Raigad Fort was the place from where Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj laid the foundations of ‘Hindavi Swaraj’. The place is now poised for a major revamp to make it a global tourist hotspot. The 350-year-old majestic fort, which stands on a hill of 820 metres, rises up to 1,356 metres above sea level and is presently looked after by the Archaeological Survey of India. Nestled in the picturesque Sahyadri Range of the Western Ghats, the fort was once accessible only by climbing 1,737 steep steps for several hours, but in the past few years, a cable car has made the ascent to the fort an easy 10-minute effort. Overseeing the mega revamp project is Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati of the Kolhapur royal family and the 13th direct descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
The RDA has sanctioned Rs. 606.08 crore of which Rs. 114 crores will be for the Raigad Fort redevelopment. Besides, another Rs. 237 crore will be spent on major roadworks between Mahad on the Mumbai-Goa Highway to Raigad Fort which will be developed as a heritage highway. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was coronated as the King in this fort on June 6, 1674, from where he founded the Maratha Empire, with Raigad as its capital. There are at least 84 big and small natural bodies which were converted into tanks during Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s rule to provide drinking water for the residents here. They shall be cleaned in a scientific manner to ensure that any artefacts there are retained without damage. Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati said the highlights would be a heritage walk encompassing a 14 km and four-hour-long tour of the fort and more than 350 historic sites within it which need to be explored archaeologically.
Tourists should live here at least two or three nights to properly explore and appreciate its beauty and imposing character. Locals shall be trained as guides and NGOs would be encouraged to bring groups of heritage and fort lovers here. There are plans to launch ‘facade lighting’ and a ‘sound-and-light show’ to attract tourists at night. An amount of Rs. 50 crore has been set aside for the revamp of the Raigad Ropeway. Nature trails shall be developed as the fort and its surroundings are rich in biodiversity. Raigad Fort is spread across 1,300 acres on the hilltop, making it one of the largest fort complexes in India, besides having a unique topography on an almost vertical, stony, hill slope affording a magnificent view of the surrounding hills and valleys.
