List of forts in Maharashtra

The mountainous districts of Western Maharashtra are dotted with the ruins of hundreds of mountain forts mainly from the Deccan Sultanates and the Maratha Empire eras. Some such as Daulatabad fort are even older. These forts and the surrounding hills are popular among people interested in trekking, hiking, and heritage tourism related to the life and times of Chhatrapati Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha Empire. Notable forts popular with tourists include Shivaneri, Rajgad, Sinhagad, Raigad, and Pratapgad.[1] A group of 11 such forts in Maharashtra along with one fort in Tamil Nadu, officially called the Maratha Military Landscapes of India, were recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 2025.[2][3] [4][5]

Many, if not most of these forts were destroyed by the British after they defeated the Maratha empire.In order to stop the defeated Maratha forces from regrouping by taking refuge in the mountain forts,the then British governor of Bombay, Mountstuart Elphinstone ordered most of these forts to be demolished, and all that remains today is ruins.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ Kohli, M. S. (2002). Mountains of India : tourism, adventure and pilgrimage. New Delhi: Indus Publ. Co. pp. 263–266. ISBN 9788173871351.
  2. ^ Tulsian, Vrinda (12 July 2025). "Int'l support helps 12 Maratha forts scoop Unesco World Heritage label". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 14 July 2025. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  3. ^ Mutha, Snehal (12 July 2025). "UNESCO World Heritage status granted to 12 forts". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 14 July 2025. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  4. ^ "All forts in Maharashtra".
  5. ^ "Forts". Archived from the original on 2020-10-31. Retrieved 2020-10-31.
  6. ^ Abhang, C. J. “UNPUBLISHED DOCUMENTS OF EAST INDIA COMPANY REGARDING DESTRUCTION OF FORTS IN JUNNER REGION.” Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, vol. 75, 2014, pp. 448–54. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/44158417. Accessed 11 Oct. 2025.
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