April 19, 2005
Kille Raigad
On my fourth trip to the capital of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's kingdom, I cheated. The technological advance let me take a shortcut on this pilgrimage. Instead of climbing the thousand+ steps over 2-3 hours, I sat in a cable car and was wisked to the top in less than 5 minutes. It was nice to be not tired upon arrival, but climbing up is fun, too.
Click on the link read more and see pictures...
Dilapidated remains of living quarters of Shivaji Maharaj, and his ministers' homes.
The location where the throne of Maratha kingdom stood and where Shivaji Maharaj was annointed as a king. The throne was made of gold and weighed about 1400 Kg. It was stolen by the British when they took Raigad in I think, 1818.
The Nagaarkhana is the entrance to the large courtyard where Shivaji Maharaj held court. This big courtyard is open now, but was completely covered with a roof in those days.
One of the two entrances to the fort. This is the main entrance, which I missed entering through because of the cable car ride. It is heavily fortified and has huge wooden doors. The natural defense of steep unscalable walls is visible in this view, too. The fort finally fell to the long range canons of the British. They targeted the warehouse that stored gun powder on the fort and the whole place was burning for days.
Shivaji Maharaj died on Raigad and was cremated here. This memorial was built on the cremation site.
Takmak tok is the part of the fort that jutts out from the main mountain. From this point, there is a straight fall of about 1000 meters. This is the place where people who committed treason were executed by a simple push over the edge.
This place has some protective railings which have thoroughly rotten due to rainy season. I would not try to get any support from them.
Finally, me standing at the end of Takmak tok enoying the view.
Posted by Parag at April 19, 2005 10:59 AM | TrackBack
I get goosebumps when I see or read about the greatness of the Indian kingdoms of the past. This picture tour just did that! Thanks for outting them up.
Posted by: Raj at April 19, 2005 11:09 AMgreat pics.. very good description too.. i guess now we dont have to climb 1450 steps to be precise i guess.. i think the cable car ride goes over the hirkani buruj if i remember correctly.. it is just unbelievable that she could climb that cliff from the first pic..
Posted by: sujit at April 19, 2005 11:17 AMNice pictorial tour! Never knew that Shivaji's throne weighed 1.4 tons of gold...Hope its still there in some museum in the UK..
Posted by: deven at April 19, 2005 02:40 PMDeven: I have never heard about the throne being any museum like the 'Bhavani' talwar. It must have been melted or just hacked. Don't know.
Posted by: Parag at April 19, 2005 03:29 PMparag - that takmaktok pic is superb ... must have been an awesome feeling. does any of the pics have 'hirkaNiichaa buruj'?
Posted by: Aditya at April 19, 2005 11:16 PMparag - that takmaktok pic is superb ... must have been an awesome feeling standing on the edge there. does any of the pics have 'hirkaNiichaa buruj'?
Posted by: Aditya at April 19, 2005 11:17 PMAditya: Thanks! It is a great feeling to stand at Takmak tok and look around. But, it is an amazing feeling to just walk on Raigad, knowing that Shivaji Maharaj probably stood at the same spot where you are standing.
Didn't take any pictures on 'hirkaNiichaa buruj' this time as wwe didn't climb down to it. But, the ropeway is on the same side of the mountain. So, the area that you see in the first two photos is the general area of 'hirkaNiichaa buruj'.
Posted by: Parag at April 20, 2005 03:02 PMthe bhavani talwar is in a museum? which museum?
Posted by: anya at April 27, 2005 07:47 PMVery good photograhs. If possible add some good pics of Shivaji Maharaj on the page.
Good Work.
Har har Mahadev!
Hey Parag
Great Job,
Would like to know you more
Thanks
Hemant Parasnis
Hey Parag
Thanx for give me chance to see this amazing photos of the Capital of Marathas The Kille Raigad
I like it most I Has a thinking i mind to see rigad from last few days I seen it through your photos and now I reches to the conclusion that i must have to see raigad
Thank you very much
and
Jai shivaray
bye
please visit our web site www.mounimaharaj.com Guru of Chhatrapati Shivaji
Posted by: rajendra ghorpade at July 31, 2005 02:01 PMI too had a visit to raigad ,but on a rainy day
will upload fotos soon
very nice pictures! add some more in it. all the best for your work.
Posted by: deepa at September 9, 2005 04:27 AMShivarayans aathavave,
Jeevit trunavat manave,
Ihaloki paraloki rahave,
Keertirupe!
Yaa nice photos. if u have map of any fort ple. upload it. So that i can get the all view at a time.
Posted by: Dhananjay at September 9, 2005 01:46 PMhi,
nice photos.
Do anyone knows history of Bhavani talvar ?
who gave that talvar to shivaji maharaj ?
by godess Tulja Bhavani or any other person.
Thanks
Posted by: Sandesh at October 11, 2005 05:31 AM
