A collaborative excavation effort by the Archaeological Survey of India and the Raigad Development Authority has recently led to the discovery of a ‘yantraraj’ (astrolabe) at Raigad Fort, historically known as the capital of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Overview of Raigad Fort
Raigad Fort is a prominent hill fort located in Maharashtra’s Raigad district, nestled within the Sahyadri mountain range, also known as the Western Ghats.
Positioned at an altitude of 2,700 feet (820 meters) from its base and approximately 4,449 feet (1,356 meters) above sea level, the fort is surrounded by deep valleys shaped by the Kal and Gandhari rivers, making it a stand-alone massif with no adjoining hills.
A notable feature of the fort is the Ganga Sagar Lake, an artificial reservoir. Access to the fort is possible only through a steep and narrow pathway consisting of numerous steps. Near the fort, a well-known structure called the “Hirkani Buruj” stands atop a high cliff.
Recognized globally as the ‘Gibraltar of the East,’ Raigad Fort is among the most formidable strongholds on the Deccan Plateau. It was originally taken over by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in 1656 from Chandraraoji More, the ruler of Jawali. Shivaji later restored and expanded the fort, making it the capital of the Maratha Empire in 1674.
The architecture of the fort reflects its military importance, incorporating multiple layers of defenses, bastions, and secure gateways. In 1765, the British East India Company launched a military campaign against the fort. Eventually, on May 9, 1818, British forces looted and dismantled it.