shah held the fort for five years. The Mughals defeated the Hindu King Hemu finally at the Second Battle of Panipat in 1556.

It was originally a brick fort, held by the Hindu Sikarwar Rajputs. It was mentioned for the first time in 1080 AD when a Ghaznavide force captured it. Sikandar Lodi (1488–1517) was the first Sultan of Delhi who shifted to Agra and lived in the fort. He governed the country from here and Agra assumed the importance of the second capital. He died in the fort in 1517 and his son, Ibrahim Lodi, held it for nine years until he was defeated and killed at Panipat in 1526. Several palaces, wells and a mosque were built by him in the fort during his period.

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Ahmednagar district
Ahmednagar district (अहमदनगर in Marathi/Hindi) is the largest district of Maharashtra state in western India. The historical Ahmednagar city is the headquarters of the district. Ahmednagar was the seat of the Ahmednagar Sultanate of late medieval period (1496–1636 CE). This district is known for the town of Shirdi associated with Sai Baba. Ahmednagar district is part of Nashik Division.
The neighbouring districts to Ahmednagar district are Solapur (South East- SE), Osmanabad (SE), Beed (SE), Aurangabad (NE), Nashik (NW), Thane (NW), and Pune (SW).
The name of the district is derived from the headquarters of the district, Ahmednagar. The city of Ahmednagar was named after the founder of the city, Malik Ahmed Shah Bahri, the first ruler of the Nizam Shahi dynasty (1490 ? 1509 CE) who laid the city's foundation in 1494 CE.

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Ajinkyatara
Coordinates: 17°40′17″N 73°59′44″E / 17.67139°N 73.99556°E / 17.67139; 73.99556
Ajinkyatara (Marathi: अजिंक्यतारा, meaning "The Impregnable Star") is a fort on one of the seven mountains surrounding the city of Satara in the Sahayadri Mountains of Maharashtra, India. It is a 16th Century fort and now also holds the television tower for the city of Satara. This fort has been the place where several pivotal moment in Maratha history took place.
The fort is located at Ajinkyatara Mountain, which is 3,300 feet high. As the fort is in the higher altitude, visitors can enjoy a magnificent view of the entire Satara city. There are number of water tanks inside the fort for storing water. So, there is no scarcity of water even as the fort is in the higher place
In 1708, Shahu Maharaj won Ajinkyatara, remained with the Marathas till 1818. The Ajinkyatara fort is a major historic place of Maharashtra, and was very vital as one could keep watch of the entire South Maharashtra.
This was the place where Tarabai was imprisoned by Shahu.

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Akola district
Akola is a district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The city of Akola is the district headquarters. Akola district forms the central part of Amravati Division, and was a former British Raj Berar Province.
Area of the district is 5,431 km². It is bounded on the north by Amravati District, to the east by Amravati District and by Washim District, to the south by Washim District, and to the west by Buldhana District. Washim was earlier a part of Akola.
The Battle of Argaon, (Adgaon near Akot), took place on November 28, 1803, between the British under the command of Governor Arthur Wellesley and the forces of Maratha under Bhonsle of Nagpur during Second Anglo-Maratha War.
Many old forts are located in Akola District viz.
The district boundary latitude are : N and longitude are : E
The climate is tropical and people mostly uses cotton clothes.
The Purna River forms the part of north boundary of the district, and the top north portion of the district lies within its watershed along with Aas River and Shahnur River. The Vaan River forms the part of northwest boundary of the district after entering from the Amravati district.

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Akola Fort
Akola fort (also called Asadgad or Asagad) along with the Narnala and Akot forts forms the major fortifications of the Akola district, Maharashtra, India. Akola fort is located at 20°42′22.41″N 76°59′24.07″E / 20.706225°N 76.9900194°E / 20.706225; 76.9900194
In its earliest form of mud made by one Akol Singh to protect the village . He saw a hare chasing a dog and considering this to be an auspicious sign, he built an earthen wall here to protect the village. Akola was fortified majorly in 1697 CE during the reign of Aurangzeb by Asad Khan, from whom the fort took its name (Asadgad). In 1803, Arthur Wellesley camped here before proceeding to win the Battle of Argaon in the Second Anglo-Maratha War. The fortress was dismantled by the British Raj in about 1870. It was reported in 1910 in a district gazetteer that the central part of the fort (the hawakhana) was used as a school.
Akola fort is notable in that it is bereft of any decorative embellishments.
There are several inscriptions on the fort. An inscription on the Dahi handa gate gives its date of constructions as 1114 AH (1697 CE), 'during the reign of emperor Aurangzeb when Nawab Asad Khan was minister.' Another on the Fateh Buruj bastion has no exact date. It too mentions the same minister but a different emperor (Shah Alam). One on the Eidgah, contains texts and statement that the building was finished by Khawja Abdul Latif in 1116 AH (1698 CE). On the Agarves gate an inscription in Marathi reads that Govind Appaji in 1843 CE constructed the fort. The latter statement contradicts all the other inscriptions.

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Allahabad Fort
Allahabad Fort (Hindi: इलाहाबाद क़िला, Urdu: الہ آباد قلعہ Ilāhābād Qila) at Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India was built by Emperor Akbar in 1583. The fort stands on the banks of the Yamuna near the confluence with the river Ganges. It is the largest fort built by Akbar. In its prime, the fort was unrivaled for its design, construction and craftsmanship. This huge fort has three galleries flanked by high towers.
At present is used by the army and only a limited area is open to visitors. The outer wall is intact and rises above the water's edge. Inside the fort there is the Zenana, Palace of Mariam-uz-Zamani and the 3rd century BC Ashoka pillar and Saraswati Koop as well, said to be the source of the Saraswati river. The Patalpuri temple is also here.
Allahabad Fort is the location of the much revered Akshayavat or "immortal tree." Legends say that if anyone jumps from this centuries-old banyan tree he will attain immortality. Civilians are not allowed to see this tree. It is near the southern wall and is one among many trees that can be seen from outside the southern wall of the fort.

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Amravati district
Amravati district (Marathi: अमरावती जिल्हा) is a district of Maharashtra state in central India. Amravati is the administrative headquarters of the district.
The district is situated between 20°32' and 21°46' north latitudes and 76°37' and 78°27' east longitudes. The district occupies an area of 12,235 km². The district is bounded by Betul District of Madhya Pradesh state to the north, and by the Maharashtra districts of Nagpur to the northeast, Wardha to the east, Yavatmal to the south, Washim to the southwest, and Akola and Buldhana districts to the west.
In 1853, the present-day territory of Amravati district as a part of Berar Province was assigned to the British East India Company, following a treaty with the Nizam of Hyderabad. After the Company took over the administration of the province, it was divided into two districts. The present-day territory of the district became part of North Berar district, with headquarters at Buldana. Later, the province was reconstituted and the territory of the present district became part of East Berar district, with headquarters at Amraoti. In 1864, Yavatmal District (initially known as Southeast Berar district and later Wun district) was separated. In 1867, Ellichpur District was separated but in August, 1905, when the whole province was reorganized into six districts, it was again merged into the district. In 1903, it became part of the newly constituted province of Central Provinces and Berar. In 1956, Amravati district became part of Bombay State and after its bifurcation in 1960, it became part of Maharashtra state.

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Bahu Fort
The Bahu Fort is located in Jammu city in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. The fort, originally built by Raja Bahulochan some 3,000 years ago, was refurbished by the Dogra rulers in the 19th century. The fort is a religious place, and within its precincts has a temple dedicated to the Hindu goddess Kali, the presiding deity of Jammu. The temple is known locally as the "Bave Wali Mata temple".
The building of the city of Jammu and the Bahu Fort are linked to a legend. Raja Jambu Lochan, brother of Bahu Lochan when on a hunting trip witnessed a curious scene of a tiger and a goat drinking water side by side at the same location in the Tawi River, without the tiger attacking. The Raja considered this a divine direction to establish the fort and his new capital here, as the scene he witnessed at this site represented peaceful coexistence. His brother, Bahu Lochan, is credited with building the fort.
The fort is located on a high plateau land overlooking the Tawi River on its rocky left bank. The forest area that surrounds the fort has been developed into a well laid out park called the “Bhave-ki-Bahu”, developed on the lines of the Mughal gardens from where a commanding view of the city of Jammu could be seen. The garden attracts a large number of visitors.

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Bandhavgarh Fort
The Bandhavgarh Fort is situated in Bandhavgarh in Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is located on the Bandhavgarh hill, rising 811 meters above sea level at the centre of the Bandhavgarh National Park. It is a surrounded by a large number of smaller hills separated by gently sloping valleys. These valleys end in small, swampy meadows, locally known as 'bohera'. The fort is also home to many of the endangered species of Vulture in India
No records are available to show when Bandhavgarh fort was constructed. It is thought, however, to be some 2000 years old, and there are references to it in the ancient books, the "Narad-Panch Ratra" and the "Shiva Purana". Regional folklore suggests that Bandhavgarh Fort was constructed by rulers of the Gond Empire. Gond Kings of Pandro cast are the original builders of this fort and descendants of Gond Kings still inhabit the vicinity of this fort. Gond Kings had constructed 12 talab ponds, of which only few remain. This fort's construction and architecture are similar to other forts built by Gond Kings.

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Bangalore Fort
Bangalore Fort was originally built by Kempe Gowda a feudatory of the Vijaynagar Empire and the founder of Bangalore as a mud fort. It was converted into a stone fort by Haider Ali in 1761. It was a stronghold of Tipu Sultan that was captured by the army of the British East India Company led by Lord Cornwallis on 21 March 1791 during the Third Mysore War (1790–1792). Only the Delhi gate of the fort presently exists on Krishnarajendra Road bearing a marble plaque recording the spot where a breach in the fort wall delivered Bangalore Fort to the British. There also exists a wooden palace of Tipu sultan, and his armoury in the old fort area.The fort has provided the setting for the treasure hunt in the book Riddle of the Seventh Stone

The Bangalore fort, ca. 1791, was described as follows:
Coordinates: 12°57′46.35″N 77°34′33.44″E / 12.962875°N 77.5759556°E / 12.962875; 77.5759556

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Bassein Fort
Vasai or Bassein Fort is a large fort in Vasai village, in the Vasai taluka (county) of the District of Thane, Konkan Division, Maharashtra State, Republic of India. The name "Bassein" is the English version of the Portuguese "Baçaim" (with the "ç" spoken as "s" and with the "m" silent), itself a version of an apparently native name that may have a connection to the Vasa Konkani tribals of the North Konkan region, extending from Mumbai into "South Gujarat." The Marathi name of the place is Vasai.
The complete form of the Portuguese name is "Fortaleza de São Sebastião de Baçaim" or the Fort of St. Sebastian of Vasai.
The fort and the village are accessible most easily through the Vasai Road Railway Station, which itself is in Manikpur-Navghar, a part of the newly raised City of Vasai-Virar (See "Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation"), and lies to the immediate north of the cities of Mumbai and Mira Road-Bhayander. The "Vasai Road" Railway Station is the third last station on the Western Railway line (formerly the Bombay, Baroda & Central India Railways) in the direction of Virar Railway Station.

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Battle of Assaye
Coordinates: 20°14′10″N 75°53′13″E / 20.236°N 75.887°E / 20.236; 75.887
The Battle of Assaye was a major battle of the Second Anglo-Maratha War fought between the Maratha Confederacy and the British East India Company. It occurred on 23 September 1803 near Assaye in western India where an outnumbered Indian and British force under the command of Major General Arthur Wellesley (who later became the Duke of Wellington) defeated a combined Confederacy army of Daulat Scindia and the Raja of Berar. The battle was the Duke of Wellington's first major victory and one he later described as his finest accomplishment on the battlefield.
From August 1803, Wellesley's army and a separate force under the command of his subordinate Colonel James Stevenson had been pursuing the Maratha cavalry-based army which threatened to raid south into Hyderabad. After several weeks of pursuit and countermarching, Scindia reinforced the combined Maratha army with his Europeanised infantry and artillery as the British forces closed in on his position.

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Battle of Bharatpur
The Siege of Bharatpur took place between 2 January and 22 February 1805 in what is now Rajasthan, India, during the Second Anglo-Maratha War. Forces of the British East India Company, led by General Gerard Lake, were four times repulsed in attempts to storm the fortress. The Marathan victory was an embarrassing defeat for the British.
Yashwantrao Holkar had attacked the British and chased colonel Manson. He had attacked Delhi to free the Mughal Emperor from the British. Meanwhile he learnt that Colonel Mare and Colonel Wallace had attacked his Kingdom.
Holkar suffered setbacks when his forces outside Deeg were defeated in battle, and the fortress there was taken after siege. However, the Jat King Ranjit Singh of Bharatpur welcomed him and decided to be with Maharaja Yashwantrao Holkar against the British. The Jats greeted him with open arms. The Jats would not give up their traditional hospitality and courtesy even at the cost of their lives. Lord Lake advanced on Bharatpur in spite of the combined forces of Jats and Holkars.

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Battle of Kharda
The Battle of Kharda took place in 1795 between Nizam and Peshwa Madhavrao II, in which Nizam was badly defeated. Governor General John Shore followed the policy of non-intervention despite that Nizam was under his protection. So this led to the loss of trust with British. This was the last battle fought together by all Maratha warlords. Maratha forces consisted of cavalry, including gunners, bowmen, artillery and infantry as below:
Maratha Sardars from faraway places like Mudhol and Nagpur participated on behalf of Marathas. Sardar Maloji Ghorpade of Mudhol with his grandson Narayanrao Ghorpade fought Nizams army and demonstrated great valour and courage. Sardar Sultanraje Nimbalkar, Jahgirdar of Kharda who after Rakshasbhuvan battle had become part of Hindavi Swarajya had raised infantry of Dagars. Dagars are people who, it is believed, are tribals from Rajputana who migrated to Maharashtra along with their 96 clan warrior masters (now known as 96 clan Marathas) to avoid Islamic Turkic onslaught in 12th century. This infantry led by Sonusingh Bias, killedar of Dharur had shown extreme valor finishing off Nizam's Afghan infantry.

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Battle of Panchgaon
The Battle of Panchgaon was a battle in 1775 for accession of throne of the Nagpur Kingdom. It was between the brothers Mudhoji and Sabaji, occurring after the death of their brother Janoji.
The closing scene of the contest of the throne between Mudhoji and Sabaji was on the battlefield of Panchgaon, six miles south of Nagpur. The fortune of the day had declared for Sabaji, and Mudhoji was being surrounded by his brother's troops. Flushed with the fight and with victory, Sabaji drove his elephant against that on which his brother was seated, and, called on him to surrender. A pistol shot was the only reply. One brother had slain the other, and gained the undisputed regency on behalf of his infant son Raghoji II who was Janoji's adopted heir, and the title of Sena Dhurandhar.
Mudhoji was finally able to pull himself out of this situation, when he killed Sabaji in the Battle of Panchgaon near Nagpur on 26 January 1775. Muhammad Yusuf Gardi, one of the chief assassinators of Narayanrao was present in this battle on behalf of Mudhoji.

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Battle of Patan
The Battle of Patan was fought on 20 June 1790 between the Maratha Confederacy and the Rajputs of Jaipur and their Mughal allies.
With the decisive defeat in the Third Battle of Panipat, imperial ambitions of Marathas had suffered a serious setback. But by 1783, with the conquest of Gwalior, Maratha chieftain Madhavrao Scindia had managed to reassert Maratha influence over much of Northern India, especially Rajputana. Many Rajput kingdoms like those of Jaipur and Malwa were threatened by the Marathas.
After the failure of Lalsot campaign of July 1787, Marathas of Scindia had evacuated the Jaipur territory. In early 1790, hoping to completely rid the Rajputana off Maratha interference.
Intending to prevent the junction of Ismail Beg with his Rajput allies, Madhavrao Scindia, dispatched an army under his generals Gopal Rao Bhau and Benoît de Boigne. On the morning of 10 May, Marathas came upon Ismail Beg at Patan.
The forces of Rajputs had 12000 Rathore calvalry, 6000 from Jaipur, 5000 Mughals under Ismail Beg, 2000 under Allyghar Beg Khan, 12000 men on foot with 100 Pieces of Artillery, 5000 foot soldiers with Ismail Khan with 21 pieces of artillery, 4000 Rohillas, 5000 Fakirs (religious fighting mendicants) called Attyles and Brakys and Rajput Sybundess (irregular infantary) with 8 pieces of canon and 4000 Meena (hill tribals) soldiers. DeBoignes army was 10,000 strong with additional maratha soldiers on the outer flanks.

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Battle of Poona
The Battle of Poona took place on 25 October 1802 near Pune between the rival factions of the Maratha Confederacy. The forces of the Scindia (Shinde) and the Peshwa Bajirao II were attacked by the Holkars. While the British East India Company was not involved in the battle, its outcome and aftermath led to the Second Anglo-Maratha War.
In May 1802, Maharaja Yashwantrao Holkar marched towards Pune to solve the disputes. He conquered Sendhwa, Chalisgaon, Dhulia, Malegaon, Parol, Ner, Ahmednagar, Rahuri, Nashik, Sinnar, Dungargaon, Jamgaon, Pharabagh, Gardond, Pandharpur, Kurkumb, Narayangaon, Baramati, Purandhar, Saswad, Moreshwar, Thalner, and Jejuri.
On Sunday, 25 October 1802, on the festival of Diwali, Yashwantrao Holkar defeated the combined armies of Scindia and Peshwa at Hadapsar, near Pune. The battle took place at Ghorpadi, Banwadi and Hadapsar. Maharaja Yashwantrao Holkar had ordered his army not to attack first and wait until 25 cannonballs were fired from other side; when the 25 cannonballs were fired, Maharaja Yashwantrao Holkar ordered his army to attack. As soon as he won the war, he ordered his army not to harm the civilians of Pune.

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Battle of Surat
Battle of Surat was a land battle that took place on January 5, 1664 near the city of Surat, Gujarat, India between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Inayat Khan, a Mughal captain. The Marathas defeated the small Mughal force.
The battle is known for strategic movement of cavalry by Shivaji through enemy's terrain covering almost a distance of 300 km.
Shaista Khan was in Maharashtra for more than three years, the financial condition of the state was dire. So to improve his finances, Shivaji planned to attack Surat, a key Mughal power centre, and a wealthy port town which generated a million rupees in taxes.
The defences of the city were poor, as the local Subedar, Inayat Khan appointed by Aurangzeb appointed only 1000 men at arms in his service, this error led to the massacre of innocent civilians by the Maratha. After sacking the Mughal garrison Shivaji attacked the port of Surat and set the local shipping industry ablaze.
Shivaji was assisted by notable commanders along with cavalry of 8000 or more.

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Battle of Vasai
The Battle of Vasai was fought between the Marathas and the Portuguese rulers of Vasai, a village lying near Mumbai (Bombay) in the present-day state of Maharashtra, India. The Marathas were led by Chimaji Appa, a brother of Peshwa Baji Rao I. Maratha victory in this war was a major achievement of Baji Rao I's reign.
They seized Arnala to drive out the Portuguese. General Shankarji Pant Phadke informed Chimaji that Arnala fort is a strategic fort for the naval forces that were on route from north west coast to attack the Portuguese. Chimaji approved the assault on the fort. Shankarji Pant consulted and sought assistance of the local people to attack the Arnala fort; among them were Govindji Kasar and Gavraji Patil from Bolinj. Shankarji sent Sardar Gangaji Naik Anjurkar, Bajirao Belose and Rayajirao Surve to lead a battalion of 400 soldiers to lead the attack on Arnala fort. This attack was coordinated along with naval force commanded by Daryasarang i.e. Admiral Manaji Agre.
On March 28, 1737 Maratha forces attacked the fort and surprised the Portuguese who were caught with their guard down. The Portuguese retreated and gave up the fort. The Maratha victory was commemorated with a plaque installed on the northern wall of the fort and is still visible today. Soon after the Maratha victory, Shankarji Pant began reconstruction of the fort. By January of 1738 three bastions were completed. The three bastions were named Bhairav, Bhavani and Bava. The construction was completed by March 1738. Later Marathas occupied Versova and Dharavi.

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Bekal Fort
'Bekal Fort' (Malayalam: ബേക്കല്‍ കോട്ട), is the largest fort in Kasargod, Kerala, India, spreading over 40 acres (160,000 m²). Some important features of this fort are the water-tank with its flight of steps, the tunnel opening towards the south, the magazine for keeping ammunition and the broad steps leading to the Observation Tower, which is a rarity. From there one has an ample view of towns in the vicinity like Kanhangad, Pallikare, Bekal, Kottikkulam, Uduma etc. The nearest railway stations are Pallikare, Kotikulam, Kanhangad,and Kasargod. This observation center had strategic significance in discovering even the smallest movements of the enemy and ensuring the safety of the Fort.
The Fort appears to have been built up from the sea since almost three fourths of its exterior is drenched and the waves continually stroke the citadel. The Mukhyaprana Temple of Hanuman and the ancient Muslim mosque nearby bear testimony to the age-old religious harmony that prevailed in the area. The zigzag entrance and the trenches around the fort show the defense strategy inherent in the fort.

