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Raigad Fort
Fort · Mahad, Raigad
The hill fort that was the capital of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, where he was crowned in 1674. Reached by steps or by ropeway.
Raigad stands on a steep, flat-topped hill in the Sahyadri foothills near Mahad. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj made it the capital of the Maratha kingdom, and his coronation took place here in 1674. For many visitors from Maharashtra the climb is a pilgrimage as much as a trip.
On top are the remains of the royal court, the market street, the Jagdishwar temple and the samadhi of Shivaji Maharaj. Takmak Tok, a sheer cliff edge, and the Hirkani buruj give wide views over the valleys. The plateau is large, so allow several hours to walk around it.
There are two ways up: the old stone steps from the base, which take a fit person one to two hours, or the ropeway, which takes a few minutes. Carry water, a cap and good shoes. In the monsoon the hill is green and full of clouds, but the steps are wet and slippery.
Best time to visit
October to February for clear views and cooler walks. The monsoon is beautiful but the climb is slippery.
How to reach
Nearest Konkan Railway stations: Mangaon and Veer. From Mahad town, a road goes to Pachad and the base of the fort, where the steps and the ropeway start.
Places nearby
Facts: Wikidata (CC0) and OpenStreetMap; map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.