Vishalgad

Vishalgad
Kolhapur district, Maharashtra, India
One of the few surviving structures on Vishalgad
Vishalgad
Coordinates	16°54′23″N 73°44′30″E / 16.906419°N 73.741683°E / 16.906419; 73.741683
Site information
Owner	Government of India

Vishalgad (also called Khelna or Khilna) was one of the important forts of Shivaji and Maratha Empire. The name ‘Vishalgad’ meaning grand fort in Marathi, was given by Shivaji after annexing it for the Maratha Empire in 1659.The fort is about 1130 metres that is 3630 feet.

Origin of the name Vishalgad

Khelna was in the control of Adilshah of Bijapur. Shivaji wanted to conquer the fort but the terrain of the fort was difficult; conquering the fort was easier said than done. Shivaji attacked the fort but the Adilshahi garrison at the fort was defending the fort valiantly. Then, Shivaji came up with a plan. Accordingly, a group of Marathas went up to the fort and convinced the Adilshahi commander (killedar) of the fort that they were not content with the rule of Shivaji and thus, had come to serve the Adilshah. The Marathas were successful and the next day, they revolted and caused total chaos inside the fort. Simultaneously, Shivaji attacked the fort from outside and in no time captured the fort. Shivaji renamed the fort as Vishalgad.

Location

The fort is situated in Maharashtra, India. It is 76 km North-West of Kolhapur, 60 km north-west of Panhala fort and 21 kilometers south of Kolhapur Ratnagiri road. It is situated on the hills that divide the region into two parts viz Amba Ghat and Anaskura ghat. Since it is placed on the border of the hilly portion of Sahyadri ranges and the konkan region, it got great political significance in the historical times. It was regarded as a 'Watch tower' for both regions.

Sightseeing

The fort has following sites nearly in ruins today except the Dargah.

Amruteshwar Temple
Shri Nrusinha Temple
Takmak Tok
Sati’s Vrindavan
The Dargah or tomb of Hazrat Malik Raihan. Thousands of Devotees visit the Dargah every year.
Samadhis built in the memory of Baji Prabhu Deshpande and Phulaji Prabhu Deshpande, who laid down their lives to protect Chhatrapati Shivaji from the clutches of Siddhi Johar while escaping from fort Panhala to Vishalgad.

History

The fort was constructed by the Shilahara king ‘Marsinh’ in 1058 A.C. Initially, he named it as 'Khilgil'
In 1209, the then king of Seuna Yadavas of Devagiri defeated Shilaharas and captured the fort
In 1309, Allauddin Khilji defeated King Ramchandra of the Seuna Yadavas of Devagiri and soon the fort was attached to the Khilji Dynasty
In August 1347, the Mughal chief of the western India Hasan Gangu Bahamani became independent as a result of which the fort became a part of Bahamani Sultanat
During 1354 to 1433, the fort was under the rule of Vijayanagar Empire
After the fall of the Vijayanagar Empire, it was captured by a local Maratha king Shankarrao More. Therefore, the Bahamani Sultan sent troops from Bidar under the Generalship of Mahmood Gawan, his then prime Minister, to re-capture it. Gawan's officers Karnasinh Bhonsale and his son Bhimsinha captured the fort with the help of Ghorpad i.e. Giant monitor lizard. Thenceforth, Bhimsinha was conferred with the title Ghorpade.
In 1489, Yusuf Adil Shah separated himself from the Bahamani kingdom along with the area under his command and founded his independent sultanat at Bijapur. Hence, the fort was attached to Adil Shahi sultanate.
In 1659, Shivaji captured the fort with the help of the officers on the fort.
In July 1660, the fort witnessed Shivaji's escape from the Adilshahi blockade around fort Panhala and the Battle of Pavan Khind. Baji Prabhu Deshpande, Shivaji's experienced General and Rango Narayan Orpe, Shivaji's young officer on the fort, defeated Adilshahi troops at Pavan Khind and Gonimooth respectively.
After Shivaji's death, Chhatrapati Sambhaji would spend most of his times on the fort. He took initiative in renovation and reconstruction of some parts of the fortresses and gates of the fort.
In 1689, Rajaram Chhatrapati fled to Fort Gingee in Karnataka (now Tamil Nadu) from fort Panhala and thus ‘Vishalgad’ became an unofficial capital of the Maratha empire. Ramchandra Pant Amatya from Vishalgad and Rajaram Chhatrapati from Gingee made several moves and defeated Aurangzeb with the help of Santaji, Dhanaji, Parshurampant Pratinidhi and Shankaraji Narayan Sacheev.
During the times of Maratha Empire, Vishalgad was made capital of a large region consisting of ninety towns and villages in Kolhapur and Ratnagiri districts. Sardesai and Sarpotdar were officers on the fort since Adilshahi times. Some of the Havaldars (Military In Charge) on the fort during Rajaram Chhatrapati to Chhatrapati Shahu's times were :
1. Trimbakji Ingawale - 3 years
2. Santaji Kathe - 9 years
3. Khandoji Karanjkar - 3 months
4. Umaji Gaikwad - 6 months
5. Shamji Rangnath Orpe Sarpotdar - 6 years
6. Vithoji Nimbalkar - 6 months
7. Malji Dalvi - 2 months
In 1844, as a result of mutiny by the Killedars, British army demolished the entire fort and dismissed the officers there