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Belapur Fort
Belapur Fort is a fort near the township of Belapur in Navi Mumbai (New Bombay), Maharashtra, India. The fort was built by the Siddis of Janjira. It was later conquered by the Portuguese, and then Marathas. In the early 19th century, the fort was captured by the British. After the British gained supremacy in the region, with the expansion of the Bombay Presidency, the strategic importance of the fort declined, and it fell into disuse.
Built in 1560–1570 by the Siddis, after they wrested control of the area from the Portuguese, it is located atop a hillock, near the mouth of the Panvel Creek. In 1682, the fort was recaptured by the Portuguese, who had managed to annex the regions controlled by the Siddis, near Belapur (at that time known as Shabaz).
In 1733, the Marathas, led by Chimnaji Appa, wrested control of the fort from the Portuguese. He had made a vow that if it were to be successfully recaptured from the Portuguese, he would place a garland of beli leaves in a nearby Amruthaishwar temple, and after the victory the fort was christened as Belapur Fort. The Marathas ruled the area until 23 June 1817, when it was captured by Captain Charles Gray of the British East India Company. The British partially destroyed the fort under their policy of razing any Maratha stronghold in the area.

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Bhushangad
Bhushangad is a hill fort in the Khatav taluk of the Satara district of Maharashtra, India. It is oval in shape and rises 600 feet above the surrounding plain. Its top is flat being about 300 square yards in area.
The fort was originally built by Singhan II(1210 - 1247 CE) of the Devagiri Yadavs with its exact date of construction not known. However Shivaji fortified considerably in 1676 so it is usually attributed to him. The nearest fort is 5 miles away.
The fort is home to the only temple of Harinaidevi (an incarnation of Durga), who is revered by the Kulkarnis clan. There is also a temple dedicated to Maruti.
Coordinates: 17°27′53″N 74°24′23″E / 17.4648°N 74.4063°E / 17.4648; 74.4063

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Bombay Castle
Bombay Castle (also Casa da Orta) is one of the oldest defensive structures built in the city of Mumbai (formerly Bombay). The current castle is a structure built by the British on the site of the Manor House built by a Portuguese nobleman Garcia de Orta . Orta had leased the island of Bombay from the King of Portugal between 1554 and 1570.
The castle was built of local blue Kurla stone and red laterite stone from the Konkan region to the south. In 1662, after the islands came under the hands of the British, the British East India Company took possession of the castle in 1665. Over the next ten years, they built a defensive structure around the manor. Around the same time, a wall was being built around a new urban centre. The wall was later demolished in 1865 after the city grew rapidly. Fragments of this wall however still exist in some areas.
Few records of the original Portuguese castle remain and historians are trying to piece together the original location of the manor. Two gates of the manor are located within INS Angre, a naval station in South Mumbai. A sundial thought to date back to the Portuguese era is also present. This sundial does not mark out the 12 hours of a day, but marks out certain periods which are deemed to be important to people of those days.

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Castella de Aguada
Castella de Aguada (Portuguese: "Fort of the Waterpoint"), also known as the Bandra Fort, is a fort in Mumbai. It is located at Land's End in Bandra. It was built by the Portuguese in 1640 as a watchtower overlooking Mahim Bay, the Arabian Sea and the southern island of Mahim. The strategic value of the fort was enhanced in 1661 after the Portuguese ceded the seven islands of Bombay that lay to the immediate south of Bandra to the British. The name indicates its origin as a place where fresh water was available in the form of a fountain ("Aguada") for Portuguese ships cruising the coasts in the initial period of Portuguese presence. The fort lies over several levels, from sea level to an altitude of 24 metres (79 ft). Castella de Aguada has been featured in several Hindi films, such as Dil Chahta Hai and Buddha Mil Gaya.
The Portuguese, who had established a base in the area in 1534 after defeating Bahadur Shah of Gujarat, built several sea forts along the western Indian coastline. Castella de Aguada was one such strategically located fort, overlooking the Mahim Bay to the south, the Arabian Sea to the west, the islands of Worli to the south and the town of Mahim to the south west. The fort also guarded the northern sea route into Mumbai Harbour. This sea route, a large estuary, was later reclaimed from the sea in the nineteenth century. During the Portuguese rule, it was armed with seven cannons and other smaller guns as defence. A freshwater spring in the vicinity supplied potable water to passing ships, thus lending the fort its name.

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Chanderi fort
Chanderi fort located at Chanderi in Ashoknagar District of Madhya Pradesh state in India is situated at a distance of 127 km from Shivpuri and 37 km from Lalitpur and about 45 km from Esagarh and 38 km from Mungoali It is located on a hill southwest of the Betwa River. Chanderi is surrounded by hills, lakes and forests and there are several monuments of the Bundela Rajputs and Malwa sultans. Chanderi finds mention in Mahabharata. Shishupal was the king of Mahabharata period.
Chanderi is located strategically on the borders of Malwa and Bundelkhand. History of Chanderi goes back to the 11th century, when it was dominated by the trade routes of Central India and was proximate to the arterial route to the ancient ports of Gujarat as well as to Malwa, Mewar, Central India and the Deccan. Consequently, Chanderi became an important military outpost.
Chanderi fort, a vast Mughal fort, dominates the skyline of the lovely old town of Chanderi. The main gate of the fort is known as the "Khooni Darwaza". Chanderi fort is situated on a hill 71 meter above the town. The fortification walls were constructed mainly by the Muslim rulers of Chanderi. To the southwest of the fort there is a curious gateway called katti-ghatti made through a hill side.

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Chandragiri fort
Chandragiri Fort, built in the 17th century, is in Kasargod District of Kerala, south India. This large squarish fort is 150 feet (46 m) above sea level and occupies an area of about seven acres by the side of the river Payaswini. The fort is now in ruins.
The fort has an eventful history. In earlier days, the river was considered to be the border of two powerful kingdoms - Kolathunadu and Thulunadu. When Thulunadu was captured by the Vijayanagara Empire, the Kolathunadu kings lost the Chandragiri region to them. During the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire, the area was administratively looked after by the Keladi Nayakas of Ikkeri. When the Vijayanagara Empire fell in the 16th century, Vengappa Nayaka declared independence. Later Shivappa Nayaka took over the reins. He built a chain of forts of which Chandragiri is part.
Coordinates: 12°28′12″N 75°00′11″E / 12.470°N 75.003°E / 12.470; 75.003

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Chitradurga Fort
Chitradurga Fort (Kannada: ಚಿತ್ರದುರ್ಗದ ಕೋಟೆ), or as the British called it Chitaldoorg, straddles several hills and a peak overlooking a flat valley in the Chitradurga District, Karnataka, India. The fort's name Chitrakaldurga, which means 'picturesque fort' in Kannada, is the namesake of the town Chitradurga and its administrative district.
The Fort was built in stages between the 10th and 18th centuries by the dynastic rulers of the region, including the Rashtrakutas, Chalukyas and Hoysalas as well as the Nayakas of Chitradurga, feudal lords in the Vijayanagar Empire. The Nayakas of Chitradurga, or Palegar Nayakas, were most responsible for the expansion of the fort between the 15th and 18th centuries. They were defeated by Hyder Ali at Chitradurga in 1779. Later the fort was expanded and strengthened by Hyder Ali and his son Tippu Sultan,who succeeded Madakari Nayaka V, the last ruler of the Nayaka clan. The fort is built in a series of seven concentric fortification walls with various passages, a citadel, masjid, warehouses for grains and oil, water reservoirs and ancient temples. There are 18 temples in the upper fort and one huge temple in the lower fort. Among these temples the oldest and most interesting is the Hidimbeshwara temple. The masjid was an addition during Hyder Ali’s rule. The fort's many interconnecting tanks were used to harvest rain water, and the fort was said to never suffer from a water shortage.

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Chittorgarh Fort
Chittorgarh Fort (Hindi/Rajasthani: चित्तौड दुर्ग Chittorgarh Durg) is the largest fort in India and the grandest in the state of Rajasthan. The fort, plainly known as Chittor, was the capital of Mewar and is today situated several kilometres by road south of Bhilwara. It was ruled initially by Guhilot and later by Sisodias, the Suryavanshi clans of Chattari Rajputs, from 7th century, until it was finally abandoned in 1568 after the siege by Emperor Akbar in 1567. It sprawls majestically over a hill 180 m (590.6 ft) in height spread over an area of 280 ha (691.9 acres) above the plains of the valley drained by the Berach River. The fort precinct with an evocative history is studded with a series of historical palaces, gates, temples and two prominent commemoration towers. These monumental ruins have inspired the imagination of tourists and writers for centuries.
The fort was sacked three times between 15th and 16th centuries; in 1303 Allauddin Khilji defeated Rana Ratan Singh, in 1535 Bahadur Shah, the Sultan of Gujarat defeated Bikramjeet Singh and in 1567 Emperor Akbar defeated Maharana Udai Singh II who left the fort and founded Udaipur. Each time the men fought bravely rushing out of the fort walls charging the enemy but lost every time. Following these defeats, Jauhar was committed thrice by more than 13,000 ladies and children of the Rajput heroes who laid their lives in battles at Chittorgarh Fort, first led by Rani Padmini wife of Rana Rattan Singh who was killed in the battle in 1303, and later by Rani Karnavati in 1537 AD.

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Cranganore Fort
Cranganore Fort, otherwise known as Kodungallur Fort, was built by the Portuguese in 1523 A.D. and was called Fortaleza da Sao Tome. The Dutch took possession of it in 1661 and later it came under the control of Tipu Sultan. The Dutch wrested it back from Tipu Sultan, but the fort eventually came under the control of Tipu, who destroyed it in the following year. The remains of the fort show that the original fort wall was 18 feet in thickness. The ruin is also known as Tipu’s fort. The fort is about 2 km from the town of Kodungallur.
Coordinates: 10°11′49″N 76°12′43″E / 10.197°N 76.212°E / 10.197; 76.212

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Devanahalli Fort
Devanahalli Fort is located 35 kilometers (22 mi) north of Bangalore city, at Devanahalli in the State of Karnataka, India.
It was originally built in 1501 by Mallabairegowda, which remained in the hands of his descendants until the mid–eighteenth century. In 1749, the then Dalwai of Mysore, Nanjarajaiah, attacked the fort and occupied it.
Later, the fort passed into the hands of Hyder Ali and subsequently Tipu Sultan. In 1791, Lord Cornwallis laid siege to the fort and took possession during the Anglo-Mysore War.
The birth place of Tipu Sultan, also known as Tiger of Mysore, is located near to the fort. The fort is situated on the side of National Highway 7, near the Bengaluru International Airport.
An Archeological Survey of India (ASI) board outside the fort and at Tipu Sultan's birthplace declares them to be protected monuments.
The history of Devanahalli dates back to 15th century, when a family of fleeing refugees from Conjeevaram (modern day Kanchi), camped near the foot of Ramaswami betta, east of Nandi Hills. Their leader Rana Baire Gowda was apparently directed in a dream to set up a settlement in this region. He and his Morasu Wokkalu family settled in a small village, Ahuti, which was later known as Avati. His son Malla Baire Gowda founded Devanahalli, Chikka-ballapura and Dodda-ballapura.Kempegowda, the founder of Bangalore city is also from Morasu Wokkalu family.

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Dhodap
Dhodap (Marathi: धोड़प), is one of the hill forts of Maharashtra state in India. Situated in the Nashik district, the fort is approximately 4750 ft (1452 mt) above sea level.
The base village is called as Dhodambe from where you can start to climb the fort. The fort is 42 km to the Nashik, about 3 km from Hatti Village, in the Satmala range, Nasik region of Sahyadris.
The top of the fort was built using a combination of dressed stone and brickwork. There is a tank with an idol of Lord Hanuman and a tunnel 5m wide. The fort has a pointed cliff named Shembi. You can find caves at the base. One end of the fort shows a domical structure. The eastern face shows a fearsome cliff named Ikhara which is ideal for rock climbers. One Temple situated in one of the caves is in good condition. Few other caves are also seen around and are quite big in size. Also Trunk of Dhodap fort is in good condition.
The fort played an important role during the Peshwa period. It was here that Raghobadada Peshwa hatched a plot against Madhavrao Peshwa.

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Dhule District
Dhule district (Marathi: धुळे जिल्हा) is a district of Maharashtra state in central India. The city of Dhule is the administrative headquarters of the district.
The Dhule district previously comprised tracts of land predominantly inhabited by tribal population. The Dhule district was then bifurcated on 1 July 1998 into two separate districts now known as Dhule and Nandurbar, the latter comprising the tribal region. Agriculture remains the basic profession of the population in this district. Most parts of the district are not under irrigation and thus cultivation heavily depends on regular Monsoon or rain water. Apart from wheat, bajra, jowar or jwari, onion the most favored commercial crop is cotton. Majority of the population in the rural area speaks Ahirani (a dialect of Marathi) language, however Marathi is more widely spoken in the urban areas. Around 26.11% population of Dhule district resides in urban area. The Dhule District is a part of Maharashtra's historical region of Khandesh. Although for administrative purpose it is now clubbed to Nashik Division.

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Dindigul Fort
The Dindigul Fort (Tamil: திண்டுக்கல் கோட்டை; formally known as Dindigul Malai Kottai) is a 17th-century hill fort situated in the town of Dindigul in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. The fort was built by the Madurai Nayak kings in 1605 and was later passed on to Kingdom of Mysore (Mysore Wodeyars) in the early 18th century. Later it became an important fort during Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan reign of Mysore. In 1799 it went to the control of the British East India Company during the Polygar Wars. There is an abandoned temple on its peak apart from few cannons. Today the fort is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India and is open to tourists.
Approaching from Madurai (65 km), the huge rock emerges on the horizon like a "Dhindu" (pillow) — hence the city's name, Dindigul. Amidst paddy fields and coconut groves, it stands out like a welcome symbol, one kilometer short of the city centre. Under the Mysore reign in the 18th century, this fort marked the border between the Madurai and Mysore kingdoms. Dindugul town was not in existence at that time, whereas the region was an amalgamation of a few villages. Today the fort is an important landmark of Dindigul town.

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Diu Fort
The Diu Fort, is located on the west coast of India in Diu, a Union Territory, administered by the Government of India. The fort was built by the Portuguese during their colonial rule of the Diu island. The Diu town is located to the west of the fort. The fort was built in 1535 subsequent to a defense alliance forged by Bahadur Shah^{[disambiguation needed ]}, the Sultan of Gujarat and the Portuguese when Humayun, the Mughal Emperor waged war to annex this territory. The fort was strengthened over the years, till 1546. Portuguese ruled over this territory from 1537 (from the year they took control of the fort and also the Diu town fully) till 1961 (for 424 years, the longest period by any colonial rule in the world) they were forced to quit only in December 1961 (even though India became an independent country in 1947) during a military action called the “Operation Vijay” launched by the Government of India, whereafter Diu was merged with India and became a centrally administered Union Territory {UT).

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East Fort
The East Fort is located at the heart of the CBD of Thiruvananthapuram city, the capital city of Kerala- a South Indian state.
East Fort got its name from the eastern entrance to the fort built by the Kings of Travancore. The old city was all inside the fort on four sides with the Sri Padmanabha Swamy temple at the center. It is said that there were huge metal gates on this entrance to the Fort which was decorated with the symbol of a conch, which was the isignia of the Royal Family of Travancore.

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Fatehpur Sikri
'Fatehpur Sikri' (Hindi: फ़तेहपुर सीकरी, Urdu: فتحپور سیکری) is a city and a municipal board in Agra district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. Built near the much older Sikri, the historical city of Bharat, as it was first named Sikrigarh, was constructed by Sikriwal Rajput Rajas Last Emperor Maharana Sangram Singh beginning in 1500. At Seventh attack of Akbar Sikriwal Rajput left Palace after that Sikrigarh was named Fateh(victory)pur Sikri.There was a temple of Sikriwal Rajputs Kuldevi(Named Chamad Devi)In front of Lal Darwaja of Sikrigarh(at present Fatehpur Sikri).After victory on sikrigarh Akber served as the capital from 1571 to 1585. He was named Salim to honour the saint and would later rule the empire as Emperor Jahangir. Here after the second birthday of Jahangir in 1571, Akbar then 28 years old, decided to shift his capital from Agra to the Sikri ridge, to honor Salim Chishti, and commenced the construction of a planned walled city which took the next fifteen years in planning and construction of a series royal palaces, harem, courts, a mosque, private quarters and other utility buildings. He named the city, Fatehabad, with Fateh, a word of Arabic origin in Persian, meaning "victory", it was later called Fatehpur Sikri. It is at Fatehpur Sikri that the legends of Akbar and his famed courtiers, the nine jewels or Navaratnas, were born . One of them, musician and singer Tansen is said to have performed on an island in the middle of the pool Anup Talao. Built during the 16th century, the Fatehpur Sikri is one of the best preserved collection of Mughal architecture in India.

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Fort Aguada
Fort Aguada and its lighthouse is a well-preserved seventeenth-century Portuguese fort standing in Goa, India, on Sinquerim Beach, overlooking the Arabian Sea.
The fort was constructed in 1612 to guard against the Dutch and the Marathas. It was a reference point for the vessels coming from Europe at that time. This old Portuguese fort stands on the beach south of Candolim, at the shore of the Mandovi river. It was initially tasked with defense of shipping and the nearby Bardez District.
A freshwater spring within the fort provided water supply to the ships that used to stop by. This is how the fort got its name: Aguada, meaning Water. Crews of passing ships would often visit to replenish their fresh water stores. On the fort stands a four-storey Portuguese lighthouse, erected in 1864 and the oldest of its kind in Asia. Built in 1612, it was once the grandstand of 79 cannons, a moat around the fort also protected it.
Fort Aguada was the most prized and crucial fort of Portuguese. The fort is so large that it envelops the entire peninsula at the south western tip of Bardez. Built on the mouth of river Mandovi, it was strategically located and was the chief defence of Portuguese against the Dutch and Marathas.

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Fort Anjediva
Fort Anjediva, built on the Anjadip Island, off the coast of the Indian state of Karnataka but under the administrative jurisdiction of the Indian state of Goa, was once under Portuguese rule. It has also in its vicinity an ancient church on the island called the Church of Our Lady of Springs built in 1505. The Chapel of St Francis D’Assissi is also located here but it is in ruins. Though the fort has a rich history linked to Portuguese rule, it is also presently in ruins. Both the fort and the church are located in the island of Anjadip, which covers an area of 1.5 square kilometres (0.58 sq mi).
Anjediv—the name means "fifth island"—(see image in infobox), is the largest of an archipelago of five islands (known as the Panchdiva chain of five islands); the other four islands are the Kurnagal, the Mudlingud, the Devgad and the Devragad. Because of its strategic importance in the sea faring route to India and also as a watering destination for ships, a fort was built on this island by the Portuguese to enhance their military presence and control of trade route.

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Gajendragarh
Gajendragad or Gajendragarh is a town in Ron Taluk Gadag District, North Karnataka, in the state of Karnataka, India.
Gajendragad, Gad means Fort, local people generally call as Gada. It is about 54 km from Gadag and is one of the big town in the Gadag District. Kannada movies shot here, for example Veera Madakari.
Gajendragad is a pilgrimage destination, due to its Kalakaleshwara temple. It is famous for the following
History of Gajendragad
Gajendragad is surrounded by the Historical places associated with Badami Chalukyas and Western Chalukya and the places are Badami, Aihole, Pattadakal, Mahakuta, Banashankari, Sudi, Mahadeva Temple at Itagi and Kudalasangama. Rastrakuta Monuments at Kuknur. Gajendragad Fort was built and renewed by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Founder of the Ghorpade family was Shri Valabhasinh Cholaraj Ghorpade, the second son of Raja Cholaraj Ghorpade of Mudhol.
The Royal families of Kapsi and Gajendragad owe their origin to Vallabhasinha and the Chiefs of Sondur are descended from the third son of Cholraj.

