Panhala Fort Maharashtra History and Interesting Facts

Panhala Fort Quick Facts

Panhala Fort Overview

Panhala Fort is about 20 km from Kolhapur district of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is situated in the area called Panhala. This fort is one of the oldest Forts in India. This fort has provided protection to many famous kings and many famous empires, including Bhoj II and Adil Shah. The fort is a fitting example of a mix of Indian and Mughal culture, Artwork and Carvings.

Panhala Fort History

This world-famous Fort was first built in the 12th century by Bhoj II, the ruler of Shibahara. Between the year 1209 and year 1210, Bhoj II was defeated by the Yadav king Singhania of Devagiri in a battle, and after that, the Yadavas tried to enforce control over this fort but this fort could not be taken by them.

In the year 1489, Sultan Adil Shah of Bijapur took this kilo under his control and worked to secure it from all sides. After the death of Afzal Khan, the ruler of the royal dynasty, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj snatched this fort from Bijapur, but Adil Shah II started a war for about 5 months to get this fort back from him, after which some such situation came. Shivaji Maharaj had to run away from there.

In this battle, great Maratha warriors like Baji Prabhu Deshpande and Shiva Kashid were fighting a war against Adil Shah II, in this fierce battle, the army of the Maratha Empire had to suffer a great loss because in this war the Maratha Empire defeated Baji Prabhu Deshpande. The warrior was lost. After this fort was again taken over by Adil Shah II, he could not use this fort for long and in the year 1673 AD Shivaji Maharaj, the ruler of the Maratha Empire recaptured this fort.

Panhala Fort Interesting Facts

1. This Fort is also known by the names of Panhalgarh, Pahalla, etc., but the most famous name of this fort is Panhala Fort which literally means "Home of Snakes".
2. This Fort is located in Panhala, about 20 km northwest of Kolhapur in Maharashtra, India. It is strategically located near the Sahyadri mountain range, which included Bijapur, an ancient coastal region of Maharashtra.
3. This Fort has first constructed in the year 1178 AD by Raja Bhoj II, the famous ruler of Shilahara, after which this fort was rebuilt in the year 1489 by Adil Shah I.
4. Fort was taken over by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj after the death of Bijapur ruler Afzal Khan in the year 1659. After this, in the year 1672 AD, Adil Shah II won a war against Chhatrapati Shivaji, which was again taken over by Shivaji Maharaj, the ruler of the Maratha Empire in 1673 AD.
5. In the year 1678 AD when Shivaji Maharaj was ruling in this fort, at that time there were about 15,000 horses and 20,000 army in the fort.
6. In the year 1693 AD, the famous Mughal ruler Aurangzeb attacked this fort, as a result of which Rajaram, who was ruling here, had to leave Panhala and go to Jinji Fort so quickly that he left his 14-year-old wife Tarabai for Panhala Fort. I had just left.
7. Rajaram died in the year 1700 AD, after which his queen Tarabai took power in her hands and made her 12-year-old son Shivaji II the king's representative and started ruling the Panhala fort.
8. In the year 1708 AD, Tarabai had to fight a war with Shahuji of Satara, in which she was defeated and she was forced to go to Malvan in Ratnagiri. In the year 1709 AD, Tarabai re-conquered Panhala and established the new state Kolhapur and made Panhala the capital, she ruled here till the year 1782 AD.
9. After the death of the queen in the year 1782 AD, this Panhala was changed from the capital to Kolhapur, which was handed over to the British in 1827 during the reign of Shahaji I, after which it remained under their control till the year 1947.
10. This Fort is one of the largest and most popular forts of the Deccan, whose circumference is about 14 km. It is covered in the area of ​​​​K and in which there are places for about 110 vigilance.
11. About 7 km from the fort. Its area appears like a triangle due to the fortifications of more than one.
12. Whenever an enemy attacked this fort, he used to poison the water source of this fort, to avoid this, Adil Shah built Andhahar Bawadi, which is a 3-story structure, in which curved stairs and soldiers were deployed.
13. Adjacent to this fort is the Kalavanticha Mahal, also known as Naykini Sajja, which literally means "The Hall of Prostitutes". The palace stands on the eastern side of the fort's defense wall, which was in ruins by the year 1886.
14. There are 3 granaries present in this fort, first of which is Amberkhana granary which covers an area of ​​950 square meters and it is 10.5 m high, second is Dharma Kothi granary, which was about 55 feet to 48 feet 35 feet high and third There is a decorated kothi on the number which was built by Adil Shah in 1500 AD.
15. Other major structures of this fort include Teen Darwaza, Wagh Darwaza, Rajdindi Burj, Temple and Tomb.