Rajgad, this majestic fort was the capital of the Maratha Empire till 1672 CE. Earlier known as ‘Murrumba Devacha Dongar’ was made one of the unconquerable forts of Medieval Maharashtra by the founder and architect of the Maratha Empire Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Districts/ Region    

Pune District, Maharashtra, India.

History

Rajgad, literally meaning ‘Ruling Fort’ was the capital of the Maratha Empire established by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj for 24 years.
Rajgad is divided into two main parts as the lower fort and the upper fort. The upper fort comprises the Balekilla, where the royal residence was built. The Lower fort is made of three arms of the hill. Rajgad is located on the triangular tabletop of the hill. These three arms are named Suvela Machi, Padmavati Machi and Sanjivani Machi. Padmavati Machi got its name from the temple of Goddess Padmavati and the small reservoir of the same name.

Numerous structural remains and plinths of the palaces and houses can be seen here. There are remains of the office of the Maratha empire and the marketplace. This fort was the home of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. It has witnessed different phases of his life, from the young sixteen-year-old Shivaji constructing the fort to becoming a King.

The young sixteen-year-old Shivaji had captured the Torna fort and had found a gold hoard. The gold found in the hoard was used to build a fort on Murrumba Devacha Dongar’, and the fort was then named ‘Rajgad’. This fort was then the capital of the Marathas which housed and protected the King and his soldiers for many years. 

The fort was magnificently constructed with three machis ‘Padmavati’, ‘Suvela’ and ‘Sanjivani’ and one great citadel named ‘Balekilla’. The ramparts are made so well that they can take the heaviest of the blow, yet won't crumble. This fort saw the birth of Shivaji Maharaj’s second son, Rajaram Maharaj, the death of his queen Sai bai and much more! It was Shivaji Maharaj's home and the capital of the Maratha empire for more than two decades!

This fort is a trekkers paradise and a witness of Maratha history!

Geography

Rajgad is in the Sahyadri Mountain ranges at an elevation of  1,395 meters above sea level.

Weather/Climate

This region has a hot-semi arid climate year-round with an average temperature between 19-33 degrees Celsius. 
April and May are the hottest months in Pune when the temperature reaches up to 42 degrees Celsius.
Winters are extreme, and the temperature can go as low as 10 degrees Celsius at night, but the average daytime temperature is around 26 degrees Celsius.
The annual rainfall in the region is around 763 mm.

Things to do

There are a lot of things to do and see on Rajgad such as,
1. Balekilla
2. Padmavati Machi
3. Suvela Machi
4. Sanjivani Machi
5. Alu Darwaja
6. Padmavati temple
7. Trekking up the fort 
8. Sight seeing as other forts such as Torna, Raigad, Pratapgad, Mangalgad, Lingana, Chandragad etc.
9. Night trekking the fort during summers.

Nearest tourist place

The following are the things to do near Rajgad,
1. Torna Fort (12 KM)
2. Mandhardevi Kalubai Temple (42KM)
3. Purandar Fort (43 KM)

Special food speciality and hotel

Maharashtrian cuisines

Accommodation facilities nearby & Hotel/ Hospital/Post Office/Police station

● Accommodation may be arranged by the locals with prior notice given. 
● There are no hospitals on or in the fort premises, many multi-speciality hospitals in Pune city.
● The nearest police station is in Nasrapur, a town near Rajgad.
● There are no post offices on the fort.

MTDC Resort nearby details

MTDC Resort Panshet (32.5 KM)

Tour operator information

A few tour guide operators take planned tours which include travel, meals and guided tours of Rajgad fort.

Visiting Rule and Time, Best month to visit

The best months to visit this fort are from October to March.
- If one plans on night trekking, then summer months, April to June would be preferable. 
- It is best to avoid the first few weeks of the rainy season to visit the fort. 
- While visiting one must wear clothes suitable to the weather and climate, and wear sports shoes.
- If one plans on night trekking, one should carry sufficient batteries and an extra torch while dressing appropriately.
- The best time to visit the fort is between 9:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. It is best to descend the fort before the sunsets.

Language spoken in area

English, Hindi, Marathi.