Why did Shivaji’s Raigarh fort remain a thorn in Aurangzeb’s mind throughout his/her life? Gunpowder used to come out of the walls on Diwali

New Delhi: It was some time before 1656, when Shivaji Maharaj was thinking of establishing Hind Swarajya after defeating the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and destroying the Adilshahi Sultanate. he/she wanted the center of Hindu hierarchy to be at a place where even the enemy could not harm him/her. In such a situation, his/her eyes fell on Raigarh, a fort built on the steep slopes of the Sahyadri mountains in western India. This fort, built in the northern Konkan region of Maharashtra, was to be converted into a war fort. In the year 1656, Shivaji Maharaj captured this fort by defeating Chandraraoji.

Raigarh fort was famous by the name of Rairi.

This fort, built in Raigarh district of Maharashtra, is built on a hill and is about 25 kilometers away from Mahad. Raigarh Fort was earlier known as ‘Rairi’. Shivaji Maharaj named it ‘Raigad’ or ‘Royal Fort’. This fort was renovated by Shivaji Maharaj himself.

Soldiers and cannons were deployed within the walls of Raigarh Fort.

When Shivaji Maharaj captured Raigarh, he/she made it formidable. Shivaji Maharaj invested heavily in its security. Deployed troops and artillery within its walls. he/she adopted such strategies to thwart any potential attacker so that Raigarh remains safe from enemies. In 1662, Shivaji made Raigarh Fort the capital of his/her Hindavi Swarajya. Ammunition was fired from these walls on Diwali. Shivaji started building forts on the day of Diwali, which people in Maharashtra celebrate by building mud forts on the day of Diwali.

Coronation in Raigarh Fort, became Chhatrapati

Shivaji’s coronation took place in this Raigarh Fort on June 6, 1674. It was here in a grand ceremony that Shivaji was declared the king of the Maratha Empire. Shivaji’s coronation was done by Vishveshwar (Ganga Bhatt) of Varanasi as per the scriptures. In this ceremony, Ganga Bhatta poured water on Shivaji’s head from a golden vessel filled with water from the Yamuna, Indus, Ganga, Godavari, Narmada, Krishna and Kaveri rivers. It was here that Shivaji was given the title of Shakakarta (founder of an era) and Chhatrapati (lord of the umbrella).

Took the title of protector of Hinduism

Raigarh Fort was the main center of the capital of the Maratha Empire during the reign of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. At that time one had to climb 1,450 stairs to reach Raigad Fort, which today tourists can reach by ropeway. Shivaji also assumed the title of Handava Dharmoddharka (protector of Hindu religion) here.

Raigarh Fort has Maha Darwaza and Nagarkhana.

Raigad Fort also overlooks an artificial lake known as ‘Ganga Sagar Lake’. The only main road to the fort passes through the Maha Darwaza. The king’s court inside the Raigad Fort houses a replica of the original throne which is in front of the main gate called the Nagarkhana Darwaza. This enclosure was acoustically designed to aid hearing from the door to the throne. The fort has a famous citadel called Hirkani Buruj (Hirkani Citadel), which is built on a huge steep cliff. It is said that this fort had more than 300 palaces and 84 wells.

Mughals could never touch Raigarh during Shivaji’s reign.

The Mughals could never touch Raigarh Fort during the reign of Shivaji Maharaj. However, after 15 years, other forces once again established control over Raigarh. In the Battle of Raigarh in 1689, Mughal commander Zulfikar Khan attacked the Raigarh fort and defeated the army of the third Chhatrapati of Marathas, Rajaram Bhonsle I. After this, Mughal emperor Aurangzeb changed the name of the fort to ‘Islamgarh’.

When it came under the control of the British, it was called Gibraltar of the East.

By 1707, Fateh Khan, the state representative of the Ahmednagar Sultanate, captured the fort and ruled it for the next two decades. After this the Marathas again captured this fort. he/she ruled here till 1813. Later i.e. in 1818, the British captured this fort after bombarding it with cannons. First it was looted and then it was damaged. The British compared Raigarh’s steep, inaccessible and solid structure to a famous rock in the Mediterranean Sea and called it the Gibraltar of the East.

Fort built to protect against French and Portuguese attacks

Chhatrapati Shivaji laid the foundation of Sindhu Durg Fort on November 25, 1664. Spread over 48 acres, the height of this fort is 30 feet. The three walls of this fort are 12 feet thick, which were helpful in protecting from the Portuguese, the British as well as the pirates of the Arabian Sea. It was built by more than 3000 workers. At that time it was completed in three years. This fort was built to stop the invasion of the Dutch, French and Portuguese.

Shivaji’s guerrilla army was expert in dodging.

According to author Dennis Kincaid’s book ‘The Grand Rebel’, the guerrilla army was adept at moving fast and attacking suddenly. They would attack the Mughal army in ground battles in small battalions and would immediately retreat into the mountains and hide. Attacking secretly at night was also a specialty of these warriors. Shivaji’s army did not have artillery at that time, so these warriors used swordsmanship and small weapons. The Mughal army became completely helpless due to the guerrilla warfare style.