A word to the young trekkers..
As repeatedly mentioned in this section on Raigad fort, Raigad is much more than a tourist spot or a trekking destination. Raigad is considered to be holy by many and is a revered place that holds the samadhi of Shivaji Maharaj. Please be sensitive to the emotions attatched to this fort.
Raigad - Torna Fort Trek
A very long and ardous trek aigad to Torna is attempted by very few trekkers. Close to 30 kms the trek passes through small villages treacherous climbs and thick forests. If you want to see real rustic life in small villages you definitely could get a glimplse of that in this trek. The minimum recommended duration of this trek is 2-3 days with night halts.
To the right of the granaries is the palace of Shivaji Maharaj. Entry for common public to Raj Sabha was through the Nagarkhana. Holi Cha Mal, a wide open ground, used for annual Holi, is outside the Nagarkhana. In front of Holi Cha Mal, there is a well laid-out marketplace and Jagadishwar Temple. Adjacent to this temple, is the most revered place on Fort Raigad, the Samadhi of Shiv Chhatrapati.
The Ropeway lands you at the upper station near Mena Darwaja. This was the special entrance for the royal ladies and the queens. To the left of Mena Darwaja is the Rani Vasa or "Queens' Chambers". In front of the Rani Vasa is the Palkhi Darwaja. To the right of Palkhi Darwaja, there is a row of three dark chambers. Historians believe that these were the granaries for the fort..
The base village for Raigad fort is Pachad village about 40 kms off the NH 17. The trek is more to do with climbing the steps in Raigad and for the record there are about 1500 steps to reach the top of the fort! The base of the fort is also the lower station of the Raigad ropeway. There is a small museum with historic artefacts and also a restaurant at the lower station. If you are on a one day trip and not keen on trekking up, you could take the ropeway. Tickets - Rs170.
Rajgad Trek Routes
The Raigad trek is essentially a climb up the stairs however there are a few forts around Raigad and the trek routes to these forts like Torna and Mangad from Raigad offer some exciting options. The Raigad Torna trek - a real test of endurance - is a popular trek route taken by ardent trekkers. The trek to Lingana fort from Raigad is comparitively a shorter trek from Raigad.
Raigad Sightseeing.. contd
Distance from Major cities..