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Garchuk Lachit Garh
This medieval Garh (meaning fort in Assamese language) or Fort, now popularly known as Lachit Garh, is located in the South Western part of the Guwahati city to the west of Ahomgaon. The fort constructed during the times of Lachit Borphukan around the year 1670 stretches from the northern Fatasil hills at Garchuk locality cutting across the National Highway (N.H.)-37 at Garchuk Charali to the southern hills via Pamahi and Moinakhurung. The length of the fortification is about 3 K.m.
Remains of this fortification built centuries ago to deter the Mughal cavalry with two earthen ramparts and two water filled lakes in between and ditches dug in front can be seen by visitors. But, illegal encroachment has taken toll of this heritage site.
Google satellite imagery of the Garh/fortification

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Gawilghur
Gawilghur (also Gawilgarhor Gawilgad) was a well-fortified mountain stronghold of the Maratha Empire north of the Deccan Plateau, in the vicinity of Melghat Tiger Reserve, Amravati District, Maharashtra. It was successfully assaulted by an Anglo-Indian force commanded by Arthur Wellesley on the 15 December 1803 during the Second Anglo-Maratha War. In popular culture, the campaign to take Gawilghur forms the background of the novel Sharpe's Fortress by Bernard Cornwell, the third in a trilogy of books covering the eponymous hero's time in the British army in India during the Napoleonic era.
The fort takes its name from the Gawli (cow herds) who inhabited the Berar (modern day Amravati) for centuries. Earlier the fort was likely just made of mud as were several such areas in the region. The exact date of construction is not known but the Persian historian, Firishta, records that Ahmed Shah Wali, the ninth king of the Berar dynasty built Gawilgarh when he was encamped at Ellichpur in 1425. Likely this was the date when major fortification was carried out.

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Gingee Fort
Gingee Fort also known as Chenji or Jinji or Senchi in Tamil Nadu, India is one of the few surviving forts in Tamil Nadu, India. It lies in Villupuram District,160 kilometres (99 mi) from the state capital, Chennai, and is close to the Union Territory of Pondicherry. So well fortified was this place that Shivaji ranked it as the "most impregnable fortress in India" and it was called the "Troy of the East" by the British.
The nearest town with a railway station is Tindivanam and the nearest airport is Chennai (Madras)-150 kilometres (93 mi)
==Etymology ==senji fort was builted by the king of senji's ananda kone
The actual name of Gingee is 'Sengiri' meaning perhaps the "Red Hill" in Tamil that has got corrupted into Gingee. Some say that the name Sengiri originated from 'Sanjeevi' the hill mentioned in Ramayana from where Hanuman got the life saving herb, the Sanjeevini Booti for Lakshmana when he was lying unconscious during the war between Rama and Ravana. The Sanjeevi herb is the panacea of Indian mythology. It has been explained as the combination of two roots, Sam (pleasure) and Ji (life). The name has also been traced to Singavaram the neighbouring Vaishnavite shrine, whose lord is considered the guardian deity of the place.

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Gwalior Fort
Gwalior Fort (Hindi: ग्वालियर क़िला Gwalior Qila) in Gwalior, in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, stands on an isolated rock, overlooking the Gwalior town, and contains a number of historic buildings. It is one of the biggest forts in India and a postage stamp has been issued by the Indian Postal Service to commemorate the importance of this fort. From historical records, it is established that it was built in the 8th century. The fortress and the city have been integral to the history of the kingdoms of North India. It is said that the Mughal Emperor Babur (1483–1531) described it as, "The pearl in the necklace of the forts of Hind". The fort, also given the epithet "Gibraltar of India', provides a panoramic view of the old Gwalior town, which is to its east.
The fort’s history relates to two parts namely, the main fort and the Gurjari Mahal and the Man Mandir palace. The first part was built during the early Tomar rule, while the second part, the Gurjari Mahal (now a Museum) and the palace, was constructed by Raja Man Singh Tomar in the 15th century for his favourite queen, Mrignayani.

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Hari Parbat
Hari Parbat or Koh e Maran (Urdu: کوہ مارں)(Hindi: हारी पर्बत) Coordinates: 34°6′19″N 74°48′58″E / 34.10528°N 74.81611°E / 34.10528; 74.81611 is a hill overlooking Srinagar, the largest city and summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is the site of a Durrani fort, built in 1808. It has the famous Shakti Temple on the western Slope and Muslim shrines of Khwaja Makhdoom Sahib and Akhund Mullah Shah on the southern slope. On the southern side of the outer wall there is a Gurudwara, which commemorates the visit of Guru Hargobind.
The first fortifications on the site were constructed by the Mughal emperor Akbar in 1590. He built an outer wall for the fort, and planned a new capital called Nager Nagor to be built within the wall. That project was never completed. The present fort was built in 1808 under the reign of Shuja Shah Durrani.
The hill is considered sacred by the Kashmiri Pandits due to the presence of temple of Sharika. Temple is of goddess Jagadamba Sharika Bhagwati. She has 18 arms and is regarded as the presiding deity (`isht`-Devi) of Srinagar city. The goddess is represented by a Swyambhu Shrichakra (Mahamaha Shrichakra), also called Mahashriyantra, which consists of circular mystic impressions and triangular patterns with a dot (bindu) at the center. Sharika Devi is believed to be a form of Durga Mata or Shakti.

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Hinglajgarh
Hinglajgarh (Hindi: हिंगलाजगढ़) or Hinglaj Fort (Hindi: हिंगलाज क़िला Hinglaj Qila) is an ancient fort situated near village Navali in Bhanpura tehsil of Mandsaur district in Madhya Pradesh. Its coordinates are Latitude 25°30' N and Longitude 65°31' E. It is situated at a distance of 165 km from Mandsaur town and 26 km from Bhanpura town in Madhya Pradesh. This fort has been at its peak of grandeur during Parmara rule. There are many artistic sculptures of various periods in this fort. The Nandi and Uma-Maheshwar sculptures were sent from here to France and Washington for display in India festivals and left a mark at International levels. The Hinglajgarh had been centre of excellence in craftmanship of sculptures for about 800 years. The statues recovered from this fort are from Guptas period to Parmara period. The most ancient statues are from 4-5th century AD.
Hinglajgarh gets name after the goddess Hinglaj Devi, the kuldevi of Kshatriyas. Hinglaj Mata temple is situated in the Hinglajgarh. Originally temple located at Hinglaj (Urdu: ﮨنگلاج) is an important Hindu pilgrimage place in Balochistan, Pakistan. It is situated in Balochistan province about 250 km north-west of Karachi. The Kshatriyas in ancient times had movements between baluchistan and India. The Mauri rulers founded the temple of Hinglaj Mata as she was their kuladevi. Initially this area was known as 'Hinglaj Tekri' but later the Mauri rulers built a fort here and this came to be known as Hinglajgarh or Hinglaj Fort.

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Hosdurg Fort
Hosdurg Fort is a fort in Kasargod district of Kerala state, south India. Hosdurg Fort with its round bastion looks imposing from a distance. Somashekara Nayaka of Keladi Nayaka dynasty of Ikkeri built the fort. The place made well known by the Nithyanandasram with 45 caves.
Coordinates: 12°18′33″N 75°05′38″E / 12.309297°N 75.093801°E / 12.309297; 75.093801

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Hyderabad State
The Hyderābād state pronunciation (help·info) was located in the south-central region of the Indian subcontinent, and was ruled, from 1724 until 1948, by a hereditary Nizam. Throughout its history it was a Muslim-ruled state. The capital city was Hyderabad.
The region became part of the Mughal Empire in the 1680s. When the empire began to weaken in the 18th century, a Mughal official, Asif Jah, defeated a rival Mughal governor's attempt to seize control of the empire's southern provinces, declaring himself Nizam-al-Mulk of Hyderabad in 1724. The Mughal emperor, under renewed attack from the Marathas, was unable to prevent it.
Nizam's Dominions in the 18th century extended from Aurangabad and Berar in the north to Tiruchirapally in the south, encompassing the entire area of 'Circars' (later annexed by French and British forces), and parts of today's Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The areas in what is now Tamil Nadu were administered by the Nawab of the Carnatic, who acknowledged the Nizam's suzerainity. However, with the death of the first Nizam and the arrival of foreign forces, the dominions gradually lost their coastal territories.

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India
India (ⁱ/ˈɪndiə/), officially the Republic of India (Bhārat Gaṇarājya), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the south-west, and the Bay of Bengal on the south-east, it shares land borders with Pakistan to the west;China, Nepal, and Bhutan to the north-east; and Burma and Bangladesh to the east. In the Indian Ocean, India is in the vicinity of Sri Lanka and the Maldives; in addition, India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands share a maritime border with Thailand and Indonesia.
Home to the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation and a region of historic trade routes and vast empires, the Indian subcontinent was identified with its commercial and cultural wealth for much of its long history. Four of the world's major religions—Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism—originated here, whereas Zoroastrianism, Christianity, and Islam arrived in the 1st millennium CE and also helped shape the region's diverse culture. Gradually annexed by and brought under the administration of the British East India Company from the early 18th century and administered directly by the United Kingdom from the mid-19th century, India became an independent nation in 1947 after a struggle for independence that was marked by non-violent resistance led by Mahatma Gandhi.

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Irshalgad
Coordinates: 18°56′01″N 73°13′55″E / 18.933568°N 73.232031°E / 18.933568; 73.232031
Irshalgad is a fortress located between Matheran and Panvel in Maharashtra, India. It is a sister fort to Prabalgad. The area of the fort is not large but there are several water cisterns cut from the rock. The nearest village is Irshalwadi.

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Jaigad Fort
Jaigad Fort is coastal fortification that is located at the tip of a peninsula in Ratnagiri District, in the state of Maharashtra, India. Nestled on a cliff, it overlooks a bay formed where the Shastri river enters the Arabian Sea. It has a commanding view of the bay and the open sea. A jetty port, and a lighthouse is located nearby. Although in ruins, most of the fort's outer wall and ramparts still stand. A deep moat surrounds the fort side not facing the cliff edge. It is a protected monument.

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Jaigarh Fort
Jaigarh Fort (Rajasthani/Hindi: जयगढ़ क़िला) is situated on the premonitory called the Cheel ka Teela (Hill of Eagles) of the Aravalli hill ranges; it overlooks the Amber Fort and the Moata Lake, near Amber in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. The fort was built by Sawai Jai Singh III in 1726 to protect the Amer Fort and the palace complex within it and was named after Jai Singh II.
The fort, rugged and similar in structural design to the Amber Fort, is also known as Victory Fort. It has a length of 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) along the north-south direction and a width of 1 kilometre (0.62 mi). The fort features a cannon named “Jaivana”, which was manufactured in the fort precincts and was then the world's largest cannon on wheels. The palace complex (Laxmi Vilas, Lalit Mandir, Vilas Mandir and Aram Mandir) located within the fort has a well-tended garden where the royal family resided, the Shubhat Niwas (an assembly hall of the warriors), an armoury and a museum.Jaigarh Fort and Amber Fort are connected by subterranean passages and considered as one complex.

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Jaisalmer Fort
Jaisalmer Fort is one of the largest forts in the world. It is situated in Jaisalmer city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It was built in 1156 AD by the Bhati Rajput ruler Rawal Jaisal, from where it derives it name. The fort stands proudly amidst the golden stretches of the great Thar Desert, on Trikuta Hill, and has been the scene of many battles. Its massive yellow sandstone walls are a tawny lion color during the day, fading to honey-gold as the sun sets, thereby camouflaging the fort in the yellow desert. For this reason, it is also known as the "Golden Fort".
During medieval times, the city played a major role in trade with Persia, Arabia, Egypt and Africa. The fort contains 3 layers of walls. The outer or the lower layer is made out of solid stone blocks and it reinforces the loose rubble of Trikuta Hill. The second, or middle, wall snakes around the fort. From the innermost, or third, wall, the Rajput warriors once hurled boiling oil and water as well as massive blocks of rock at their enemies, who would become entrapped between the second and third walls. This defenses of the fort include 99 bastions, of which 92 were built between the period of 1633-47.

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Jalore Fort
Jalore Fort is the main attraction of Jalore, a town in the Indian state of Rajasthan, one of the nine castles of the Maru’, under the Paramaras in the 10th century. It is one of the most famous and impressive forts in the state and has been known through history as the Sonagir or the ‘golden mount’.
Jalore Fort is regarded as one of the most impregnable forts of the country. There is a saying: Let the sky be torn, the earth turned upside down, let the iron armour be cut to pieces, body fighting alone, but Jalore would not surrender
The precise year of its construction is not known however it is believed to be built between the 8th and 10th centuries.
Jalore was ruled by the Parmar, a Rajput clan in the 10th century. Kirtipala, the youngest son of Alhana, ruler of Nadol, is the founder of the Jalore line of Chauhans. He captured it from the Paramaras in 1181 and took the clan name Songara after the place. His son, Samarsimha, succeeded him in 1182. After him, Udayasimha became the ruler. The rule of Udayasimha was a golden period in the history of Jalore. He was a powerful and able ruler . He ruled over a large area. He captured back Nadol and Mandore from the Muslims. In 1228 Iltutmish circled Jalore however Udayasimha offered stiff resistance. He was succeeded by Chachigadeva and Samarasimha respectively. After Samantasimha his son Kanhadadeva became ruler of Jalore.

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Jhansi Fort
The Jhansi fort is situated in the midst of Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh. It was Built in the year 1613 by Raja Bir Singh Deo of Orchha.
Maharaja Chattrasal Bundela of Panna was a good administrator and a brave warrior. In 1729 Mohammed Khan Bangash attacked Chattrasal. Peshwa Baji Rao(I ) helped Maharaja Chattrasal and defeated mughal army. As a mark of gratitude Maharaja Chattrasal offered a part of his state to Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao(I). Jhansi was also included in this part.
In 1742 Naroshanker was made the subedar of Jhansi. During his tenure of 15 years he not only extended the Jhansi fort which was of strategic importance but also constructed some other buildings. The extended part of the fort is called Shankergarh. In 1757 Naroshanker was called back by the Peshwa. After him Madhav Govind Kakirde and then Babulal Kanahai were made the subedars of Jhansi.
In 1766 Vishwas Rao Laxman was made the subedar of Jhansi. His period was from 1766 to 1769. After him Raghunath Rao (II) Newalkar was appointed the subedar of Jhansi. He was a very able administrator. He increased the revenue of the state. The MahaLakshmi Temple and the Raghunath Temple were built by him.

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Junagarh Fort
Junagarh Fort (Rajasthani: जुनाग्द क़िला) is a fort in the city of Bikaner, Rajasthan, India. The fort was originally called Chintamani and was renamed Junagarh or "Old Fort" in the early 20th century when the ruling family moved to Lalgarh Palace outside the fort limits. It is one of the few major forts in Rajasthan which is not built on a hilltop. The modern city of Bikaner has developed around the fort.
The fort complex was built under the supervision of Karan Chand, the Prime Minister of Raja Rai Singh, the sixth ruler of Bikaner, who ruled from 1571 to 1611 AD. Construction of the walls and associated moat commenced in 1589 and was completed in 1594. It was built outside the original fort of the city, about 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) from the city centre. Some remnants of the old fort are preserved near the Lakshmi Narayan temple.
Historical records reveal that despite the repeated attacks by enemies to capture the fort, it was not taken, except for a lone one-day occupation by Kamran Mirza. Kamran was the second son of the Mughal Emperor Babur who attacked Bikaner in 1534, which was then ruled by Rao Jait Singh. In the battle, the Mughals were defeated by Rathors. Kamran then returned to Lahore.

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Kankwadi
Kankwadi or Kankwari is the site of Kankwadi fort and village, located in the Sariska Tiger Reserve in Alwar district.
The fort was founded by Jai Singh II as a famine work. In the 17th century, Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb briefly imprisoned his brother Dara Shikoh in the struggle for the succession of the Mughal throne.
The village was evicted in 2009, but renovation works in the fort are going on to promote tourism.

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Karnala fort
Karnala fort (also called Funnel Hill) is a hill fort in Raigad district about 10 km from Panvel city. Currently it is a protected place lying within the Karnala Bird Sanctuary. It was a fort of strategic importance as it overlooked the Bor pass which connected the Konkan coast to the interior of Maharashtra (Vidharba) and was the main trade route between these areas.
Its exact date of formation is not know but likely it predates 1400 CE as under the Devagiri Yadavs(1248–1318) and under the Tughlaq rulers (1318–1347), Karnala was the capital of the north Konkan districts of their respective empires. It later fell under the command of the Gujarat Sultanate but in 1540 was taken over by Nizam Shah of Ahmednagar. The Gujarat sultans then requested the help of the Dom Francisco de Menenzes the commanding officer of the Portuguese at Bassien(modern day Vasai) to win it back. He ordered 500 of his soldiers to Karnala fort and they were able to capture it. The fort was left in charge of the Gujarat Sultanate but with Portuguese garrisons.

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Khanderi
Khanderi is a fortified island 20 km off the coast of Mumbai. This along with its sister fort Underi formed the major fortification along the Mumbai coast. This was built by Shivaji in 1660 CE to keep a check on the Siddis at Murud-Janjira fort. However later on it lost its importance. Most of the fort is still intact the most prominent structure is a lighthouse built in 1837. It can only be accessed with the permission of the Bombay Port Trust.
Coordinates: 18°42′N 72°49′E / 18.7°N 72.817°E / 18.7; 72.817

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Kolaba Fort
Kolaba Fort (sometimes Kulaba Fort) is an old military fortification in India. It is situated in the sea at a distance of 1–2 km from the shores of Alibag, 35 km south of Mumbai, in the Konkan region of Maharashtra, India. It is a popular tourist destination and a protected monument.
The first mention of Kolaba fort is when it was chosen by Shivaji to be fortified after the whole of South Konkan came under his command. In 1662, he strengthened and fortified Kolaba fort to make it one of his chief naval stations. The command of the fort was given to Darya Sagar and Manik Bhandari under whom Kolaba fort became the centre of Maratha attacks on British ships.
In 1713 under a treaty with Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath, Kolaba along with several other forts was given over to Kanhoji Angre. He used it as his main base from which to launch raids on British ships. In 1722, the Bombay Government incensed at Angre's activities, joined the Portuguese in an expedition against Kolaba. A Portuguese land force and three English ships of the line under Commodore Mathews co-operated but the attempt failed owing to the "cowardice of the Portuguese". About this time Kolaba is described by Hamilton as a fort built on a rock, a little way from the mainland and at high water an island.

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Kolhapur district
Kolhapur district is located in Maharashtra state. The city of Kolhapur is the district headquarters. The district had a population of 38,74,015 of which 33% were urban as of 2011. Marathi is spoken largely and Kannada is also spoken in some part of the Kolhapur District.
Kolhapur is famous for being a centre of Art, education, industry and sports, food, headwear, footwear, jewellery and religious connections, particularly wrestling .Here the wrestling is called as "Kusti" and wrestlers are known as "Malla". This wrestling match is played in the square clay ground which is known as "Akhada". According to legend it was settled by Kolhasur, a demon who was later killed by Mahalakshmi to relieve the local populace. However, honouring the demon's dying wish, the city was named after him. The physical setting of the Kolhapur district is divided into three main parts namely Eastern ranges, Central ranges and Southern ranges. Eastern and Central ranges have black soil formed from 'lava' and at some places it has large tracks of fertile land. The western ranges are mostly hilly and have red soil. The majority area in the west is under thick forest coverage. Panchaganga, Warana, Dudhaganga, Vedganga, Bhogavati, Hiranyakeshi and Ghataprabha are main rivers which flows towards east through western Ghats. The river Panchaganga is formed by the tributaries namely the Kasari, the Kumbi, the Tulsi and the Bhogavati. Krishna river flows in the east on easten border of the district, similarly Tillari river flows on western border to west.

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Korlai Fort
Korlai Fort (also called Morro or Castle Curlew) is a Portuguese fortification in the town of Korlai,Maharashtra, India. It was built on an island (Morro de Chaul) which guards the way to the Revdanda Creek. It was meant as a companion to the fort at Chaul. At this strategic position the Portuguese could use it to defend their province which stretched from Korlai to Bassein. Vestiges of the Portuguese occupation are manifested in the distinct dialect of the Korlai villages inhabitants which is a Portuguese Creole called Kristi.
This fort was built in 1521 by the Portuguese with the permission of the Ahmednagar sultanate. In 1521, taking advantage of the confusion in the aftermath of the death of the Burhan Nizam the Portuguese tried to take over the fort. However the sultan retaliated and sent some of his best men to reclaim the fort. Subsequently a truce was reached in which the Ahmednagar sultanate occupied the island and no further fortification of the island took place. Only a wooden cross remained on the island as a sign of its former rulers.

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Koyna River
The Koyna River rises in Mahabaleshwar and is a tributary of the Krishna River in western Maharashtra, India. It rises near Mahableshwar, a famous hill station in the Western Ghats. Unlike most of the other rivers in Maharashtra which flow East-West direction, the Koyna river flows in North-South direction. The Koyna River is famous for the Koyna Dam and the Koyna Hydroelectric Project. Today the Koyna Hydroelectric Project is the largest completed hydroelectric project in India. The reservoir — Shivasagar Lake, is a huge lake of 50 km in length.
Due to its electricity generating potential through Koyna Hydroelectric Project, Koyna river is known as the Life Line of Maharashtra
The river meets the Krishna River, which is one of the three largest rivers in southern India by Karad.
The river is just about 100 meters in width and is slow-flowing. It is an olive shade of green during the dry months and a bluish-brown in the monsoon months attributed to much algae and aquatic plant life.The impounded water of the Koyna Dam though has submerged a significant amount of Rain forest of the Western Ghats, it has helped a lot to the surrounding forest by supplying water all round the year. Hence a wide biodiversity of plants and animals is observed in the evergreen forest surrounding the river.