References

‘Kille Vishalgad’ (Marathi) by P.B.Shirwalkar
'Pant Pratinidhi Bakhar'(Marathi)
'Mudhol Sansthancha Itihas' (Marathi) by Dattopant Apte
‘Maharashtrateel Kille’ (Marathi) by S.R.Devale
'Mantarlela Itihas' (Marathi) by Harshad Sarpotdar

Forts in Maharashtra

Ahmednagar district	Ahmednagar Fort Bahadurgad Bhairavgad Bitangad Harishchandragad Kaladgad Kharda Kunjargad Madan Fort Manjarsumbha fort Pabargad Patta Fort Ratangad

Akola district	Akola Fort Balapur Narnala

Amravati district	Amner Fort Gawilghur

Aurangabad district	Antur Fort Daulatabad

Dhule district	Bhamer Laling Thalner

Kolhapur district	Bhudargad Gandharvgad Panhala Pargadh Pavangad Samangad Vishalgad

Latur district	Udgir

Mumbai city district	Bombay Castle Dongri Fort Fort George Mahim Fort Mazagon Fort Riwa Fort Sewri Fort Sion Hillock Fort Worli Fort

Mumbai suburban district	Castella de Aguada Madh

Nagpur district	Sitabuldi

Nanded district	Kandhar Fort

Nashik district	Aavandhagad Achla Fort Ahivant Fort Alang Anjaneri Ankai Fort Bahulagad Bhaskargad Chandwad Chaulher Dermal Dhodap Haargad Harshgad Hatgad Indrai Fort Kanchangad Kanhergad Kavnai Fort Kulang Madangad Malegaon Fort Mangi-Tungi Moragad Mulher Fort Nhavigad Rajdher Fort Ramsej Salher Salota Saptashrungi Tankai fort Tringalwadi Waghera

Osmanabad district	Naldurg Fort Paranda Fort

Palghar district	Bassein Tandulwadi

Pune district	Anghaai Fort Bhorgiri Fort Chawand Dhakoba Ghangad Hadsar Fort Induri Fort Jivdhan Kailasgad Kawla Korigad/Koraigad Lohagad Malhargad Manaranjan Mangalgad Morgiri Fort Narayangad Nimgiri Purandar Rajgad Rajmachi Rayri Fort Rohida Sangram Durg Sindola Fort Shaniwar Wada Shivneri Shrivardhan Sinhagad Tikona Torna Tung Vajragad Fort Visapur

Raigad district	Agarkot Avchitgad Bhimashankar Fort Bhiwgad Birwadi Chambhargad Chandragad Dhak Bahiri Dronagiri Gadad Bahiri Ghangad Ghosalgad Irshalgad Janjira Fort Karnala Khaderi Khanderi Kondhawi Fort Korlai Kothaligad Peb fort Kulaba Kurdugad Lingana Maangad Madgad Malanggad Mangalgad (Kangori) Manikgad Mirgad Mrugagad Murud-Janjira Padmadurg/ Kasa Fort Prabalgad Raigad Ratnagad Revdanda Sagargad Samrajgad Sankshi Fort Sarasgad Sarjekot Songad Songiri Fort Sudhagad Surgad Talagad Underi Vikatgad Peb fort

Ratnagiri district	Aambolgad Anjanwel Bankot Fattedurg Gopalgad Govindgad Gowalkot Jaigad Kanakdurg Mahipatgad Mandangad Prachitgad Prunagad Rasalgad Ratnagiri Fort/ Ratnadurg Sumargad Suvarnadurg Yashwantgad

Satara district	Ajinkyatara Bhairavgad Bhushangad Chandan-Vandan Dategad Gunavantgad Jangali jaygad Kalyangad Kamalgad Kenjalgad Mahimangad Pandavgad Prachitgad Pratapgad Sajjangad Santoshgad Vairatgad Vardhangad Varugad Vasantgad Vasota

Sindhudurg district	Aasavgad Bharatgad Rajkot Fort Sanrjekot Sindhudurg Vijaydurg

Thane district	Aajobagad Aasawa Arnala Asherigad Ballalgad Balwantgad Belapur Fort Bhairavgad Bhandargad Bhavanigad Bhupatgad Chanderigad Dahanugad Daulatmandal Dharavi Durgadi Fort Gambhirgad Ghodbunder Fort Gorakhgad Gotara Jivdhaanigad Kaldurg Kamandurg Kelwegad Kohojgad Mahuli Malang gad Palasgad Pankot Tahuli Segwa Shirgav Fort Siddhgad Tarapur Fort Vasai Fort

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