Location ¨C Maharashtra, India
Season - Non- seasonal Topic
Category Humanity
..................................... Shivaji's forts
Shivaji Bhonsl¨¦, also known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Raje Bhonsl¨¦ was the founder of the Maratha empire in western India in 1674 which was instrumental in the downfall of the Mughal Empire. He is also remembered for being the only secular king in medieval India.
Using guerrilla tactics superbly suited to the rugged mountains and valleys of the region, he annexed a portion of the then dominant Mughal empire. He is still considered a hero in the present-day state of Maharashtra, and stories of his exploits have entered into folklore. He was one of the pioneers of commando actions, though the term is modern .
Shivaji's forts
Shivaji is well known for his forts; he was in possession of around three hundred at the time of his death. Many, like Panhala, existed before him but others like Raigarh (hailed as the 'Gibraltar of the East') and Pratapgarh were built by him from scratch. These forts were central to his empire and their remains are among the foremost sources of information about his rule. The French missionary Father Fryer witnessed the fortifications of Gingee, Madras, built by Shivaji after its conquest, and appreciated his technical knowhow and knowledge.
Sinhagad
After Shivaji had been coronated, one of the nearest forts from Pune, Kondana, was under the control of a mughal general. This bothered Shivaji and Jijabai a lot. Shivaji requested one of his seniormost and trusted generals Tanaji to head a mission to capture Kondana. Tanaji Malsure was already predisposed with his daughter's marriage. But for him duty came first, and he chose to go for the mission although Shivaji tried to convince him to attend his daughter's marriage. Kondana's was heavily guarded by the mughals, and there was only one way to gain access: an almost impossible to climb, steep edge of the fort.
Tanaji's soldiers braved all odds and climbed the steepest side of the fort. In the bloody battle that followed, Tanaji lead from the front but was seriously wounded. Two pieces of news arrived in quick succession at Shivaji's palace: first that Kondana fort had been captured by Shivajis soldiers; and second that General Tanaji had gone down fighting. Shivaji quipped "Gahd ala, pan siivwa gela"(paraphrased and translated): "We won the fort, but lost the Lion !" Henceforth the Kondana was renamed Sinhagad (The fort of the Lion)
Quoted from the Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shivaji
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Punekars are fond of climbing these forts. Treks are organised throughout the year by professional trekkers.
On a full moon night on top of the Sinhagad hill, the view is simply breath taking.
reaching the fort
my shadow falls
on the rain clouds
Kala Ramesh
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INDIA SAIJIKI
http://indiasaijikiworlkhaiku.blogspot.com/
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