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Kumbhalgarh
Kumbhalgarh (also called Kumbhalmer or Kumbalgarh) is a Mewar fortress in the Rajsamand District of Rajasthan state in western India. Built during the course of the 15th century by Rana Kumbha, and enlarged through the 19th century, Kumbhalgarh is also a birthplace of Maharana Pratap, the great king and warrior of Mewar. Occupied until the late 19th century, the fort is now open to the general public as a museum and is spectacularly lit for a few minutes each evening. Kumbalgarh is situated 82 km from Udaipur towards its northwest and is easily accessible by road. It is the most important fort in Mewar after Chittaurgarh.
Built on a hilltop 1100 metres above sea level, the fort of Kumbhalgarh has perimeter walls that extend 36 kilometres. The frontal walls are fifteen feet thick. Kumbhalgarh has seven fortified gateways. There are over 360 temples within the fort, 300 ancient Jain and the rest Hindu. From the palace top, it is possible to look tens of kilometers into the Aravalli Range. The sand dunes of the Thar desert can be seen from the fort walls.

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Laling Fort
Laling Qila (Marathi: लळिंग क़िल्ला, Hindi: लालिंग क़िला) is a small fort (qila) situated in the present day Dhule district of Maharashtra state in India. The fort is situated on top of Laling hill about 9.65 km (6.00 mi) south of Dhule city. It was one of the important forts in the Khandesh region during the time of the Faruqi Kings.
It is a place of considerable antiquity and the fort is supposed to have been built during the reign of the first of the Faruqi Kings. The fact that this fort and not that of Thalner was granted by Malik Raja (1370-1399) to his eldest son would show that Laling was his chief fort. It was in this fort that Nasir Khan and his son Miran Adil Khan were besieged in 1437 by the Bahamani general till they were relieved by an army advancing from Gujarat. Early in the seventeenth century it is mentioned more than once in connection with the movements of the Mughal troop's Deccan campaigns [Ellior, VII, 35, 102.]. In 1862, the fort is described, as strongly situated with very few defenses left.

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Laling fort
Laling Qila (Marathi: लळिंग क़िल्ला, Hindi: लालिंग क़िला) is a small fort (qila) situated in the present day Dhule district of Maharashtra state in India. The fort is situated on top of Laling hill about 9.65 km (6.00 mi) south of Dhule city. It was one of the important forts in the Khandesh region during the time of the Faruqi Kings.
It is a place of considerable antiquity and the fort is supposed to have been built during the reign of the first of the Faruqi Kings. The fact that this fort and not that of Thalner was granted by Malik Raja (1370-1399) to his eldest son would show that Laling was his chief fort. It was in this fort that Nasir Khan and his son Miran Adil Khan were besieged in 1437 by the Bahamani general till they were relieved by an army advancing from Gujarat. Early in the seventeenth century it is mentioned more than once in connection with the movements of the Mughal troop's Deccan campaigns [Ellior, VII, 35, 102.]. In 1862, the fort is described, as strongly situated with very few defenses left.

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Madh Fort
Madh Fort (also called Versova Fort) is a small fort in northern Mumbai, India situated at Madh Island. It was built by the Portuguese and lost it in February 1739 during the war against Maratha empire. It is secluded and difficult to reach, about 15 kilometres (9 mi) from Malad and is the last stop on route 271 of BEST bus service or via Versova by ferry boat. It is situated near Aksa Beach. The fort was built by the Portuguese as a watchtower in the 17th century. It offers a strategic view of the coastline and guards the Marve Creek. Its external façade is intact but internally it is dilapidated. It is under control of the Indian Air Force as it is located close to an Indian Naval base and permission is needed for accessing it. Madh Island fort is surrounded by local fishermen's communities. Some Bollywood movies like Love Ke Liye Kuchh Bhi Karega, and Manmohan Desai's 1985 movie "Mard" have been shot at this location.Many episodes of the popular serial C.I.D has been shot in this location also.

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Mahabaleshwar
Mahabaleshwar (Marathi: महाबळेश्वर) ( pronunciation (help·info)) is a city and a municipal council in Satara district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is a hill station located in the Western Ghats range. With one of the few evergreen forests of the world, it served as the summer capital of Bombay province during the British Raj.)
Mahabaleshwar is located at 17°55′N 73°40′E / 17.92°N 73.67°E / 17.92; 73.67. It has an average elevation of 1,353 metres (4,439 ft).
Located about 120 km (75 mi) southwest of Pune and 285 km (177 mi) from Mumbai, Mahabaleshwar is a vast plateau measuring 150 km² (58 sq mi), bound by valleys on all sides. It reaches a height of 1,438 m (4,718 ft) at its highest peak above sea level, known as Wilson/Sunrise Point.
Mahabaleshwar comprises three villages: Malcolm Peth, Old "Kshetra" Mahabaleshwar and part of the Shindola village.
Mahabaleshwar is the source of the Krishna River that flows across Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The legendary source of the river is a spout from the mouth of a statue of a cow in the ancient temple of Mahadev in Old Mahabaleshwar. Legend has it that Krishna is Lord Vishnu himself as a result of a curse on the trimurtis by Savitri. Also, its tributaries Venna and Koyana are said to be Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma themselves. An interesting thing to notice is that 4 other rivers come out from the cow's mouth apart from Krishna and they all travel some distance before merging into Krishna. These rivers are the Koyana, Venna (Veni), Savitri, and Gayatri.

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Mahad
Mahad pronunciation (help·info)(Marathi: महाड) is a city and a municipal council in Raigad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It has total population over 50,000. It is situated about 175 km to the south of Mumbai (erstwhile Bombay). It has become the center of attraction because of its beautiful surroundings and pleasant climate. Mahad has a personality of its own due to its mythological, historical, social and cultural importance. The city, vibrant and active on the industrial, political, social and cultural fronts, has influenced the lives of some great personalities.
Mahad is considered as Land of Freedom Fighters and many revolutionary freedom moments of India are occurred here. It is famous for the Drinking Water Satyagraha of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar for Dalits at Chavdar Tale,which played as turning point in indian sociopolitical history.
Apart from this, it had a glorious history during the rule of the great Maratha King Shivaji.The capital of hindavi Swarajya & samadhi of Shivaji Maharaj is at Raigad fort which is around 30Kms from city. It was part of Birwadi Subha (Tehsil) and was ruled by Birwadi Subhedar's Kadams (Mahamunkars). The samadhi of Shivaji's mother Jijabai is at Pachad situated at foothills of raigad fort.The famous Hirkani was from Raigadwadi village. Shivaji's guru Samarth Ramdas lived at Shivthar Ghal near Varandha Ghat about 30kms from city. The village Umarath of Tanaji Malusare & Kinjaloli of Murarbaji are also in vicinity of Mahad.

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Maharashtra
Maharashtra /mɑːhəˈrɑːʃtrə/ (Marathi: महाराष्ट् mahārāṣṭra [məharaːʂʈrə] ( listen)) is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India. Maharashtra is the richest state in India, contributing 15% of the country's industrial output and 13.3% of its GDP (2006–2007 figures).
Maharashtra is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west, Gujarat and the Union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli to the northwest, Madhya Pradesh to the northeast, Chhattisgarh to the east, Karnataka to the south, Andhra Pradesh to the southeast, and Goa to the southwest. The state covers an area of 307,731 km² (118,816 sq mi) or 9.84% of the total geographical area of India. Mumbai, the capital city of the state, is India's largest city and the financial capital of the nation. Nagpur is the second capital of the state. Marathi is the official language.
Maharashtra is the world's second most populous first-level administrative country sub-division. Were it a nation in its own right, Maharashtra would be the world's tenth most populous country ahead of Mexico.

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Mahim Fort
The Mahim Fort (Marathi: माहीम किल्ला) is a fort in Mahim in Mumbai, Maharashtra state, India. Strategically located in the Mahim Bay, the fort overlooks Worli to the south, Bandra to the north, and Mahim to the east. The origins of the fort are unclear, but it occupies a strategic location that has been frequently contested. The fort is currently in disrepair, suffering from administrative neglect, encroachment of slums, and exposure to tidal erosion.
In 1516, Portuguese commander Dom Joao de Monoy entered the Mahim Creek and defeated the commander of Mahim fort. The fort was the site of frequent skirmishes between the Portuguese and the Ali Shah, a Gujarati ruler, before the island of Mahim was appropriated from Bahadur Shah of Gujarat by the Portuguese in 1534. In 1661, the Portuguese ceded the island of Mahim as dowry to Charles II of England. After the English gained control of the fort, it was strengthened by Sir Thomas Grantham in 1684, and became a strategic watchtower against possible Portuguese attacks, and later from the Marathas.

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Malhargad
Malhargad is a hill fort in western India near Sasvad, 30 kilometres (19 mi) from Pune. It is also known as Sonori Fort due to the village of Sonori being situated at its base. The fort was named for the god Malhari and was the last fort built by the Marathas, about 1775.
The Sahyadri range to the west of Pune in Velha taluka is split, and the forts Rajgad and Torna are on one branch while Forts Sinhagad, Purandar, Vajragad and Malhargad on the other. This range is known as the Bhuleshwar range which is spread along the East-West direction. The fort is believed to be built to keep watch on Dive ghat along the Pune-Saswad route. The fort was built during the period of 1757 to 1760. The fort was built by Bhivrâo Yashvant and Krishnaji Mâdhavrâo Pânsê, a Peshwa Sardar, who was the chief in charge of Tofkhana of the Peshwas. Citations of a visit of Elder Madhavrao Peshwe to the fort are available in historic documents. A palace, belonging to Panse, can be seen in the Sonori village though much of it is in ruins.

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Manora Fort
The Manora fort is situated 65-km away from Thanjavur, Tamilnadu, India. The fort was built by Maratha ruler Serfoji II in 1814–1815 to commemorate the successful advance of the British over Napoleon Bonaparte. It is an 8-storied, hexagonal tower, which is 23-meters high overlooking the Bay of Bengal. The fort derives its name Manora, from the word "Minaret".
In December 2004, five monuments including the fort were damaged in the Indian Ocean Tsunami. It was planned in 2007 by the State Tourism Department to renovate the structure and improve its infrastructure by building several additional facilities including upgrading the children's park and building a tourist's shed.
It is claimed by the locals that in those hay days, the 8 storey tower overlooked a part of distant country Sri Lanka across the Bay of Bengal, a claim still unproven. It is said that the Lankan traders used to come to Manora and traded goods with their Indian counterparts. There are also many claims regarding treasure Serfoji might have hidden inside the mazes of the fort. This resulted in the locals to damage the campus in search of the treasures but yielding none. Neglect from maintenance has already cost the heritage building severely that public are allowed to go until the 2nd floor of the 8 storey tower in fear of collapse of the tower. Also, it is claimed that an underground passege from this fort leads to the big temple in Thanjavur, 65 km away.

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Mazagon Fort
The Mazagaon Fort was a British fort in Mazagaon, Mumbai, in the India state of Maharashtra, built around 1680. The fort was razed by the Siddi general, Yakut Khan in June 1690. The fort was located at the present-day Joseph Baptista Gardens, atop Bhandarwada Hill outside the Dockyard Road railway station.
Up to the eighteenth century, Mumbai consisted of several small islands. In 1661, seven of these islands were ceded by the Portuguese to the British as part of the dowry of Catherine of Braganza when she married Charles II of England. The harbour proved eminently apposite, and the British planned to shift their base from Surat to Mumbai. The Siddis, who were of African descent and noted for their navies, had allied themselves with the Mughals. The British, through the East India Company, and the Mughals were constantly waging war on each other. As allies of the Mughals, the Siddis also viewed the British as enemies.
Faced with relentless attacks by the Siddis in 1672, The British constructed several fortifications in Mumbai, and in 1680 the Sewri fort was complete. It stood on the island of Mazagaon, on a hill overlooking the eastern seaboard.

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Mehrangarh Fort
Mehrangarh Fort, located in Jodhpur city in Rajasthan state, is one of the largest forts in India.
The fort is situated 400 feet (122 m) above the city and is enclosed by imposing thick walls. Inside its boundaries there are several palaces known for their intricate carvings and expansive courtyards. A winding road leads to and from the city below. The imprints of cannonball hits by attacking armies of Jaipur can still be seen on the second gate. To the left of the fort is the chhatri of Kirat Singh Soda, a soldier who fell on the spot defending the Mehrangarh fort.
There are seven gates, which include Jayapol (meaning 'victory'), built by Maharaja Man Singh to commemorate his victories over Jaipur and Bikaner armies. Fattehpol (also meaning 'victory') gate was built by Maharaja Ajit Singh to mark the defeat of the Mughals. The palm imprints upon these still attract much attention even today.
The museum in the Mehrangarh fort is one of the most well-stocked museums in Rajasthan. In one section of the fort museum there is a selection of old royal palanquins, including the elaborate domed gilt Mahadol palanquin which was won in a battle from the Governor of Gujarat in 1730. The museum exhibits the heritage of the Rathores in arms, costumes, paintings and decorated period rooms.

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Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire, Shahan-e-Gurkhani, Shahan-e-Mughal, Sultanate-e-Mughliya, Daulat-e-Mughliya (Persian: شاهان گورکانی‎ Shāhān-e Gūrkānī; Urdu: مغلیہ سلطنت; self-designation: گوركانى Gūrkānī ),‎ or Mogul (also Moghul) Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were direct descendants of Genghis Khan through Chagatai Khan and Timur. The Mughal Empire began in 1526; at the height of their power in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, they controlled most of the Indian Subcontinent—extending from Bengal in the east to Balochistan in the west, Kashmir in the north to the Kaveri basin in the south. According to "Babur-Nama", Kazakh tribal aristocracy along with number of other Turkic soldiers participated actively in the campaign of Babur, which made great influence over the development of Mughal Empire. Its population at that time has been estimated as between 110 and 150 million, over a territory of more than 3.2 million square kilometres (1.2 million square miles).

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Mumbai city district
Mumbai City District (मुंबई जिल्हा) is a district of Maharashtra in Konkan Division. As a city district, it has no headquarters or subdivisions. It, along with the Mumbai Suburban District make up the metropolis of Mumbai. The city area is called the "island city" or South Mumbai or Old Mumbai. It extends from Colaba in the south to Mahim and Sion in the north. Until the 1960s, the area was known as Mumbai. Today, Mumbai municipality includes both districts. The city's area covers 67.7 km².
The City of Bombay, as it was then called came in light in the year 150 A.D. through the geographical work of renowned geographer, Ptolemy. The City consisting of several islands were then ruled by Marathi kolis and agris, the native inhabitants of Mumbai.
These natives ruled the islands up to 1345 A.D. Thereafter, the rulers changed down the history till the Islamic rulers invaded India and conquered some of the islands in 1534 A.D. Subsequently, a Muslim ruler from Gujarat took over all the islands, which were then conquered by the Portuguese. In 1661 A.D., the island of Bombay was added to the Britishers as a part of Royal Dowry, on the occasion of the marriage of King Charles II of England with the Portuguese princess Infanta Catherine.

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Munger Fort
The Munger Fort, located at Munger (also spelt as Monghyr during the British Raj), in the state of Bihar, India, is built on a rocky hillock on the south bank of the Ganges River. Its history is not completely dated but it is believed that it was built during the early rule of Slave dynasty of India. The Munger town where the fort is situated was under the control of Muhammad bin Tughluq of Delhi (1325-1351 AD). The fort has two prominent hills called the Karnachaura or Karanchaura, and the other a built up rectangular mound deduced to be the location of a citadel of the fort with historical links. The Fort had a succession of Muslim rulers (Khaljis, Tughlaqs, Lodis, Nawabs of Bengal, followed by Mughal rulers, till it was finally acceded to the British by Mir Quasim (1760–72), after unseating his father-in-aw Mīr Jafar on the grounds of old age, for a monetary reward negotiated by Vansittart. This deal involved payment by the East India Company’s merchants of an ad valorem duty of 9 percent, against an Indian merchant’s duty of 40%. The fort became a place of considerable importance to the British in Bengal till 1947 (India'a independence).

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Nagpur district
Nagpur district (Marathi: नागपूर जिल्हा) is a district in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra state in central India. The city of Nagpur is the district headquarters. The district is part of Nagpur Division.
Nagpur district is bounded by Bhandara district on the east, Chandrapur district on the southeast, Wardha district on the southwest, Amravati district on the northwest and Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh state on the north.
In 1853, after the death of Raghoji III, the princely state of Nagpur was annexed by the British and the territory occupied by the present district became part of Nagpur Province. In 1861, it was merged with the Central Provinces and Nagpur district became a part of one of its divisions, Nagpur division. In 1903, it became part of the Central Provinces and Berar. In 1950, Nagpur district became part of the newly formed Madhya Pradesh state and Nagpur became its capital. In 1956, after the reorganization of states, Nagpur district was incorporated in Bombay state. In 1 May 1960, it became a district of Maharashtra state.

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Nashik district
Nashik district, also known as Nasik district, is a district in Maharashtra, India. The city of Nashik is the administrative headquarters of the district.
Nashik district has an area of 15,530 square kilometres. It is bounded by Dhule district to the north, Jalgaon district to the east, Aurangabad district to the southeast, Ahmadnagar district to the south, Thane district to the southwest, Valsad and Navsari districts of Gujarat to the west, and The Dangs district to the northwest.
The Western Ghats or Sahyadri range stretches from north to south across the western portion of the district. With the exception of the westernmost few villages, the western portion is hilly, and intersected by ravines, and only the simplest kind of cultivation is possible. The western slope of the Ghats is drained by several rivers, including the Daman Ganga River, which drains westwards to the Arabian Sea.
The larger eastern portion of the district, which lies on the Deccan Plateau, is open, fertile, and well cultivated. The Chander Range, which runs east and west, forms the chief divide of the plateau region. The Godavari River originates in the district and drains east towards the Bay of Bengal, and all the streams to the south of the Chander Range, including the Kadwa and Darna, are tributaries of the Godavari. To the north of the Chander Range, the Girna River and its tributary, the Mosam, flow westward through fertile valleys into the Tapti River.

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Nira River
Nira is a river flowing through the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is a tributary of Bhima river and flows through Pune and Solapur districts of Maharashtra. Karha is a tributary of Nira.
Coordinates: 17°59′N 75°07′E / 17.983°N 75.117°E / 17.983; 75.117

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Padmadurg
Coordinates: 18°19′20″N 72°55′58″E / 18.322135°N 72.932755°E / 18.322135; 72.932755
Padmadurg, also known as Kasa fort,which is a fort in [Maharashtra],[India]. It was built by the great Maratha ruler King [Shivaji]to the northwest of the fort [Janjira].It was built mainly to conquer the fort Janjira, although it is not as big as Janjira. Due to incomplete construction, and bombardment from Janjira during its construction, only ruins of the Padmadurg fort remain. Many parts of the fort are now inaccessible. There are no direct ferryboats to Padmadurg so visitors have to hire a personal ferryboat. This fort is under a seal by Indian Government as it has been claimed that the drugs were smuggled there. It was built by king Sambhaji - son of the great Maratha ruler king Shivaji.Although it is not as big as Janjira but still a sea fort that can be visited upon permission by Indian Customs\Navy. It looks great from Janjira.

When Shivaji the Great decidied to take on the Siddis of Janjira, his admiral, Daulat Khan, built this fort on an island next to Janjira. The rock, on which the fort was built, was called Kasa and the fort was named Padmadurg. The fort has six bastions, some of them devastated by Gun attack from the famous 'kalal bangdi' gun in Janjira. Kasa was soon overpowered by Siddis and used as a Jail. Private boat can be hired to visit this fort

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Palakkad Fort
Palakkad Fort (Tipu's Fort) is an old fort situated in the heart of Palakkad town of Kerala state, southern India. It was built by Haider Ali in 1766 ACE and remains one of the best preserved forts in Kerala.
The Palakkad Fort is said to have existed from very ancient times, but believed to be constructed in present form in 1766 A.D, but little is known of its early history. The local ruler, Palakkad Achchan, was originally a tributary of the Zamorin, but had become independent before the beginning of the eighteenth century. In 1757 he sent a deputation to Haider Ali seeking help against an invasion threatened by the Zamorin. Haider Ali seized upon the opportunity to gain possession of a strategically important location such as Palghat, and from that time until 1790 the fort was continually in the hands of the Mysore Sultans or the British. It was first taken by the latter in 1768 when Colonel Wood captured it during his raid on Haider Alis's fortresses, but it was retaken by Haider a few months later. It was recaptured by Colonel Fullarton in 1783, after a siege that lasted eleven days but was abandoned the following year. It later fell into the hands of the Zamorin’s troops. In 1790 it was finally captured by the British under Colonel Stuart. It was renovated and was used as a base for operations that ended with the storming of Srirangapatnam. The fort continued to be garrisoned until the middle of 19th century. In the early 1900s it was converted into a taluk office.

