Information on Vishalgad Fort (Kolhapur, Maharashtra) - History & Architecture

Vishalgad Fort is a 956 years old hilltop fort found in the Shyadri ranges of Kolhapur District. It was a great and huge fort in the medieval times. This fort was destroyed by the British East India Company (BEIC) and what are found now is the only few gates and temples at Ratnagiri Road, Kholapur District of Maharashtra State in India.

Vishalgad Fort Architecture

Vishalgad Fort was a very huge and strong fort built in the 10th century AD. It was splendidly placed in a plain plateau of a hill mount having an altitude of 1130 meters above the sea level. It has only a single path way to reach its top, it was very difficult to access here due to its steep slopes and rocky terrain. There was a very strong wall built on this hill top plain. It fortification walls has with stand many battles over centuries of time. There were many cannons placed on its main walls. It has a main gate on its entrance an escape route. Inside there were palaces as living areas and many granaries were built here. Few temples and tombs are visible now. The British destroyed the major structures in the 19th century to stop the Maratha Empire rule over here. Currently its main gate way and few reined structures are found here. A newly built Dharga is here, which is he only structure visible in this hilltop. One it was a grand fort for the Emperor Shivaji. He called it the grant fort and built many new structures in the middle of the 17th century AD.

Vishalgad Fort History

Vishalgad Fort was built around 1058 AD by Marsinh King of Shilahara Dynasty. This fort was known as the Khilgil Killa in those times. This fort was conquered by the Devagiri clans in the year 1209 AD. Before the medieval Era this was in aggression with the surrounding province of the Bhamanis, Adil Shahs and the Vijaya Nagara Empire. In the medieval time, the Maratha province sought expansion under the command of the King Shivaji. He captured this fort in the year 1659 from the Shahi dynasty by a clever attempt by sending his officials to join the hands of Adil Sha and attacked from inside and outside of this fort and conquered it. This fort was very difficult to climb. The wild lizards were used in the time of battles. It had a very steep slopes and its highly rocky terrain made any one climb easily and to reach its top. Adil Sha once again attacked this fort when Maratha King Shivaji was present inside this fort. His commander Baji Prabhu Deshpande sought him a silent escape by giving his life in the battle. Later Shivaji built a tomb for his bravery in the battle. After Shivajis death his son Chatrapathi Sambhaji stayed in this fort and built many new structures. Soon after the decline of the Maratha Empire it was split into minor clans areas. The BEIC doesn't want these rulers to flourish her and this fort was destroyed in the year 1844 AD. The name Vishalgad is termed as the great fort by Shivaji, this fort was really huge by looking its debris surrounded in the vast plains of this hill mount, where the actual fort was there.

Vishalgad Fort Tourism Significance

Vishalgad Fort was a grant fort before 19th century. Now it has only the ruined memories of a destroyed fort by the British. The British left the temples here and these temples are the only olden structures found in good conditions. This is now a pilgrim place for Muslim peoples due to a recently built darga here.