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Rajgad Fort

Rajgad Fort

heritage site · Maharashtra

State
Maharashtra
Type
Heritage Site

Rajgad Fort stands on a hill known as Murumbadevi Dongar in Pune district, Maharashtra, about 50-60 km southwest of Pune city, rising to 1,376 metres above sea level with a base perimeter of roughly 40 km. It served as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's capital for nearly 26 years before the capital moved to Raigad.

Rajgad Fort is known for

Shivaji's earlier capitalPadmavati templeSanjeevani and Suvela machisUNESCO Maratha Military Landscapes siteTreaty of Purandar-retained fort

A short history

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj captured Rajgad in 1647. Repair and construction work began in 1649 under Shamrao Neelkanth Ranzekar. From 1656 to 1689, Rajgad functioned as the first capital of the nascent Maratha state, a period of about 26 years. Following the 1665 Treaty of Purandar, Shivaji surrendered 23 forts to the Mughals but retained 12, including Rajgad. The fort remained under Mughal control from 1689 to 1707, later passing to British/East India Company administration from 1818. In 2025, Rajgad was inscribed as part of the UNESCO World Heritage List's "Maratha Military Landscapes of India." [Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajgad_Fort]

Why Rajgad Fort matters

As Shivaji Maharaj's first capital of the Maratha Empire for over two decades, Rajgad is regarded as a foundational site of Maratha sovereignty, recognised in the 2025 UNESCO inscription of the Maratha Military Landscapes of India.

When to go

Monsoon and winter months

Why visit

Shivaji's first capital and arguably the grandest fort trek in the Sahyadris.

How to reach

Rajgad is about 50 km from Pune, with Pune Railway Station and Pune Airport as the nearest rail and air links; buses run from Pune's Swargate Bus Depot to the base village of Gunjavane.

Rajgad Fort guide & itineraries

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