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Pallipuram Fort
Pallipuram Fort is in Ernakulam district of Kerala, south India. It was built by the Portuguese in 1503. It is the oldest existing European fort in India. In 1789 the Dutch captured the fort in 1661 and sold it to the State of Travancore in 1789. This fort is situated in the northern extremity of the Vypeen island. This fort is in a hexagonal shape and popularly known as ayikkotta or Alikotta
The outpost is a hexagonal structure. The lowest floor inside the Fort is raised to height of five feet. Cellar inside the fort was used to store gun powder. The gate and the door posts, and the lintels are finely dressed and arched. There is a square well of dimension 3’3”. Earlier, it was the source of fresh water.
There is an opening to the north which leads to the cellar. There is a circular slab stone, on which was installed a pillar on which the radiating wooden struts supporting the upper two floors must have rested.
Each face of the fort measures 32 ft long, 34 feet high, and the walls are six feet thick. Each face of the fort has three embrasures, one above the other. The central opening of the embrasures measures 2’ × 2½’. The fort could have mounted as many as guns commanding all quarters round it. There is an open space inside affording easy passage to the cellar.

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Panhala Fort
Coordinates: 16°48′32″N 74°06′33″E / 16.80889°N 74.10917°E / 16.80889; 74.10917
Panhala fort (Marathi: पन्हाळा), also known as Panhalgad, Pahalla and Panalla (literally "the home of serpents"), is located in Panhala, 20 kilometres northwest of Kolhapur in Maharashtra, India. It is strategically located looking over a pass in the Sahyadri mountain range which was a major trade route from Bijapur in the interior of Maharashtra to the coastal areas. Due to its strategic location, it was the centre of several skirmishes in the Deccan involving the Marathas, the Mughals and the British East India Company, the most notable being the Battle of Pavan Khind. Here, the queen regent of Kolhapur, Tarabai, spent her formative years. Several parts of the fort and the structures within are still intact.
Panhala fort was built between 1178 and 1209 CE, one of 15 forts (others including Bavda, Bhudargad, Satara, and Vishalgad) built by the Shilahara ruler Bhoja II. A copper plate found in Satara shows that Raja Bhoja held court at Panhala from 1191–1192 CE. About 1209–10, Bhoja Raja was defeated by Singhana (1209–1247), the most powerful of the Devgiri Yadavas, and the fort subsequently passed into the hands of the Yadavas. Apparently it was not well looked after and it passed through several local chiefs. In 1376 inscriptions record the settlement of Nabhapur to the south-east of the fort.

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Pargadh
Paargad Fort is situated to the south of Kolhapur in Maharashtra state in India, at a distance of around 28 km from Chandgad. One of the major attractions of this fort is its serene environment and lush green surroundings. Apart from this, it is also known for housing a wonderful bronze statue of Shivaji and a temple of Bhagawati Bhawani.
the gad can be trekked from the village morle located in dodamarg taluka. Bus service ic there from dodamarg to morle(18 km). a bus service is also there from chandagad directly to pargad
on the way to pargadh from chandghad also visit towns of here and medhe for the beautifully crafted tanks .
Fort was maintained by Raiba(Son of Tanaji Malusare).

Satellite view of Pargadh Fort

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Poladpur
Poladpur (Marathi: पोलादपूर) is a census town in Raigad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra.
Poladpur is a town named after Poladjung, one of the knights in the army of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. He was beaten and buried at Poladpur during the Shivaji Era by the elite warriors of the Chitre clan. Hence, the name of the town. Grave of Poladjung can still be seen on the road beyond the town council joining national highway on the banks of the river Savitri. Poladpur has been the native place for Chitre clan since many centuries. There is a temple of Kalbhairav-JyogeshwariDevi whom the Chitres belong to. The temple lies on Mumbai-Goa National highway. It is a starting point to Mahabaleshwar. The better scenic view to Mahabaleshwar. Its betterv to chosse this route from Mumbai to enjoy Nature beauty.
As of 2001^[update] India census, Poladpur had a population of 15297. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Poladpur has an average literacy rate of 74%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 79%, and female literacy is 69%. In Poladpur, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.

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Portuguese Empire
The Portuguese Empire (Portuguese: Império Português), also known as the Portuguese Overseas Empire (Ultramar Português) or the Portuguese Colonial Empire (Império Colonial Português), was the first global empire in history. In addition, it was the longest-lived of the modern European colonial empires, spanning almost six centuries, from the capture of Ceuta in 1415 to the handover of Macau in 1999 or the grant of sovereignty to East Timor in 2002. The empire spread throughout a vast number of territories that are now part of 53 different sovereign states.
Portuguese sailors began exploring the coast of Africa in 1419, using recent developments in navigation, cartography and maritime technology such as the caravel, in order that they might find a sea route to the source of the lucrative spice trade. In 1488, Bartolomeu Dias rounded the Cape of Good Hope, and in 1498, Vasco da Gama reached India. In 1500, either by an accidental landfall or by the crown's secret design, Pedro Álvares Cabral discovered Brazil on the South American coast. Over the following decades, Portuguese sailors continued to explore the coasts and islands of East Asia, establishing forts and factories as they went. By 1571, a string of outposts connected Lisbon to Nagasaki along the coasts of Africa, the Middle East, India, and Asia. This commercial network brought great wealth to Portugal.

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Portuguese India
The Portuguese Viceroyalty of India (Portuguese: Vice-Reino da Índia Portuguesa), later the Portuguese State of India (Portuguese: Estado Português da Índia), was the aggregate of Portugal's colonial holdings in India.
The government started in 1505, six years after the discovery of a sea route to India by Vasco da Gama, with the nomination of the first Viceroy Francisco de Almeida, then settled at Cochin. Until 1752, the "State of India" included all Portuguese possessions in the Indian Ocean, from southern Africa to Southeast Asia, governed by either a Viceroy or a Governor from headquarters established in Goa since 1510. In 1752 Mozambique got its own government and in 1844 the Portuguese Government of India stopped administering the territory of Macau, Solor and Timor, being then confined to Malabar.
At the time of British India's independence in 1947, Portuguese India included a number of enclaves on India's western coast, including Goa proper, as well as the coastal enclaves of Daman (Port: Damão) and Diu, and the enclaves of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, which lie inland from Daman. The territories of Portuguese India were sometimes referred to collectively as Goa. Portugal lost the last two enclaves in 1954, and finally the remaining three in December 1961, when they were taken back by India after military action (although Portugal only recognized Indian control in 1975, after the Carnation Revolution and the fall of the Estado Novo regime).

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Prabalgad
Prabalgad is a fort located in between Matheran and Panvel, visible from the Mumbai Pune expressway. The fort is located at an elevation of 2300 feet in the Sahyadri mountains. It is located on a plateau very close to Matheran, but unlike Prabalgad fort does not have a good source of water supply. It was known as Muranjan until it was taken over and renamed by the Maratha forces under Shivaji's rule. The fort has a sister fort, Irshalgad.
Around 1458 Malik Ahmad, prime minister of the kingdom of Ahmednagar, took over the fort during his conquest of Konkan. The fort was conquered by Shivaji from Mughals in the year 1658. After establishing himself in Kalyan-Bhivandi area, Shivaji's forces attacked the fort then governed by Kesar Singh, a Mughal sardar. On seeing the signs of defeat Kesar Singh along with all the ladies in the fort committed suicide to save themselves from being dishonoured in the hands of enemy. In spite of Kesar Singh's orders, his mother hid herself along with her grandchild. Shivaji in an act of kindness made sure the lady and the kid were allowed a safe passage.

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Pratapgad
Coordinates: 17°56′10″N 73°34′39″E / 17.936224°N 73.577607°E / 17.936224; 73.577607
Pratapgad (also transcribed Pratapgarh or Pratapgadh) (Marathi: प्रतापगड; English: Valour fort) is a large fort located in Satara district, in the state of Maharashtra in India. Significant as the site of the Battle of Pratapgad, the fort is now a popular tourist destination.
Pratapgad fort is located 15 kilometres from Poladpur and 22 kilometres from Mahabaleshwar, a popular hill-station in the area. This fort stands 1,080 metres above sea level.
The fort is built on a spur which overlooks the road between the villages of Par and Kinesvar.
The Maratha king Shivaji commissioned Moropant Trimbak Pingle, his prime minister, to undertake the construction of this fort in order to defend the banks of the Nira and the Koyna rivers, and to defend the Par pass. It was completed in 1656.
The Battle of Pratapgarh between Shivaji and Afzal Khan was fought below the rampants of this fort on November 10, 1659. This was the first major test of the fledgling kingdom's army, and set the stage of the establishment of the Maratha empire.

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Pune district
Pune District is situated in Maharashtra state of India. Pune city is the district headquarters. In the last census on 2001, the total population of the district was 7,232,555, making it the fourth most populous district in India (out of 640). Urban population comprises 58.08% of the total population. The current population of Pune urban agglomerate is over 4 million.
Malik Ahmad : establishment of Nizamshahi of Ahmednagar (1490).
With the establishment of the Nizamshahi rule with Ahmednagar as its headquarters, practically the whole of the Poona territory, perhaps with the exception of Indapur, which still continued to be under at least the nominal suzerainty of Yusuf Adil Khan of Bijapur, came under the unified control of the Nizamshahi. The territory was formed into a separate district or sarkar, with sub-divisions called paragana and smaller ranges called prant or desh. From such records as are available it appears that the revenue collection was mostly farmed amongst the important chieftains who were henchmen of the Nizamshahi. There was indeed an officer of the Nizamshahi who was charged with the responsibility of supervising and administering the functions of police and criminal justice, civil suits, as a rule, seem to have been referred to local panchayats.

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Purandar fort
Purandar fort (also called Purandhar fort) पुरंदर किल्ला (in Marathi) figures repeatedly in the rising of Shivaji against the Bijapur kingdom and the Mughals. Purandhar fort stands 4,472 ft. above the sea (1,387 m) in the Western Ghats, 20 miles southeast of Pune. It actually consists of two forts - Purandar and Vajragad (or Rudramal). The latter is the smaller of the two and is on the eastern side of the main fort. The village Purandar takes its name from this fort.
The earliest known mention of Purandar is in the Yadava era (11th century). The 1000yr old Narayaneshwar temple of Hemadpanthi architecture built by the Yadavas still exists in Narayanpur, the base village of Purandar. After the defeat of the Yadavas by Persian invaders, the territory fell in to the hands of these invaders who further fortified Purandar in 1350. During the early rule of the Bijapur and Ahmednagar kings, Purandar was among the forts directly under Government, and never entrusted to jagirdars (estate-holders). Sometime under the Bedar kings (1347-1490) the fort was besieged several times. To prevent Purandar fort from falling, a man and a woman were buried alive under one of the fort bastions to appease its patron deity.

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Raigad district
Raigad District (Marathi: रायगड जिल्हा), is a district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is located in the Konkan region. The district was renamed after Raigad, the fort which was the former capital of the Maratha leader Shivaji, and is located in the interior regions of the district, in dense forests of the district, on a west-facing spur of the Western Ghats of Sahyadri range. The district had a population of 2,207,929 of which 24.22% were urban as of 2001.
The district is bounded by Mumbai Harbour to the northwest, Thane District to the north, Pune District to the east, Ratnagiri district to the south, and the Arabian Sea to the west. It includes the large natural harbor of Pen-Mandwa, which is immediately south of Mumbai harbour, and forming a single landform with it. The northern part of the district is included in the planned metropolis of Navi Mumbai, and its port, the Jawaharlal Nehru Port.
The district includes towns/cities of Roha, Panvel, Pen, Khopoli, Kharghar, Taloja, Khalapur, Uran, Patalganga, Rasayani, Nagothana, Poladpur, Alibag, Karjat and Mahad. The biggest city both in area and population is Panvel. The district also includes the isle of Gharapuri or Elephanta, located in Uran tehasil which has ancient Hindu and Buddhist caves.

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Raigad Fort
Raigad (Marathi:रायगड) is a hill fortress situated in the modern day near mahad, Raigad district of Maharashtra, India. The Maratha king Shivaji Maharaj made the fort his capital in 1674 when he was crowned King of a Maratha Kingdom which later developed into the Maratha Empire eventually covering majority of modern day India.
The fort, which rises 820 metres (2,700 ft) above sea level, is located in the Sahyadri mountain range. There are approximately 1400–1450 steps leading to the fort, though today a rope-way exists to reach the top of the fort. The fort was looted and destroyed by the British upon siege.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had seized the fort in 1656, then the fortress of Rairi, from the royal house of the Chandrarrao Mores, a junior or Cadet dynasty to descended from the ancient Maurya imperial dynasty. The last More king (or raja) was a feudatory of the Sultan of Bijapur.
Shivaji renovated and expanded the Fortress of Rairi and renamed it Raigad (the King's Fort), the name he gave it when he selected it for his capital when he founded the Maratha empire. Raigad, a hill fortress situated in Raigad District of Maharashtra, It was capital of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's kingdom.

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Raigad fort
Raigad (Marathi:रायगड) is a hill fortress situated in the modern day near mahad, Raigad district of Maharashtra, India. The Maratha king Shivaji Maharaj made the fort his capital in 1674 when he was crowned King of a Maratha Kingdom which later developed into the Maratha Empire eventually covering majority of modern day India.
The fort, which rises 820 metres (2,700 ft) above sea level, is located in the Sahyadri mountain range. There are approximately 1400–1450 steps leading to the fort, though today a rope-way exists to reach the top of the fort. The fort was looted and destroyed by the British upon siege.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had seized the fort in 1656, then the fortress of Rairi, from the royal house of the Chandrarrao Mores, a junior or Cadet dynasty to descended from the ancient Maurya imperial dynasty. The last More king (or raja) was a feudatory of the Sultan of Bijapur.
Shivaji renovated and expanded the Fortress of Rairi and renamed it Raigad (the King's Fort), the name he gave it when he selected it for his capital when he founded the Maratha empire. Raigad, a hill fortress situated in Raigad District of Maharashtra, It was capital of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's kingdom.

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Ranthambore Fort
Ranthambore Fort (Hindi:रणथम्भोर) is a formidable fort and has been a focal point of historical developments of Rajasthan. It is situated near Sawai Madhopur town in Rajasthan. This fort is known for the glory and valor of brave Hammir dev of Chauhan dynasty.
It is surrounded today and lies within the famous Ranthambore National Park which was formerly the hunting grounds for the Maharajahs of Jaipur before Indian independence.
Its earlier name was Ranastambha (Hindi:रणस्तम्भ) or Ranastambhapura (Hindi:रणस्तम्भपुर). It was associated with Jainism during the reign of Prithviraja I of Chauhan dynasty in 12th century. Siddhasenasuri, who lived in 12th century has included this place in the list of holy Jaina tirthas. In Mughal period a temple of Mallinatha was built in the fort.
The fortress of Ranthambore was founded in 944 by the Nagil Jats. The fortress commanded a strategic location, 700 feet above the surrounding plain. It is of historical importance to know about Nagil clan. Nagil people are descendants of Nagavanshi mahapurusha Nagavaloka (नागावलोक).

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Red Fort
Coordinates: 28°39′21″N 77°14′25″E / 28.65583°N 77.24028°E / 28.65583; 77.24028
The Red Fort (Hindi: लाल क़िला, Urdu: لال قلعہ, usually transcribed into English as Lal Qil'ah or Lal Qila) is a 17th century fort complex constructed by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the walled city of Old Delhi (in present day Delhi, India) that served as the residence of the Mughal Emperors. It also served as the capital of the Mughals until 1857, when Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar was exiled by the British Indian government. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. It covers a total area of about 254.67 acres. Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, started construction of the red fort in 1638 and work was completed in 1648 (10 years). The Red Fort was originally referred to as "Qila-i-Mubarak" (the blessed fort), because it was the residence of the royal family . The layout of the Red Fort was organised to retain and integrate this site with the Salimgarh Fort. The fortress palace was an important focal point of the medieval city of Shahjahanabad. The planning and aesthetics of the Red Fort represent the zenith of Mughal creativity which prevailed during the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan. This Fort has had many developments added on after its construction by Emperor Shahjahan. The significant phases of development were under Aurangzeb and later Mughal rulers. Important physical changes were carried out in the overall settings of the site after the Indian Mutiny in 1857. After Independence, the site experienced a few changes in terms of addition/alteration to the structures. During the British period the Fort was mainly used as a cantonment and even after Independence, a significant part of the Fort remained under the control of the Indian Army until the year 2003. The Red Fort is an attraction for tourists from around the world.

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Sajjangad
Sajjangad (Devanagari, Marathi: सज्जनगड) meaning Fort of Good People, is located near the city of Satara, India. It is the final resting place of Sant Ramdas, a saint and social reformer in 17th century India (born 1606). His teachings and works are read and followed by many people even today in the state of Maharashtra and Sajjangad is a popular place of pilgrimage.
The fort was made by bahamani Empirors in between (1347-1527). After that in (1527-1686) it come under Adilshah dynasty. Mughal king defeat Adilsha than it comes under mughals. Previously known as Parali, it was renamed to Sajjangad after Shivaji Maharaj requested Shri Ramdas Swami to set up his permanent monastery.
The maintenance of the fort and the Samadhi (final resting place) of Ramdas is taken care by Ramdas Swami Sansthan, a trust which has existed since the time of Shri Ramdas Swami. The daily routine of the trustees on the fort includes morning prayers, Abhishek and Puja, Maha Naivedya, Bhajans and reading of the manuscript Dasbodh written by Sant Ramdas. The fort is open for devotees from sunrise to sunset. Entry and exit beyond these hours is restricted.In afternoon the trustees of sajjangad serves a food as ( prasad ) to devotees.The food is so good.Recently they built a dharmashala for devotees who came from long away and its free of cost for all.On every Shiv Jayanti many of devotees go through walking also.You can see a Ajinkyatara fort from Top of Sajjangad,which is located in satara city.

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Salimgarh Fort
Salimgarh Fort (Hindi: सलिमगर खिला, Urdu: سلیم گڑھ ،literally "Salim’s Fort") was built in 1546 AD, in Delhi, in a former island of the Yamuna River, by Salim Shah Suri, son of Sher Shah Suri. There was a pause in Mughal rule when in 1540 AD Sher Shah Suri defeated the Mughal Emperor Humayun (and ousted him from Delhi) and established the Sur dynasty rule in Delhi. Sur dynasty rule lasted till 1555 AD when Humayun regained his kingdom by defeating Sikander Suri, the last ruler of the dynasty. During the Mughal period, in later years, while building the Red Fort and Shahjahanbad, several Mughal rulers including Emperor Shahjahan who is credited with completing Shahjahanabad in 1639 AD had camped at this fort. It is said that Humayun had camped at this fort for three days before launching his successful attack for recapturing Delhi.
Aurangzeb, the Mughal Emperor, converted the fort into a prison, which practice was perpetuated by the British who took control of the fort in 1857. The Fort is part of the Red Fort Complex. The complex was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2007, which obligates Archeological Survey of India (ASl) to ensure well planned conservation measures for the heritage monuments.

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Sankagiri Fort
Sankagiri Fort is a historical fort maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India. It is located 22 km from the city of Erode and 38 km from Salem.
Sankagiri hill

Sankagiri Fort was built in the 15th century by the Vijayanagar empire. It has 14 fort walls built on and around a hill and the last phase these walls were built by the British. The fort served as a British tax storage facility for Kongu Nadu, a region comprising the districts of Salem, Erode, Coimbatore, Tiruppur,Namakkal, Karur and Dindukal.
SANKARI or Sankagiri is the town located around this place.
It was an important military base for Tippu Sultan and later for the British army. This is because only one side of the hill is climbable, as all the others are too steep to climb. This has a death well, granary, two oil godowns, one explosives godown, two masjiths, 2 Varadharaja Perumal temples, former British Army administrative buildings, and cemeteries formerly used by armies that were stationed at the fort.
Dheeran Chinnamalai was hanged by the British in this fort.

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Satara District
Satara District is a district of Maharashtra state in western India with an area of 10,480 km² and a population of 2,808,994 of which 14.17% were urban (as of 2001^[update]).Satara is the capital of the district and other major towns include Wai, Karad, Koregaon, Koyananagar, Rahimatpur, Phaltan, Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani. This district comes under Pune Administrative Division along with Pune, Sangli, Solapur and Kolhapur Districts. The district of Pune bounds it to the north, Raigad bounds it to the North-West, Solapur the east, Sangli to the south, and Ratnagiri to the west.

