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Panhala
Fort, Maharashtra
Panhala fort is 18 km northwest to Kolhapur.
Although it has legendary connection with god Parashurama,
the fort was probably founded by King Raja Bhoja in the late
twelfth century. It covers a vast area, with massive perimeter
walls over 7 km in length and a steep slope beneath. Nevertheless,
Panhala could not reasonably be described as impregnable.
Over the years it has fallen to the Devagiri Yadavas, various
Maratha chieftains and, in 1489, the Adil Shahi dynasty of
Bijapur army, who erected the ramparts that still stand. Shivaji
took Panhala in 1659, only just managing to escape with his
life a year later when it was retaken by the Bijapur army.
According to tradition, he was saved because one of his lieutenants
posed as the leader and was killed, allowing Shivaji to make
a quick exit, and regain it later. After this, the fort fell
to the Moghul Aurangzeb (1700), became Maratha state capital
under Tarabai until 1782, and went to the British in 1827.
How
to reach there: Regular
buses run between Kolhapur and Panhala fort.
Accomodations:
- Woodlands.
-
Hilltop Hotel.
- MTDC
Panhala.
What
to see:
- The
Teen Darwaza "three door" gate meant successive
doors could only be approached at an awkward angle, trapping
troops in the inner courtyard and making it impossible to
charge.
- A
well in the corner was used to send word to allies; lemons
with incised message were dropped into the water, and would
float to a lake outside.
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