Pargad

Rayba Malusare (son of Tanaji Malusare) was the first fort keeper. In 1681, Shahazada Muazzam & Khawas Khan failed to capture it. Vithoji Malve, head of the arms warehouse, was martyred here; his shrine is on the fort. Control later passed to the Chhatrapati of Kolhapur. The British paid a salary to the soldiers' families until 1949.

**Fort Highlights & Access** * **Access:** A tar road (built 2002) leads to the fort. Take the path keeping the North wall left to find the original rock-cut steps. * **Entrances:** * Straight: Via the **Sarja doorway** entrance. * Right path: Leads to Goa. * **Ascent:** 360 rock steps take you to a flat ground. * **Watch for:** Canon remnants and the proudly flying Maratha Saffron flag.**Inside the Fort** * **Entry Points:** Find 3 canons and a temple of **Lord Hanuman** (with a stone shrine in front) to your left. * **Residential Area:** See the inhabitants' residential area, a school, and an open area with a statue of **Shivaji Maharaj**. * **Bhavani Temple:** Visit the lovingly built temple of **Goddess Bhavani**. The main old stone temple inside the hall dates back to **Shivaji Maharaj’s era**. Its idol, made from rocks of Nepal's Gandki river, resembles the temple on Pratapgad fort. * **Ancient Worship:** Located behind the Bhavani Temple is an ancient temple of **Lord Ganesh**. * **Northern Edge:** A temple of **Lord Shiva** is situated on the edge of the valley to the north.**Water Bodies & Bastions** * **Lakes:** The fort tour passes the lakes of **Gunjal**, **Mahadev**, and **Ganesh**. * **Wells:** There are 17 ancient wells on the fort; only 4 are currently in use. * **Bastions:** * West-North wall: **Bhalekar**, **Fadnis**, and **Mahadev**. * Others: **Malwe**, **Bhande**, and **Jhende**.**Historical Shrines & Residents** * **Shrines:** * Across the playground: Old shrine of **Lady Tulsibai Malwe** (built 1680). * Fort base (Mirwel village): Shrine of the wife of cavalry head **Khandoji Jhende**. * **Notable Residents:** The fort is home to descendants, including **Balkrishna Malusare** (11th generation of **Tanaji Malusare**), **Kondaji Shelar** (descendant of **Shelar Mama**), and **Kanhoba Malwe** (descendant of **Vithoji Malwe**). * **Treasures:** **Balkrishna Malusare** possesses **Tanaji Malusare’s sword** and a rare **Shivaji Maharaj’s necklace** made of sea shells (only 5 in Maharashtra, others at Royal palace of Satara, Bhavani temple on Pratapgad, Mahalakshmi temple of Kolhapur, and Bhavani temple of Tuljapur). * **Festivals:** Weapons and ancient treasures are displayed during the Hindu calendar month of Maagh and **Dusshera** festivals.