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Satara district
Satara District is a district of Maharashtra state in western India with an area of 10,480 km² and a population of 2,808,994 of which 14.17% were urban (as of 2001^[update]).Satara is the capital of the district and other major towns include Wai, Karad, Koregaon, Koyananagar, Rahimatpur, Phaltan, Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani. This district comes under Pune Administrative Division along with Pune, Sangli, Solapur and Kolhapur Districts. The district of Pune bounds it to the north, Raigad bounds it to the North-West, Solapur the east, Sangli to the south, and Ratnagiri to the west.

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Senapati fortress
Senapati fortress was built by Senapati, the grandson of Chhatrasal in 1700 AD in Kulpahar on a hill at the western end of the city. This fort was dismentled by British in 1804 AD.
Coordinates: 25°17′N 79°52′E / 25.283°N 79.867°E / 25.283; 79.867

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Sewri Fort
The Sewri Fort (also spelled Sewree Fort) (Marathi: शिवडी किल्ला) is a fort in Mumbai built by the British at Sewri. Built in 1680, fort served as a watch tower, atop a quarried hill overlooking the Mumbai harbour.
Up to the eighteenth century, Mumbai consisted of several small islands. In 1661, seven of these islands were ceded by the Portuguese to the British as part of the dowry of Charles II of England. The harbour proved eminently apposite, and the British planned to shift base from Surat to Mumbai. The Siddis, who were of African descent and noted for their navies, had allied themselves with the Mughals. The British, under the East India Company and the Mughals were constantly waged war on each other. As allies of the Mughals, the Siddis also declared the British as enemies.
Faced with relentless attacks by the Siddis in 1672, several fortifications were constructed in Mumbai, and in 1780 the Sewri fort was complete. It stood on the island of Parel, on a hill overlooking the eastern seaboard and Indian mainland. It had a garrison of 50 sepoys and was managed by a subedar. It was also armed with eight to ten cannons.

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Shaniwar Wada
Shaniwarwada (Marathi: शनिवारवाडा pronunciation (help·info)) is a palace fort in the city of Pune in Maharashtra, India. Built in 1746, it was the seat of the Peshwa rulers of the Maratha Empire until 1818 when the Peshwas surrendered to the British. The fort itself was largely destroyed in 1828 by an unexplained fire, but the surviving structures are now maintained as a tourist site.
Following the rise of the Maratha Empire, the palace became the centre of Indian politics in 18th century.
Peshwa Baji Rao I, prime minister to Chattrapati Shahu, king of the Maratha empire, laid the ceremonial foundation of his own residence on Saturday, January 10, 1730. It was named Shaniwarwada from the Marathi words Shaniwar (Saturday) and Wada (a general term for any residence complex). Teak was imported from the jungles of Junnar, stone was brought from the nearby quarries of Chinchwad, and Lime (mineral) was brought from the lime-belts of Jejuri. Shaniwarwada was completed in 1732, at a total cost of Rs. 16,110, a very large sum at the time.

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Shivneri
Coordinates: 19°11′49″N 73°51′28″E / 19.196891°N 73.857822°E / 19.196891; 73.857822
Shivneri Fort is a historic military fortification located near Junnar. It is the birthplace of Shivaji.
Shahaji, Shivaji's father, was a general in the army of the Adil Shah, Sultan of Bijapur. He was concerned for the safety of his wife Jijabai during her pregnancy as there was constant warfare going on. He therefore moved his family to Shivneri fort. Shivneri is a highly defensible location, with steep rocks on four sides and a strongly built citadel.
Shivaji was born at the fort on 19 February 1630, and spent his childhood there.he got his name SHIVBA here. Inside the fort is a small temple dedicated to the goddess Shivai Devi, after whom Shivaji was named.
There are statues of Jijabai and young Shivaji. At the centre of the fort is a water pond which is called 'Badami Talav'. To the South of 'Badami Talav' are the statues Jijabai and a young Shivaji. In the fort there are two water springs, called Ganges and Yamuna, which have water throughout the whole year. Two kilometers away from this fort there are the Lenyadri caves which is one of Ashtavinayak temple in Maharastra. It has been declared as a protected monument.

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Sindhudurg
Sindhudurg (Marathi सिंधुदुर्ग) is a fortress which occupies an islet in the Arabian Sea, just off the coast of Maharashtra in western India. The fortress lies on the shore of Malwan town of Sindhudurg District in the Konkan region of Maharashtra, south of Mumbai. It is a protected monument.
Sindhudurg (sindhu = sea, durg = fort) was built by the great Maratha warrior King Shivaji in 1664. Shivaji selected the strategic rocky island location, then known as 'Kurte' for the fort ,himself - to counter foreign forces, and to keep the nearby Siddis of Murud-Janjira in check.
One of the best preserved forts of the Marathas, Sindhudurg fort has zigzag rampart with 42 bastions. Apart from the huge stones, the building material involved 2000 khandis (72,576 kg) of iron erecting the massive curtain wall and bastions. A notable feature is that the foundation stones were laid down firmly with 5 khandis (181.5 kg) of molten lead.
Over 4000 mounds of iron were used in the casting and foundation stones were firmly laid down. Construction started on 25 November 1664. Built over a period of three years (1664–67), the sea fort is spread over 48 acres (190,000 m²) with a two-mile (3 km) long rampart, and walls that are 30 feet (9.1 m) high and 12 feet (3.7 m) thick. The massive walls were designed to serve as a deterrent to approaching enemies and to the waves and tides of the Arabian Sea. The main entrance is concealed in such a way that no one can pinpoint it from outside.

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Sindhudurg district
Sindhudurg (Marathi: सिंधुदुर्ग जिल्हा) is an administrative district in the state of Maharashtra in India, which was carved out of the erstwhile Ratnagiri District. The district headquarters are located at Oros (ओरस). The district occupies an area of 5207 km² and has a population of 868,825 of which 9.47% were urban (as of 2001). [1]
As of 2011 it is the least populous district of Maharashtra (out of 39).
The district is named after the fort of Sindhudurg (which means "fort in the sea"), which lies on a rocky island just off the coast of Malvan (मालवण).
Sindhudurg district was established in 1981.
Sindhudurg is bordered on the north by Ratnagiri District, on the south by the state of Goa, on the west by the Arabian Sea, and to the east across the crest of the Western Ghats or Sahyadris is Kolhapur District. Sindhudurg is part of Konkan (coastal) region, a narrow coastal plain in western Maharashtra which lies between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea.
Sindhudurg has a semi-tropical climate and remains warm and humid in most of the year. It has three clear seasons : Rainy (June - October), winter (November-mid February) and Summer (mid February–May). Temperatures vary between Max. 32°C and monsoon winds bring heavy rains (average rainfall 3240.10 mm).

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Siri Fort
Siri Fort, in the city of New Delhi, was built during the rule of Ala-ud-Din Khalji of the Delhi Sultanate to defend the city from the onslaught of the Mongols. It was the second of the seven cities of medieval Delhi built around 1303 (stated to be the first entirely constructed by Muslims), which at present is seen only in ruins with a few remnants (pictured)
Near the Siri Fort ruins modern auditoriums, the Asiad Games Village Complex and residential and commercial establishments fill the modern landscape between the Khel Gaon Marg and the Auro Bindo Marg in the heart of South Delhi.
Alaud'din is the best known of the Khalji dynasty because he extended his dominion to Southern India and established the second city of Delhi, Siri. He created Siri between 1297 and 1307 to defend against Mongol invasions of India and Delhi. In response he built Siri Fort, mimicked massive Turkish ones. The Fort served as the seat of his power during his campaigns to enlarge his territory. Due to frequent Mongol invasions of West Asia, the Saljuqs took asylum in Delhi. The craftsmen of Seljuq dynasty are credited with this era's architectural monuments in Delhi.

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Sudhagad
Sudhagad(also called Bhorapgad) is a hill fort situated in Maharashtra, India. It lies about 53 kilometres (33 mi) west of Pune, 26 kilometres (16 mi) south of Lonavla and 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) east of Pali in Raigad District. The summit is 620 metres (2,030 ft) above sea level.
The origin of this fort is said to date back to the 2nd century B.C^{[citation needed]} the same age as the Thanale and Khadsamble caves nearby. It was then called Bhrorapgad (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 Shivaji as the capital of his kingdom. He surveyed it, but instead chose Raigad because of its central location.^{[citation needed]}
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.

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Suvarnadurg
Suvarnadurg (also spelt Severndroog in English, a spelling sometimes also used for Savandurga near Bangalore) is a fort that is located on a small island in the Arabian Sea, near Harnai in Konkan, along the West Coast of India, in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The fort also includes another land fort (small) called the Kanakadurga at the base of headland of Harnai port on the coast. Building of the fort is credited to Sultan Adilshah of Bijapur. The forts were captured by Shivaji, founder of the Maratha Empire, in 1660. Subsequently, Shivaji, other Peshwas and the Angres further fortified the forts for defence purposes.
The literal meaning of Suvanadurga is "Golden Fort" as it was considered as the pride or the "feather in the golden cap of Marathas". Built for the Maratha Navy for defence purposes, the fort also had a ship building facility. The basic objective of establishing the fort was to counter enemy attacks, mainly by the colonialists of Europe and also by the local chieftains.

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Talatal Ghar
Coordinates: 26°57′58″N 94°37′29″E / 26.9660605°N 94.624648°E / 26.9660605; 94.624648
Talatal Ghar (Assamese: তলাতল ঘৰ) or the Kareng Ghar (meaning the royal palace in Assamese) is located in Rangpur, 4 Km from the present day Sibsagar, Assam, India. It is one of the grandest and it is a marvel of Ahom Architecture. Talatal Ghar is also the largest of all Ahom monuments.
Swargadeo Rudra Singha shifted the capital of the Ahom Kingdom from Garhgaon to Rangpur in the year 1702-03 A.D. For about a century Rangpur remained as the Capital. It is located in the western part of the Sibsagar town. The first construction was done by Swargadeo Rudra Singha in the year 1698 A.D. Rangpur was not only the capital of the Ahom Kingdom but also the military-station.
After Swargadeo Rudra Singha death, the Palace went through many alteration giving it an irregular shape. Thought there were many alteration done to the structure, the present multi-storied palace, Talatal Ghar, was built by Swargadeo Rajeswar Singha during 1751-1769 A.D.

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Terekhol Fort
Terekhol fort, also called Tiracol fort, is a fort in Goa, India. Located on the northern tip of Goa at the mouth of Terekhol river, Terekhol fort is reached by a car ferry from Querim, 42 km North of Panaji. The name probably originated from the Marathi tir-khol meaning "steep river-bank".
The fort was originally built by Maharaja Khem Sawant Bhonsle, the Raja of Sawantwadi, in the 17th century. The site chosen was a hillock on the Northern (right) bank of the river, which gave a commanding view of the Arabian sea. The Bhonsles of Sawantwadi kept a sizeable fleet of native vessels which sheltered in the Terekhol river. The fort initially consisted of 12 guns, a barrack and a chapel.
In 1746, the Portuguese under the 44th Viceroy of Goa, Pedro Miguel de Almeida Portugal e Vasconcelos, conde de Assumar, marquis de Alorna], waged war against the Raja of Sawantwadi. On 16 November 1746, de Almeida brought the Portuguese fleet up to the river Kaisuva, waged a fierce maritime engagement against the naval forces of the Raja of Sawantwadi in which the Portuguese defeated the Sawantwadi forces utterly. Several skirmishes on land followed and Terekhol fort was finally surrendered on 23 Nov 1746 to the Protuguese.

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Thalner
Thalner (Marathi: थाळनेर), the first capital of the Faruqi kings, stands on the Tapi river, in Shirpur tehsil about 46.67 km. (28 miles) north-east of Dhule in the Maharashtra state of India. It was fortified by a strong fort which played a very significant role in the history of Khandesh. Situated on the banks of the Tapi and the foot of the fort is an old stone built temple dedicated to Thaleshwar. The name Thalner probably derived from this old temple of Thaleshwar. In the heyday of the Gavali or Ahir kings, Thalner was at the height of its prosperity and was an important commercial centre on the Surat-Burhanpur road. Today it is just a small village which lost its glory to history.

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Thane district
Thane (Marathi: ठाणे जिल्हा ʈʰaːɳeˑ) is a district in northern Maharashtra state in western India. As of 2011 it is the most populated district in the nation. The headquarters of the district is the city of Thane. Other major cities in the district are Navi Mumbai, Kalyan-Dombivli, Mira-Bhayander, Bhiwandi, Ulhasnagar, Ambarnath, Kulgaon-Badlapur, Dahanu, Shahapur, Wada and Vasai-Virar. This is the third-most industrialised district in Maharashtra.
The district is situated between 18°42' and 20°20' north latitudes and 72°45' and 73°48' east longitudes. The area of the district is 9558 km². The shape of the district is triangular. The district is bounded by Pune and Ahmadnagar on the east, Nashik on the east and northeast, Valsad District of Gujarat state and Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli on the north. The Arabian Sea forms the western boundary, while it is bounded by Mumbai City District and Mumbai Suburban District on the southwest and Raigad District on the south.
The district derived its name from the city of Thane, which is the district headquarters. The name Thane derived from the ancient name of the same city, Shristhanaka, when it was the capital of the Shilahara kings.

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Tikona
'Tikona (Marathi: तिकोना)' also known as Vitandgad) is the dominant hill fort in Maval in western India. It is located near Kamshet around 60 km from Pune The village nearest the fort is called Tikona-Peth or Tokono-Peth. The 3500 ft high hill is pyramidal in shape and the name Tikona means "triangle".
The fort is a trekking destination noted for the large doors, the temple of 'Trimbakeshwar Mahadev', a water tank and some Satvahan caves. Trek organisers also commend the views of Pawna dam and the nearby forts of Tung, Lohagad and Visapur. There is a lake at the summit.
Little is known about the origins of this fort. There is a vihara on the fort datable to circa seventh-eight centuries A.D. Malik Ahmed Nizamshah of the Nizam dynasty conquered the fort in 1585 and aanexed it to the Nizam territory. In 1657, Shivaji brought the whole of Konkan, which had been Nizam territory, under his control when he conquered Tikona along with the forts of Karnala, Lohgad, Mahuli, Songad, Tala, and Visapur. This fort was a strategic nexus: the centre of control for the entire Pawana Mawal region. In 1660, Dhamale family one of the Deshmukh from Maval region was charged with ensuring the security of fort Tikona. Jaysingh invaded the region in 1665 and the local villages were by Dilerkhan but the forts held out. Tikona fort was surrendered to the Mughal warrior Kubadkhan, who had attacked the region together with Halal Khan and others, according to the Treaty of Purandar signed on 12 June 1665. Kubad DKhan took over the fort on 18 June but it was later recaptured by the Marathas.

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Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore ( /ˈtrævəŋkɔər/; Malayalam: തിരുവിതാംകൂര്‍, tiruvitāṁkūr ^?[t̪iɾuʋit̪aːɱkuːr]) was a former Hindu feudal kingdom (till 1858) and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore at its zenith comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of Tamil Nadu. The state's flag was red with a silver, dextrally-coiled, sacred conch shell (Turbinella pyrum). Its ruler was accorded a 19-gun salute by the British Empire. Travancore, although a Princely State, was known for its relatively high literacy rate and its progressive government.

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United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK, or Britain) is a sovereign state located off the north-western coast of continental Europe. The country includes the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands. Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK that shares a land border with another sovereign state—the Republic of Ireland. Apart from this land border the UK is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, the English Channel and the Irish Sea.
The United Kingdom is a unitary state governed under a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary system, with its seat of government in the capital city of London. It is a country in its own right and consists of four countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. There are three devolved administrations, each with varying powers, based in Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff, the capitals of Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Associated with the UK, but not constitutionally part of it, are three Crown Dependencies. The United Kingdom has fourteen overseas territories. These are remnants of the British Empire which, at its height in 1922, encompassed almost a quarter of the world's land surface and was the largest empire in history. British influence can still be observed in the language, culture and legal systems of many of its former territories.

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Vasota Fort
Vasota Fort (also called Vyaghragad) is located in Satara district in the Indian state of Maharashtra.. It was famously defended by Tai Telin a mistress of Pant Pratinidhi a killedar of the fort when he was captured. Vasota fort is attributed to the Kolhapur Shilahara Raja Bhoja II (1178–1193) of Panhala. Vasota always remained with Marathas, Shirkes & Mores in 16th century & then incorporated in Swarajya by Shivaji Maharaj in 1655 during the conquest of Javli. Shivaji Maharaj named the fort "Vyaghragad" (Vyaghra – means tiger), owing to its difficult natural defense. After Shivaji Maharaj, the brave Maratha Bajirao Peshwa carried on the Swarajya mission of ousting the Mughal invaders from our country. In 1818 however, British bombarded the fort with heavy artillery thereby destroying many buildings on Vasota (Chandika mandir, Daru-kothar, etc) & looted property worth 5 lakhs. Today the fort stands in a dilapidated condition in a thick jungle with remnants of Shree Mahadev mandir, the plinth of a huge "sadar" (discussion place), the fallen ramparts & spectacular view of Nageshwar peak & Shivsagar lake (Koyna backwaters). It is located about 350 km from Mumbai, it is a protected natural reserve and a national treasure nest. The blue-green expanse of Koyna backwaters, the evergreen forests of Koyna wildlife sanctuary, hike to Vasota fort hidden in thick jungle, the spectacular view from top of the fort along with the beauty and serenity of the place leaves one spell bound.

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Vattakottai Fort
Vattakottai Fort (or 'Circular Fort') is a seaside fort near Kanyakumari,TamilNadu the southern tip of India. It was built in the 18th century as a coastal defence-fortification and barracks in the erstwhile Travancore kingdom.
It was constructed under the supervision of Captain Eustachius De Lannoy, an ex-Dutch naval officer of the Dutch East India Company, who became commander of the Travancore Army (the very army that defeated him in the Battle of Colachel) in the 18th century, after he earned the trust of the Travancore King Marthanda Varma. De Lannoy constructed Vattakottai, as part of the defence-fortifications he undertook throughout Travancore.
The fort is made of granite blocks and, today, a part of the fort extends into the sea. It is a protected site under the Indian archaeological department. A major renovation of the fort was undertaken recently by the department, and the site is now a popular tourist spot.
Vattakottai Fort commands a picturesque view of both the sea on the one side, and the hills (Western Ghats) on the other. Another interesting feature near the site is a beach of black sands. It is about 7 km (4.3 mi) from Kanyakumari town.

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Vellore Fort
Vellore Fort (Tamil:வேலூர் கோட்டை) is a large 16th-century fort situated in Vellore city near Chennai, in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The Fort was at one point of time the headquarters of the Vijayanagara Empire. The fort is known for its grand ramparts, wide moat and robust masonry.
The Fort's ownership passed from Vijayanagara Kings, to the Bijapur Sultans, to Marathas, to the Carnatic Nawabs and finally to the British, who held the fort until India gained independence. During British rule, the Tipu Sultan's family and the last king of Sri Lanka, Sri Vikrama Rajasinha were held in as royal prisoners in the fort. The fort houses a Christian church, a Muslim mosque and a Hindu temple, the latter of which is famous for its magnificent carvings. The first rebellion against British rule erupted at this fort in 1806, and it is also a witness to the tragic massacre of the Vijayanagara royal family of Emperor Sriranga Raya.
The Fort was built around 1566 by Chinna Bommi Nayak and Thimma Reddy Nayak, subordinate Chieftains under Sadasiva Raya of the Vijayanagara Empire. The Vijayanagara kings called it "Raya Vellore" to differentiate it from "Uppu Vellore" in the Godavari region. The name Vellore is also spelt "Belur." The present day Chennai region and Tirupathi were under the domain of the Fort.

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Vijayanagara
Vijayanagara (Kannada: ವಿಜಯನಗರ) is in Bellary District, northern Karnataka. It is the name of the now-ruined capital city that surrounds modern-day Hampi, of the historic Vijayanagara empire which extended over the southern part of India.
In around 1500 Vijaynagar had 500,000 inhabitants, making it the second-largest city in the world after Peking-Beijing and more than twice the size of the biggest European city, Paris. The ruins are now a World Heritage Site.
Most of the city lies on the south bank of the Tungabhadra River. The city was built around the original religious centre of the Virupaksha temple at Hampi. Other holy places lie within its environs, including the site of what is said to be Kishkindha where a Hanuman temple, the cave home of Anjana, Kesari and Shabari, a holy pond named the Pampasarovar are located. It also contains the cave home of Sugriva, the monkey king of the Ramayana.
The city at its greatest extent was considerably larger than the area described here; an account is given at the article on the Vijayanagara metropolitan area. The central areas of the city, which include what are now called the Royal Centre and the Sacred Centre, extend over an area of at least 40 km². It includes the modern village of Hampi. Another village, Kamalapura, lies just outside the old walled city, but is also surrounded by ruins and monuments. The nearest town and railway is in Hosapete, about 13 km (8.1 mi) away by road. Hosapete also lies within the original extents of the old city, though most of the items of interest are within walking distance of Hampi and Kamalapura.

