Information on Prachitgad Fort (Ratanagiri, Maharashtra) - History & Architecture

Prachitgad Fort is an ancient hilltop fort built over the Shyadri hill ranges. This was a lesser know fort in the India history, until the Marathas came to this region and found out this very old structure standing a lot on this hill. In the medieval period it became an important fort and has a significant importance in the Marathwad history. It is also a well know hill place for tourist. It is located in the Sangameshwar Taluk, Ratnagiri District of Maharashtra State in India.

Prachitgad Fort Architecture

Prachitgad Fort is an ancient architectural marvel built in the Indian pattern of pre mediaeval times. These types of fort structures are often found with very less defensive in nature. These were built as a residential complex mainly as an alternative for palace. This fortress is uniquely located in the middle of the Mala Pass and south of Tivra Pass. The Shastri and Sonavi Rivers flows beneath these passes. There are two major walls found here as the inner and the outer walls. The outer was are very thick and are still stronger and not weathered so far. The inner walls are seems to be damaged by manual efforts in the past times. These walls are built near the cliffs of these hills. These cliff acts as a natural trenches, as it is a found in very steep areas beneath these walls. There are many small structures found here. A small temple can be found here with two ancient deities. These are single stone carved idols of god and goddesses. In the mediaeval time a Church was found here. But there is no trace of this structure found here now. There are very good source of water found here. These are in tanks, ponds and wells. The yearly monsoon fetches these catchment pits and last till the summer ends. This fort has a magazine room stored with the ancient artilleries and the medieval era cannons of smaller size kept here. There is also ground laid large cannon found here at many bordering ridge areas facing towards the low lands.

Prachitgad Fort History

Prachitgad Fort has many names like the Uchitgad Fort, Shringarpur Fort and old Sahyadri Fort. There is no perfect record of this fort. It seems to be built before the mediaeval times by the looks of this fort designs. Another important significance is the artilleries found here were the weapons used in the ancient times. Hence it is believed to be an ancient fort built by an unknown person. The history has records from the Maratha Empire time. They captured this fort from its local ruler named Suryarao Surve, who was known o be the Sringarpur Raja in the 16the century AD. This was the period of Maratha expansion and the Maratha Empire under the Shivaji Maharaja built many forts and temples to safe guard its empire. This occupied fort was also taken care in its renovations and kept it as a watch tower over this hill pass valley. There were minor repots of attacks from the Siddhi's and the Bhamani Dynasty, who were the prominent neighboring province clans. But the Marathas had a great defeat with the British in the year 1818 AD and have to leave this fort. From this time it was left abundant and after the Indian independence only the Maharashtra government owned this fort under its maintenance.

Prachitgad Fort Tourism Importance

Prachitgad Fort is an ancient fort worth to see here. One can reach here only by a beautiful trekking in this hill range. Which are quit accompanied by the Mother Nature and can see natural water falls, dense forest and the low land pastures villages from the top of this fort. This will be an antique memory if you come here once.