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Vijaydurg Fort
Vijaydurg (sometimes written as Viziadrug), the oldest fort on the Sindhudurg coast, was constructed during the regime of Raja Bhoja II of the Shilahar dynasty (construction period 1193-1205). The fort was earlier known as "Gheria", as it is situated close to the village of "Girye". Shivaji captured this fort from Adil Shah of Bijapur in 1653 and renamed it as "Vijay Durg" as the then Hindu solar year's name was "Vijay" (Victory).
Earlier, the fort encompassed an area of 5 acres (1 acre = 4840 square yards or 4047 square metres) and was surrounded by sea on all four sides. Over the years the eastern trench was reclaimed and a road constructed thereon. Presently the area of fort is about 17 acres and is surrounded by the Arabian Sea on three sides. Shivaji extended the area of the fort by constructing three walls on the eastern side, each 36 metres high. He also constructed 20 bastions.
According to legend, this is one of only two Maratha forts where Shivaji personally hoisted the saffron flag. The other fort is "Torana".

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Visapur Fort
Visapur fort (also called Visapoor fort) is a hill fort near Visapur village in Maharashtra, India. It is a part of the Lohagad-Visapur fortification.
It is located in Pune district, 2.5 km from Malavli Railway station. It has an elevation of 1084 meters above sea level.. It is built on the same plateau as Lohagad.
It was built during 1713-1720 CE by Balaji Vishwanath, the first Peshwa. Visapur fort was built much later than Lohagad but the histories of the two forts are closely linked.
In 1818, when reducing the Peshwa's forts, the strength of Lohagad and its fame as the treasury of the Maratha kingdom, caused the English to make special preparations for its attack. A detachment of 380 European and 800 native soldiers, with a battering train, summoned from Konkan, were joined by artillery from Chakan, and two other British battalions. On 4 March,1818, Visapur was attacked and occupied.
Making use of its higher elevation and proximity to Lohagad,, the British troops set up their cannons on Visapur and bombarded Lohagad, forcing the Marathas to flee. Thus, in 1818, Lohagad-Visapur was taken over by the British in 1818 AD and placed under the command of a Colonel Prother. Considering, the strategic importance of Visapur, both the north (Konkan) and the south (Deccan) gateways were blown up, and except a few huts, nothing was left standing. In contrast, most of Lohagad fort is still intact.

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Vishalgad
Vishalgad (also called Khelna or Khilna) was one of the important forts of Shivaji and Maratha Empire. The name ‘Vishalgad’ meaning grand fort in Marathi, was given by Shivaji after annexing it for the Maratha Empire in 1659.The fort is about 1130 meters that is 3630 feet.

Khelna was in the control of Adilshah of Bijapur. Shivaji wanted to conquer the fort but the terrain of the fort was difficult; conquering the fort was easier said than done. Shivaji attacked the fort but the Adilshahi garrison at the fort was defending the fort valiantly. Then, Shivaji came up with a plan. Accordingly, a group of Marathas went up to the fort and convinced the Adilshahi commander (killedar) of the fort that they were not content with the rule of Shivaji and thus, had come to serve the Adilshah. The Marathas were successful and the next day, they revolted and caused total chaos inside the fort. Simultaneously, Shivaji attacked the fort from outside and in no time captured the fort. Shivaji renamed the fort as Vishalgad.

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Worli Fort
The Worli Fort (Marathi: वरळी किल्ला) is a fort built by the British in Worli, Mumbai, India. The fort, often mistakenly referred to as being built by the Portuguese, was actually built by the British around 1675. The fort, built on the Worli hill, overlooked the Mahim Bay at a time the city was made up of just seven islands. It was used as a lookout for enemy ships and pirates.

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Yeshwantgad
Yeshwantgad is an island fortification off the coast of Maharashtra in Ratnagiri district. It is built on the Rajapur creek with the sea on one side. On three sides it was protected by a ditch which can no longer be seen. On the fourth side there was a wall with 17 bastions. Now the walls are in a ruined condition. Its gate was on the eastern side. A ship (HMS Outram sank here on the 1st January, 1817 after which a lighthouse at nearby Jaitapur was built. Other than this no notable historical events took place here.
Coordinates: 15°45′N 73°44′E / 15.75°N 73.733°E / 15.75; 73.733

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Bahiroji Pingale
Bahirojipant Pingale (1708-1711) was the younger son of Moropant Trimbak Pingle and Shahus first Peshwa. When Kanhoji Angre attacked Satara in 1711, Bahiroji was taken a prisoner by him. That’s when Shahu ordered Balaji Vishwanath to ensure his release and also gave Balaji Vishwanath authority in the form of the post of Peshwa, in order to negotiate with Angre on the kings behalf.

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Baji Rao I
Shrimant Baji Rao Balaji Bhat (Marathi: श्रीमंत बाजीराव बल्लाळ बाळाजी भट) (August 18, 1700 – April 28, 1740), also known as Baji Rao I, was a noted general who served as Peshwa (Prime Minister) to the fourth Maratha Chhatrapati (Emperor) Shahu from 1720 until Baji Rao's death. He is also known as Thorale (Marathi for Elder) Baji Rao. He was also popular with the nickname 'Rau' (in Marathi 'राऊ').
Born a Maratha guardian he took up leading his troops. He is credited with expanding the Maratha Empire especially in north to help reach its zenith during his son's reign twenty years after his death. Baji Rao is thus acknowledged as the most famous of the nine Peshwas.
Baji Rao was the son of the first Bhat family Peshwa, Balaji Vishwanath. At the age of 20, he was appointed by Chhattrapati Shahu as Peshwa upon the death of his father, keeping aside all other claimants. It is quite clear from this appointment that Shahu recognized his talent even as a boy and positioned him as Peshwa. Bajirao was popular with his soldiers and even today his name is an honorable one.

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Baji Rao II
Baji Rao II (1775– 28 Jan. 1851), also Rao Pundit Pundham, was Peshwa of the Maratha Confederacy, and governed from 1796 to 1818. His reign was marked by confrontations with the British.
Baji Rao was the son of Peshwa Raghunathrao and Anandibai. Raghunathrao defected to the English and caused the First Anglo Maratha war that the English lost. Peshwa Sawai Madhavrao committed suicide in 1796, and died without an heir, and with the assistance of Daulatrao Scindia and Nana Phadnavis, Baji Rao became Peshwa. Writes Manohar Malgonkar, the versatile English novelist of India in his book The Devil's Wind:
"Only someone perversely gifted could have succeeded in squandering so vast an inheritance in so short time or disgraced a noble name so thoroughly. He was mean, cruel, vindictive, avaricious but surprisingly well-read and shrewd in financial dealings. He was above all a moral and physical coward, the only Peshwa held in contempt by his subjects. Of course he was more a victim of circumstances. He was born in 1776 when both his parents were in imprisonment of Peshwa's cabinet. Till the age of 19, he along with his brothers were kept in confinement denying even basic rights of education. He lost both his parents early & was unfortunate to have inherited legacy of father & mother who both despite from same Brahmin family were involved in the murder of young Peshwa (In relation"Nephew") Narayanrao in 1774 AD. As such, being heir of murderer, he was always looked down upon by his dukes & Earls & other ministers & thus by his subjects also. His every action was watched with prejudice by people & it is said that though a good administrator & builder of modern day Pune, he was often labeled as incapable & coward Peshwa. A popular song about him ran as follows:

wn.com/Baji_Rao_II
Balaji Vishwanath
Balaji Vishwanath Bhat (1662 – April 12, 1720), better known as Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath, was the first of a series of hereditary Peshwas(Marathi for Prime Minister) hailing from the Brahmin family who gained effective control of the Maratha Empire during the 18th century. Balaji Vishwanath assisted a young Shahu to consolidate his grip on an kingdom that had been racked by civil war and persistent attack by the Mughalsunder Aurangzeb.

Balaji Vishwanath Bhat was born into a Marathi Smartha Brahmin family belonging to the Chitpavan subcaste. The community hailed from the coastal shrivardhan Konkan region of present-day Maharashtra. He was named "Balaji," which is a form of the given name Ballal. His family was of modest means, and Balaji began his career as an accountant for the Maratha general, Dhanaji Jadhav, at Janjira.. According to Kincaid & Parasnis, Balaji Vishwanath entered the Maratha administration during the reign of Chhatrapati Sambhaji or the regency of his brother, Rajaram. Between 1699 and 1702, he served as the Sar-subhedar or head-administrator at Pune and from 1704 to 1707 as Sarsubedar of Daulatabad. By the time Dhanaji died, Balaji had proven himself as an honest and able officer. Chhatrapati Shahu, ruler of the Marathas, took note of his abilities and appointed Balaji as his assistant (c.1708).

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Chhattrapati Shahu
Shahu Sambhaji Raje Bhosale Chhatrapati Maharaj (1682–1749 CE) was the fourth Emperor of the Maratha Empire created by his grandfather, Chhatrapati Shivaji, and was officially the Raja of Satara (now in Maharashtra, India). More popularly known as Chattrapati Shahuji, he came out of captivity by the Mughals and survived a civil war to gain the throne in 1707.
He was the son of the second Chattrapati Sambhaji, who was killed by the Mughals in 1689.
During Mughal-Maratha war of 27 years Shahuji was imprisoned by the Mughals at the age of 7 years after the fall of Raigad fort, the Maratha capital in Feb. 1689 when his parents were also captured.
During his captivity, Mughals had raised him as a prince and never compromised his honor or that of his mother. He spent his entire childhood and youth, from age 7 to age 25 in the custody of the Mughals. He had passed through hardships and all uncertainties of life. Born as a prince, he became a prisoner at the age of 7, became a Chattrapati at the age of 26 and saw the empire spreading all over the continent. These events strengthened him.

wn.com/Chhattrapati_Shahu
Madhavrao I
Madhav Rao I (or Thorle Madhav Rao Peshwa ) (14 February 1745 – 18 November 1772) was fourth Peshwa of the Maratha Empire.
Madhavrao was the son of Nanasaheb Peshwa. He was born in Savnur in 1745. At the time of his birth, the Maratha Empire was stretched across a sizeable portion of Western, Central and Northern India. On 9 December 1753, Madhavrao married Ramabai in Pune.
Nanasaheb had expanded the Maratha rule to a great extent and had tried to establish better governance in the empire. However, during the Third battle of Panipat which was held on 14 January 1761, he was responsible for certain decisions which were partially responsible for the terrible defeat of the Marathas against Ahmad Shah Abdali. The [Marathas] suffered heavy losses including Nanasaheb's eldest son Vishwasrao and cousin Sadashivrao Bhau. Unable to bear the sufferings, he died of depression at Parvati in Pune.
After the death of Nanasaheb, on 23 June 1761, the sixteen year old Madhavrao was made the next Peshwa of the Maratha Empire. Nanasaheb's brother Raghunathrao was to assist him in the administrative affairs.

wn.com/Madhavrao_I
Madhavrao II
Madhav Rao II (b. 18 Apr.1774, d. 27 Oct.1795), also Madhav Rao Narayan, was Peshwa of the Maratha Empire in India, from a young age. He was known as Sawai Madhav Rao. He was the posthumous son of Narayanrao Peshwa, murdered in 1773 on the orders of Raghunathrao Madhavrao was considered the legal heir, and was brought to power as peshwa by the treaty of Salbai in 1782.
His time in power was dominated by the political intrigues of Nana Phadnis. Madhavrao's death was said to be by suicide. An old legend says that he jumped down from the high walls of the Shaniwar Wada in Pune.

wn.com/Madhavrao_II
Nana Sahib
Nana Sahib ((b. 19 May 1824, d. ?24 Sep. 1859) ), born as Dhondu Pant (Marathi- धोंडू पंत ), was a rebel Indian leader during the Indian Rebellion of 1857 who played a part in two massacres of British troops and civilians. As the adopted son of the exiled Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao II, he sought to restore the Maratha confederacy and the Peshwa tradition.
Sahib was born in 19 May 1824 as Dhondu Pant to Narayan Bhatt and Ganga Bai. In 1827, he was adopted by the Maratha Peshwa. The East India Company exiled Baji Rao II to Bithoor near Cawnpore (now Kanpur), where Nana Sahib was brought up.
Sahib's close associates included Tantya Tope and Azimullah Khan; Tatya Tope was the son of Pandurang Rao Tope, an important noble at the court of the Peshwa Baji Rao II. After Baji Rao II was exiled to Bithoor, Pandurang Rao and his family also shifted there. Azimullah Khan joined the court of Nana Sahib as Secretary, after the death of Baji Rao II in 1851. He later became the dewan in Nana Sahib's court.

wn.com/Nana_Sahib
Nanasaheb Peshwa
Nanasaheb Peshwa (b.8 Dec. 1721, d. 23 Jun. 1761), also known as Balaji Baji Rao, was the son of Bajirao from his marriage with Kashibai and one of the Peshwas of the Maratha Empire. He contributed heavily to the development of the city of Pune, India. He was appointed as Peshwa by Chattrapati Shahu himself. At time of his death in 1749, the issueless Shahu made the Peshwas the rulers of the Maratha Empire.
During his 20 year reign (1740 to 1761), Balaji Bajirao completely transformed Pune from a nagar into a vast city. He established many new neighbourhoods (called peths) like Nana Peth, etc. and developed few like Shaniwar Peth, Ravivar Peth, Somwar Peth, Budhwar Peth. He built the famous Parvati temple atop a hillock that overlooks the city and built the first permanent bridge across the river Mutha. (That bridge was made of wood, so the new concrete bridge that stands at the same location today is also called Lakdi Pool or 'the wooden bridge'). He also established a reservoir at the nearby town of Katraj to provide clean running water to the city. The 250 year old system is still functioning,

wn.com/Nanasaheb_Peshwa
Narayanrao Peshwa
Narayan Rao (b. 10 Aug.1755, d. 30 Aug.1773) was the fifth Peshwa or ruler of the Maratha Empire from November 1772 till his death by murder in August 1773.
Narayanrao was the third son of Peshwa Balaji Bajirao (or Nanasaheb) and Gopikabai. Narayanrao was born on 11 August 1755. His elder brother Vishwasrao had died in the Third Battle of Panipat and the second brother Madhavrao succeeded his father after his death. Narayanrao was made diwan of Peshwa from 1770. Madhavrao knew that it would be difficult for Narayanrao to work as Peshwa in presence of Raghunathrao.
Madhavrao I died in 1772 and was succeeded by seventeen year old Narayanrao with his uncle Raghunathrao acting as regent. It was decided between Narayanrao & Raghunathrao to work together but differences arose soon. Narayanrao was very immature & angry. His uncle Raghunathrao & aunt Anandibai were very upset because Narayanrao became Peshwa. Narayanrao & Raghunathrao were surrounded by ill-intentioned advisors, who poisoned their minds against each other. Due to these reasons Narayanrao confined Raghunathrao to his house.

wn.com/Narayanrao_Peshwa
Raghunathrao
Raghunath Rao (b. 18 Aug.1734, d. 11 Dec.1783) was Peshwa of the Maratha Empire from 1773 to 1774. He was instrumental in the downfall of the Peshwa clan.
Raghunathrao, also known as "Raghoba" and "Ragho Bharari," was the younger brother of Nanasaheb Peshwa. His father was Peshwa Bajirao I & mother was Kashibai. Raghunathrao was born in Mahuli near Satara on 1 August 1734. Much of his childhood was spent in Satara.
In his early years he fought with great success in the north. His first expedition during 1753–1755 was concluded by an advantageous treaty with Jat. In his second expedition he expanded the Maratha Empire to Peshawar (now in Pakistan) until 1760. He is favorably remembered by Hindus for the fact that during that expedition he brought an end to Muslim rule at Hindu religious places such as Mathura, Vrindavan, Gaya, Kurukshetra. Raghunathrao imprisoned Mughal Emperor Ahmad Shah Bahadur and made Alamgir II Emperor in his place.
Ahmad Shah Durrani (of present day Afghanistan) approched Punjab in 1760 and defeated Dattaji Shinde in battle of Burari Ghat near modern day Delhi , dattaji was also killed in battle.To counter this Raghunathrao was supposed to go north to handle the situation. Raghunathrao asked for large amount and an army, which was denied by Sadashivrao Bhau who was Diwan of Peshwa, so he declined to go. Sadashivrao Bhau was there upon made commander in chief of the Maratha Army,under whom the Battle of Panipat was fought.

wn.com/Raghunathrao
Rajaram Chhatrapati
Shrimant Rajaram Shivaji Raje Bhonsle Chhatrapati Maharaj (1670- March 2, 1700 Sinhagad) was the younger son of the first Chhatrapati Shivaji, stepbrother of the second Chhatrapati Sambhaji, and took over the Maratha Empire as its third Chhatrapati after his brother's death at the hands of the Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb in 1689. He had a very short reign, during which he was engaged in a struggle with the Mughals.
He was brought up by his mother Soyarabai. He was declared Chhatrapati at the age of 10 (on April 21, 1680) by a faction of the court after Shivaji's death. However, Sambhaji prevailed and assumed the throne. Sambhaji put others to death but brought up his brother as a prince.^{[citation needed]}
After the death of Sambhaji, Rajaram was crowned at Raigad on March 12, 1689. As the Mughals started laying siege to the region around Raigad on March 25, 1689, the widow of Sambhaji, Rani Yesubai and her minister Ramchandra Pant Amatya sent young Rajaram to the stronghold of Pratapgad through Kavlya ghat. The Maratha army fought with the Mughals and led the new Maratha King, Rajaram to escape through Kavlya ghat to the fort of Jinji in present day state of Tamil Nadu via Pratapgad and Vishalgad forts, where he reached after a month and a half long journey on November 1, 1689. Details of this escape are known from the incomplete poetical biography of Rajaram, the Rajaramacharita written by his Rajpurohit Keshav Pandit in Sanskrit.

wn.com/Rajaram_Chhatrapati
Rajaram II of Satara
Ramaraja was the fifth monarch of the Maratha Empire. He was the adoptive son of Chhatrapati Shahuji, and the putative grandson of Chhatrapati Rajaram. The early years of his reign were marked by controversy over his succession, as the dowager queen Tarabai denounced him and alleging that he was not in fact the grandson of Rajaram and herself. During Ramaraja's reign, the power of the Chhatrapati was almost totally overshadowed by that of the Peshwas or Prime Ministers; furthermore, the Marathas were engaged in continual conflict or intrigue with the Durranis.

wn.com/Rajaram_II_of_Satara
Rajput
A Rajput (from Sanskrit raja-putra, “son of a king”) is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and some parts of Pakistan. They claim to be descendants of ruling Hindu warrior classes of North India.^{[dubious – discuss]} Rajputs rose to prominence during the 6th to 12th centuries. Until the 20th century Rajputs ruled in the "overwhelming majority" of the princely states of Rajasthan and Surashtra, where the largest number of princely states were found.
The Rajput population and the former Rajput states are found spread through much of the subcontinent, particularly in north, west and central India. Populations are found in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Surashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Jammu, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra.
Rajput is from the Sanskrit word Raja-Putra (son of a king). The word is found in ancient texts, including the Vedas, the Ramayana, and the Mahabharata.^{[citation needed]} It was used by the ancient Sanskrit grammarian Pāṇini in the 4th century BCE.^{[citation needed]} The word Kshatriya ("warrior") was used for the Vedic community of warriors and rulers. To differentiate royal warriors from other Kshatriyas the word Rajputra was used.^{[citation needed]} Rajputra eventually was shortened to Rajput; gradually it became a caste.^{[citation needed]} Rajputs claim descent from various mythological patrilineages, being Suryavanshi, Chandravanshi, Agnivanshi and Nagavanshi.^{[citation needed]}

wn.com/Rajput
Sambhaji
Shrimant Maharajadhiraj Chhatrapati Sambhaji Shivaji Raje Bhosle (14 May 1657 – 11 March 1689) was the eldest son and successor of Emperor Chhatrapati Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha empire and his first Empress consort Sayeebai.
Sambhaji was born at Purandar fort. He was 17 years old when his father Shivaji was crowned in 1674.He lost his mother Saibai who was Shivaji's favourite wife at the age of 2.Since then he was under the care of his grandmother. His grandmother and mentor Jijabai died in the same year of the coronation of Shivaji. Sambhaji was taken as security by Mughal Sardar Mirza Raja Jayasingh until he receives all forts of agreement which Shivaji Maharaj did with him to stop his attack on Maratha kingdom under his control. Sambhaji was 9 years old at that time.
In a marriage of political alliance, Sambhaji was married to Jivubai, renamed (as per Maratha custom) Yesubai, daughter of Pilajirao Shirke who came to service of Shivaji Maharaj after defeat of a powerful Deshmukh he was serving.Thus giving Shivaji access to the Konkan coastal belt.

wn.com/Sambhaji
Shivaji
Shivaji Bhosale ([ʃiʋaˑɟiˑ bʱoˑs(ə)leˑ]; 19 February 1630 – 3 April 1680), with the royal title Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, was a Maratha sovereign who founded the Maratha Empire, which, at its peak, covered much of the Indian subcontinent, encompassing a territory of over 2.8 million km². Shivaji as an aristocrat of the Bhosle clan led a resistance to free the Maratha people from the Sultanate of Bijapur and the Mughal Empire and established a Hindavi Swarajya ("self-rule of Hindu people"). He created an independent Maratha kingdom with Raigad as its capital. He was crowned as Chhatrapati ("sovereign") of the Maratha empire in 1674.
He established a competent and progressive civil rule with the help of a well-regulated and disciplined military and well-structured administrative organizations. He also innovated rules of military engagement, pioneering the "Shiva sutra" or ganimi kava (guerrilla tactics), which leveraged strategic factors like geography, speed, surprise and focused pinpoint attacks to defeat his larger and more powerful enemies From a small contingent of 2,000 soldiers inherited from his father, he created a formidable force of 100,000 soldiers. He built and restored forts located strategically on land & sea for secure lands and coastline. He revived ancient Hindu political tradition & court conventions, and promoted Marathi and Sanskrit in court and administration usage. He is well known for his strong religious and warrior code of ethics and exemplary character. He was recognized as a great national hero during Indian Independence movement.

wn.com/Shivaji
Siddi
The Siddi, Siddhi, or Sheedi (Urdu: شیدی ; Hindi, Marathi, Konkani: सिद्दी or शीदि; Gujarati: સિદ્દી; Kannada: ಸಿದ್ಧಿಗಳು), also known as Habshi, are an Indian and Pakistani ethnic group of Black African and/or Afro-Arab descent. The Siddi population is currently estimated to be 20,000–55,000, with Gujarat and Hyderabad in India and Makran and Karachi in Pakistan as the main population centres. Siddis are mainly Sufi Muslims, although some are Hindus and some Roman Catholic Christians. Villages in the forests of northern Karnataka, for instance, have residents who likely are descended from Mozambican/Angolan slaves who escaped from Portuguese traders and ships.
There are conflicting hypotheses on the origin of the name Siddi. One theory is that the word was a term of respect in North Africa, similar to the word sahib in modern India and Pakistan. A second theory is that the term Siddi is derived from the title borne by the captains of the Arab vessels that first brought Siddi settlers to India. These captains were known as Sayyid.

wn.com/Siddi
Tarabai
Tarabai (1675–1761 CE) was a queen of the Maratha Empire in India. Her husband was Chhatrapati Rajaram, son of Shivaji. Tarabai was the daughter of the famed Maratha general Hambirao Mohite. She was the niece of Soyarabai, the second wife Chatrapati Shivaji.
Tarabai was skilled in cavalry movement, and made strategic movements herself during wars. She personally led the war and continued the insurgency against the Mughals. A truce was offered to the Mughals in such way that it was promptly rejected by the Mughal emperor, and Tarabai continued the Maratha resistance.
By 1705, Marathas had crossed the Narmada and made small incursions in Malwa, retreating immediately. The Maratha country was relieved at the news of the death of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb who died at Khuldabad in Aurangabad.
In order to divide the Maratha onslaught, the Mughals released Shahu on certain conditions. He immediately challenged Tarabai and Shivaji II for leadership of the Maratha polity. Shahu eventually prevailed thanks to his legal position and in part to the Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath' diplomacy, and Tarabai was sidelined for some time. She established a rival court in Kolhapur in 1713.

wn.com/Tarabai

Pratapgad part-1.wmv

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published: 05 Jun 2010

author: dhananjay2151

Pratapgad (Dj suraj)

this video related by Maharashtra fort....

published: 12 May 2009

author: bobsvishwakarma

Kille Pratapgad

Raje...

published: 13 Feb 2010

author: pramodposugade

Pratapgad Fort, Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra - Indian Historical Fort at Hill Station Video

www.indiahotelreview.com This is the video of Pratapgad Fort, Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra -...

published: 17 May 2012

author: IndiaHotelReview

Discover Maharashtra Season - 2 Episode 3 PROMO (Pratapgad)

...

published: 10 Aug 2010

author: versatilemediagroup

Way to Pratapgad Fort

Video taken from my bike on our way to Pratapgad fort...

published: 04 Nov 2008

author: omkarbhosle1

Pratapgad Guide.avi

Raj at his Best (?)...

published: 25 Nov 2009

author: therocky3

pratapgad navratri utsav

...

published: 19 Oct 2012

author: abpmajhatv

mahabaleshwar-jawali-par-pratapgad.wmv

This is our trek from elphinstone point to jawali via nisnichi vaat used by shri chatrapat...

published: 11 Mar 2010

author: praveenmp8585

Navratri celebration and Importance in Pratapgad -TV9

Navratri celebration in Pratpgad....Shivaji Maharaj's fort where Navratri celebration are ...

published: 22 Oct 2012

author: tv9maharashtra

Pratapgad.mp4

Are( Ajay and Toufiq) first visit to Pratapgad....

published: 26 Nov 2010

author: Ajay Kamble

pratapgad & sinhagad

sinhagad& pratapgad picnic...

published: 19 Aug 2009

author: abhu862000

Pratapgad Fort - Mahableshwar - http://www.mahableshwar.com/mahableshwar/pratapgadh/index.htm

...

published: 03 Jun 2012

author: Alstend Dsouza

Pratapgad Tour on bike way to Mahabaleshwar..

Pratapgad Tour on bike way to Mahabaleshwar.....

published: 08 Feb 2011

author: maxxman2007

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photo: AP / Juan Karita

File - Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez, front, gestures during a ceremony honoring Bolivia's Independence heroines in Cochabamba, Bolivia, Wednesday, July 18, 2012.

Argentina reasserts claim over Falklands

Al Jazeera

04 Jan 2013

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has released a public letter urging the United Kingdom to relinquish its control over the disputed Falkland Islands. ... The veterans delivered a letter addressed to the British Ambassador in Argentina, John Freeman, criticising the British government for refusing to discuss the sovereignty of the islands with the Argentine government ... 508 Source .. Al Jazeera and agencies. Share....(size: 19.6Kb)

photo: WN / Imran Nissar

Indian Army soldiers patrol outside their army camp at Gurez, about 180 kilometers (113 miles) north of Srinagar, India, Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011. Indian troops in Kashmir fought a deadly gunbattle with suspected rebels crossing the military Line of Control from Pakistani-controlled territory Saturday, the army said. One soldier and 11 suspected rebels were killed, army spokesman Lt. Col. J.S. Brar said, but only six suspected rebels' bodies were recovered. He said the other five bodies were lost when they fell into a river during the fighting in the disputed Himalayan region.

Pakistan accuses India of deadly cross-border raid

Herald Tribune

06 Jan 2013

ISLAMABAD - The Pakistani military is accusing forces from neighboring India of crossing the boundary between the two sides' forces in Kashmir and attacking a Pakistani border post, killing a soldier. The military's public relations office said in a statement Sunday that another Pakistani soldier was critically wounded in the incident early Sunday. They said troops are still exchanging gunfire in the area ... All rights reserved ... Parker ... ....(size: 4.3Kb)

photo: UN / Evan Schneider

File - Cristina Fernández, President of Argentina, is pictured during a meeting of the UN’s Special Committee on Decolonization to consider the “Question of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas)”, 14 June, 2012.

Argentina's call for return of Falklands causes a stir

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

06 Jan 2013

LONDON -- They have barely 3,000 inhabitants and far more sheep than people. They are more than 8,700 miles from London. For much of the year, they are bitterly cold and wind-swept, with only open sea and ice between them and Antarctica ... But the Falkland Islands, the focus of a short war between Britain and Argentina in 1982, have been in the headlines again recently ... Their arguments suggest what has long been evident ... Ms ... Mr ... Cameron said....(size: 5.1Kb)

photo: WN / Bhaskar Mallick

Chatraparishad Supporters participate in a Candel Light to protest against Delhi gang rape case and for reviewing “ Women Protection Law “ in kolkata on Friday 28 December 2012

Friend of Delhi gang-rape victim calls for protests to continue

Newstrack India

05 Jan 2013

Tweet. New Delhi, Jan 5 (ANI). The male friend of the 23-year-old medical student, who was gang-raped and left unclothed and bleeding in the street and later died in hospital two weeks after she was attacked on December 16 on a private bus in New Delhi, has said that things would have gone differently if someone had stopped to help ... "It would have been a very different scenario today, had even one person come to our help that day ... (ANI)....(size: 3.8Kb)

photo: AP / SANA

In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, Syrian firefighters check a gas station that was attacked by a car bomb killing several people, activists said, in Damascus, Syria.

Syria fights off rebel advance on Damascus

Al Jazeera

05 Jan 2013

Syrian government forces have bombarded several rebel strongholds in the suburbs of Damascus to quell the fighters battling the regime of President Bashar al-Assad from reaching the capital. Activists on Saturday said troops leveled their bombardment campaign on the districts of Hajar al-Aswad and Qaboun in southern Damascus while they continued to shell the suburbs of Daraya, Beit Hahm, Zibdeen, Maadamiya and Jisteen ... 445 Source . ... ....(size: 19.0Kb)

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Pratapgad Utsav Samiti to present awards

DNA India

16 Dec 2012

The Pratapgad Utsav Samiti has appealed to people to participate in celebrating Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s victory against Afzal Khan ... Pratapgad on December 19 ... The Pratapgad Utsav Samiti will organise the function at Pratapgad on December 19 at 9.30 am....(size: 1.3Kb)

Shivaji Park row: Shiv Sena supporters wont allow officials to touch samadhi

DNA India

10 Dec 2012

The activists also equated their struggle to India’s freedom fight. "We will not let the government remove the structure ... "We are here to guard the memorial following orders from higher-ups," said Patil, adding that the state government should first remove Bijapuri general Afzal Khan’s tomb at Pratapgad ... ....(size: 1.7Kb)

Most key-makers from same UP district: Cops

Indian Express

16 Jul 2012

In the past three years, at least 35 of the 40-odd busted gangs had the key-maker, the most crucial member of the gang, always from Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh ... Key-makers nabbed by the Mumbai Police Crime Branch in the past three years, aged between 13 and 60 years, allegedly acquired their mechanical skills in Pratapgad ... contd. PAGE. 12 . Single Page Format ....(size: 1.7Kb)

Don't crib, correct mistakes: Sachin Tendulkar

DNA India

04 May 2012

Cricketers representing the Pratapgad Warriors, one of the Maharashtra Premier League (MPL) teams, were all ears to Sachin Tendulkar here on Thursday ... interactive session by the managing director of Guardian Corporation, Manish Sabade, also the owner of Pratapgad Warriors....(size: 1.4Kb)

Don’t crib, correct mistakes: Sachin Tendulkar

The Siasat Daily

04 May 2012

May 04.. Cricketers representing the Pratapgad Warriors, one of the Maharashtra Premier League (MPL) teams, were all ears to Sachin Tendulkar here on Thursday. In the city to play the Mumbai Indians-Pune Warriors game, Tendulkar was invited for an interactive session by the managing director of Guardian Corporation, Manish Sabade, also the owner of Pratapgad Warriors. “It is always a pleasure to talk to youngsters ... SC Related News ... ....(size: 2.8Kb)

Tendulkar: learn to switch on and off from cricket

The Hindu

03 May 2012

It is not every day that young cricketers in the country get to interact with the cricket icon. Pune's Maharashtra Premier League team Pratapgad Warriors had one such opportunity on Thursday ... He was in Pune as part of the Mumbai Indians team to play the IPL match against Pune Warriors on Thursday ... Play for the team. Play together ... ....(size: 1.6Kb)

Sachin Tendulkar: There are no shortcuts to success

Cricket Country

03 May 2012

By Cricket Country Staff.  . Pune. May 3, 2012. . The recently turned Rajya Sabha MP, Sachin Tendulkar has enthralled cricket fans for over two decades by his masterful batting. In his recent meeting with the players of Pratapgad Warriors team who are participating in the Maharashtra Premier League he captured their attention through his precious words ... ... ... ... 4 when I was in school ... ... ... ....(size: 2.7Kb)

Sachin captivates audience at felicitation

The Hindu

03 May 2012

From the moment he stepped into the hall where almost every seat was occupied by his adoring fans, Sachin Tendulkar enthralled them with his sheer presence and dissection of the great game of cricket which he has played with distinction. “Now that I am 39, I can call some of you youngsters,’’ Sachin said, addressing the Pratapgad Warriors team that takes part in the Maharashtra Premier League (MPL) ... Keywords ... ....(size: 3.2Kb)

Maharashtra budget: Eye on jobs, state puts Rs100 crore in textile sector

DNA India

23 Mar 2011

The government has allocated a whopping Rs100 crore for the textile sector recognising its potential in employment generation. The government is all set to announce its textile policy that is expected to give boost to the small and medium-sized enterprises in the sector ... This includes conservation and restoration of Shivneri, Sinhagad, Pratapgad and Raigad forts ... Mahalaxmi temple at Kolhapur also has got Rs10 crore for development work....(size: 2.5Kb)

Walking backwards with a forward agenda

Deccan Herald

23 Jan 2011

Karwar, January 23, DHNS. Sunday, January 23, 2011 -->. This 51-year-old man has a mission with a vision literally. With a forward agenda, of creating awareness on donation of eyes, Tukaram Changu Mokal, a resident of Prabhadevi in Mumbai, is walking backwards from the metropolis all the way to Kasargod in Kerala ... In 1995, he walked backwards from Mumbai to Pratapgad to spread the message of eye donation ... ....(size: 2.5Kb)

Novel drive to create awareness on eye donation

The Hindu

23 Jan 2011

Correspondent. They are on a 'backward trek' from Mumbai to Kasaragod. The team covers 30 to 35 km every day. Karwar. A group of four persons from Prabhadevi Mumbai has taken up the noble cause of "eye donation" and going on "backward trekking" to create awareness ... Among them Tukaram covered the whole distance by backward trek ... They reached Karwar on Saturday. Mr ... Mr ... Then they took up another trek from Mumbai to Pratapgad in 1995 ... ....(size: 3.8Kb)

Saat Kabar in immediate need of maintenance

The Hindu

18 Oct 2010

Staff correspondent. Some of the graves have been damaged by treasure hunters. The graves belong to the wives of Afzal Khan, an army chief during Adil Shahi's rule. All of them are made with black stone. Bijapur ... He built the graves with black stone ... He never returned from the battle at Pratapgad in Maharashtra, where his body was eventually buried, the sources said. Treasure hunters ... ....(size: 3.9Kb)

97 players on auction for 3rd MPL season

Indian Express

05 Oct 2010

The Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) has released a list of rules for players' auction for the next edition of the Maharashtra Premier League (MPL). The third edition will see 97 players being auctioned ... Ads by Google ... MCA said Aditya Dole, who played for the Pratapgad Warriors has left the MCA, and will not feature in the third MPL. ....(size: 1.6Kb)

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Coordinates: 17°56′10″N 73°34′39″E / 17.936224°N 73.577607°E / 17.936224; 73.577607

Pratapgad
प्रतापगड
Satara District, Maharashtra, India
300px Pratapgad Fort. The upper fort is visible to the right of the photograph, while the outworks of the Afzal tower stretch away to the left.
India
Type	Fort
Coordinates	17°56′10″N 73°34′39″E / 17.936224°N 73.577607°E / 17.936224; 73.577607
Built	1656
Built by	Shivaji
Current condition	Good
Current owner	Government of Maharashtra
Open to the public	Yes
Controlled by	Maratha Empire (1656-1818) United Kingdom East India Company (1818-1857) India (1857-1947) India (1947-)
Battles/wars	Battle of Pratapgad

Pratapgad (also transcribed Pratapgarh or Pratapgadh) (Marathi: प्रतापगड; English: Valour fort) is a large fort located in Satara district, in the state of Maharashtra in India. Significant as the site of the Battle of Pratapgad, the fort is now a popular tourist destination.

1 Geography
2 History
3 Structure
4 Tourism
5 Gallery
6 References
7 See also

Geography [link]

Pratapgad fort is located 15 kilometres from Poladpur and 22 kilometres from Mahabaleshwar, a popular hill-station in the area. This fort stands 1,080 metres above sea level.^[1]

The fort is built on a spur which overlooks the road between the villages of Par and Kinesvar.

History [link]

The Maratha king Shivaji commissioned Moropant Trimbak Pingle, his prime minister, to undertake the construction of this fort in order to defend the banks of the Nira and the Koyna rivers, and to defend the Par pass. It was completed in 1656.^[1]

The Battle of Pratapgarh between Shivaji and Afzal Khan was fought below the rampants of this fort on November 10, 1659. This was the first major test of the fledgling kingdom's army, and set the stage of the establishment of the Maratha empire.

Pratapgad continued to be involved in regional politics. Sakharam Bapu, a well-known minister of Pune, was confined by his rival Nana Phadnis in Pratapgad in 1778. He was later moved from fort to fort until he finally died at Raigad. In 1796, Nana Phadnis, while escaping from the intrigues of Daulatrao Shinde and his minister Baloba, assembled a strong garrison in Pratapgad before heading to Mahad.

In 1818, as part of the Third Anglo-Maratha War, Pratapgad surrendered by private negotiation. This was a great loss to the Maratha forces, as Pratapgad was an important stronghold, had a large garrison, and could suppress much of the country round Wai.

A 17-foot high equestrian bronze statue of Shivaji was unveiled by Jawaharlal Nehru, then Prime Minister of India, on the 30th of November 1957, the same year a road was constructed by the Public Works Department from Kumbhrosi village up to fort. A guest house and a national park were built inside the fort in 1960.

The fort is currently owned by Udayan Raje Bhosale, the heir of the Satara princely state. ^[2]

Structure [link]

The fort can be divided into the lower fort and upper fort.

The upper fort was built upon the crest of the hill. It is roughly square, 180m long on each side. It has several permanent buildings, including a temple to the god Mahadev. It is located at the northwest of the fort, and is surrounded by sheer cliffs with drops of up to 250m.

The lower fort is around 320m long and 110m wide. It is located at the southeast of the fort, and is defended by towers and bastions ten to twelve metres high.

The Afzal tower extends out from the fort proper and defends the approach to the fort. It is said to have been constructed after the Battle of Pratapgad, and Afzal Khan's head is said to be buried under the tower.

In 1661, Shivaji was unable to visit the temple of the goddess Bhavani at Tuljapur. He decided to dedicate a temple to the goddess at this fort itself. This temple is on the eastern side of the lower fort. The hall has been rebuilt since the original construction, and consists of wooden pillars about 50' long, 30' broad and 12' high. The shrine is made of stone, and contains a clothed black stone image of the goddess. The roof of the temple is flat inside, but covered in lead covering put up by the Satara Raja Pratapsinh (1818–1839). A small spire or shikhar covers the shrine.

A dargah of Afzal Khan is located a short while away from the fort to the south-east.

Tourism [link]

Pratapgad is usually visited as a day-trip from Mahabaleshwar, a popular tourist destination located 25 kilometres away.

One can take ST from Panvel to Poladpur at night & then stay at Poladpur ST stand for the first ST to WADA (Base village). Its around 7am. When you reach at Wada village you can hire a 4 wheeler to the base of the Fort. But there is an alternate fantastic trekking road surrounded by greenery, for that you have to ask villagears 1st.(its bit hidden). But if you first go by main road by walking then you can see a arrow on the road showing the exact path & after that you can see old rock stairs. From this rout you can go walking in around 1/2 hrs to the top of the fort. (total time 1.1/2hrs). This was the old rout of mawlas in anciant time. The main road was built by governament when bronze statue of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was placed on the fort. Or they made it wide.

Gallery [link]

Entrance to Baale Killa (citadel)
Another fort entrance with watchtowers
Bronze statue of Shivaji Maharaj

References [link]

^ ^a ^b "Pratapgad Fort". Satara District Gazetteer. Government of Maharashtra, Gazetteers Department. http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/SATARA/places_Pratapgad.html. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
^ "Udayan Raje Bhosale". http://www.expressindia.com/news/ie/daily/19981128/33350414.html. Retrieved 2012-05-18.

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Contents

Geography [link]

History [link]

Structure [link]

Tourism [link]

Gallery [link]

References [link]

See also [link]

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