Vishalgad

About Vishalgad

The fort is situated in Maharashtra, India. It is 76 kilometers North-West of Kolhapur, 60 kilometers north-west of Panhala fort and 18 kilometers south of Kolhapur Ratnagiri road. It is situated on the hills that divide the region into two parts viz Amba ghat and Anaskura ghat. Since it is placed on the border of the hilly portion of Sahyadri ranges and the konkan region, it got great political significance in the historical times. It was regarded as a ‘Watch tower’ for both the regions.

The road to Vishalgad passes through thick wood. The fort is separated by a deep narrow riven from the road terminus. Its vastness is big as per its name Vishal. Steep cliffs separate it from adjoining land, making difficult to enter except existing entrance. One Bhosala warrior climbed this fort with the help of Ghorpad (an iguana) and captured it on behalf of Adilshaha of Bijapur. He was named Ghorpade onwards.

The fort is about 1130 meters (i.e. 3630 feet) high from the sea level.

History

The fort was constructed by the Shilahara king ‘Marsinh’ in 1058 A.C. Initially, he named it as ‘Khilgil’
In 1209, the then king, the then king of Seuna Yadavas of Devagiri defeated Shilaharas and captured the fort
In 1309, Allauddin Khilji defeated King Ramchandra of the Seuna Yadavas of Devagiri and soon the fort was attached to the Khilji Dynasty
In August 1347, the Mughal chief of the western India Hasan Gangu Bahamani became independent as a result of which the fort became a part of Bahamani Sultanat
During 1354 to 1433, the fort was under the rule of Vijayanagar Empire
After the fall of the Vijayanagar Empire, it was captured by a local Maratha king Shankarrao More. Therefore, the Bahamani Sultan sent troops from Bidar under the Generalship of Mahmood Gawan, his then prime Minister, to re-capture it. Gawan’s officers Karnasinh Bhonsale and his son Bhimsinha captured the fort with the help of Ghorpad i.e. Giant monitor lizard. Thenceforth, Bhimsinha was conferred with the title Ghorpade.
In 1489, Yusuf Adil Shah separated himself from the Bahamani kingdom along with the area under his command and founded his independent sultanat at Bijapur. Hence, the fort was attached to Adil Shahi sultanat
In 1659, Shivaji captured the fort with the help of the officers on the fort
In July 1660, the fort witnessed Shivaji’s escape from the Adilshahi blockade around fort Panhala and the Battle of Pavan Khind. Baji Prabhu Deshpande, Shivaji’s experienced General and Rango Narayan Orpe, Shivaji’s young officer on the fort, defeated Adilshahi troops respectively at Pavan Khind and Gonimooth
After Shivaji’s death, Chhatrapati Sambhaji would spend most of his times on the fort. He took initiative in renovation and reconstruction of some parts of the fortresses and gates of the fort
In 1689, Rajaram Chhatrapati fled to Fort Gingee in Karnataka (now Tamilnadu) from fort Panhala and thus ‘Vishalgad’ became an un-official capital of the Maratha empire. Ramchandra Pant Amatya from Vishalgad and Rajaram Chhatrapati from Gingee made several moves and defeated Aurangzeb with the help of Santaji, Dhanaji, Parshurampant Pratinidhi and Shankaraji Narayan Sacheev.
During the times of Maratha Empire, Vishalgad was made capital of a large region consisting of ninety towns and villages in Kolhapur and Ratnagiri districts. Sardesai and Sarpotdar were officers on the fort since Adilshahi times. Some of the Havaldars (Military In Charge) on the fort during Rajaram Chhatrapati to Chhatrapati Shahu’s times were :

1. Trimbakji Ingawale - 3 years
2. Santaji Kathe - 9 years
3. Khandoji Karanjkar - 3 months
4. Umaji Gaikwad - 6 months
5. Shamji Rangnath Orpe Sarpotdar - 6 years
6. Vithoji Nimbalkar - 6 months
7. Malji Dalvi - 2 months

In 1844, as a result of mutiny by the Killedars, British army demolished the entire fort and dismissed the officers there

Interesting things to Visit

The Bhunda Darwaja or a bare gate seen from the busstop shows wrong way of the entry.
Actual entry is separate. Nothing is there except the ruins of old buildings. Now the fort is known to people as place of Malik Raihan Dargah.

A Sati Mandir is there in memory of Ambadevi the queen of King Rajaram I , who burned as Sati after the death of her husband.

The Samadhi or tomb of great warrior Baji Prabhu Deshpande who fought until death with Siddi Masood, commander of Adilshaha who was perusing Shivaji at the time when he escaped from siege of Siddi to fort Panhala and was rushing to Vishalgad.

Nearest Visiting places

• Amriteshwar Temple
• Takmak Tok
• Sati Vrindavan
• Tomb of Hazrat Malikdhyan Baba
• Shri Nrusinha Temple
• The Bhunda Darwaja or a bare gate seen from the busstop shows wrong way of the entry.

Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation

• Mahalaxmi Resort Panhala at Kolhapur
• Hotel Raysons Regency at Kolhapur
• Hotel Ayodhya at Kolhapur

Help Line/Phone Number

Ganapatipule is lapped by gentle foam-flecked waves from the expanse of the Arabian sea, Laced with the unforgettable aroma of fruits, flowers and mangroves, Carrying the timid whispers of saying coconut trees.Ganapatipule is situated along the western coast of Maharashtra 375 km south of Mumbai, along the Konkan coast. Ganapatipule is one of the ‘Ashta Ganapatis’ (eight Ganpatis) of India and called the ‘Paschim Dwar-Dewata’ (Western Sentinel God)……more

Most beautifull place, cave temple of lord shiva and famous for beautifulwaterfall. Must visit specially in rainy season ( Mid june to sept.).The waterfall is marleshwar waterfall.One of the highest we have.Tourists should visit this place for devotion and natural beauty. It is 18 K. M. from Devrukh and 30 K. M. from Sangameshwar. First one has to go to Maral Village. Maral is 14 K. M. from Devrukh. Only 3 K. M. road is motorway but after that 1 K.M. there is need to go by foot. We can see Sahyadri’s huge precipice and river…..more

Copyright 2016 HolidayLandmark All rights reserved

Location info

• Address:76 kilometers North-West of Kolhapur, 60 kilometers north-west of Panhala fort and 18 kilometers south of Kolhapur Ratnagiri road.

• District: Ratnagiri

• Nearest City: Ratnagir/Kolhapur

• Best time to visit: Any Time.

Things to do at Vishalgad

Its a good trekking place for trekkers.Photographers Delight , can take lots of photos of the beautiful place.

How to reach Vishalgad

• Nearest Railway Station:Ratnagir.

• Nearest Airport:Ratnagir Airport

Road Transport:From BOMBAY proceed to KOLHAPUR by Bus.Take a bus on the RATNAGIRI road ( via MALKAPUR) to AMBE (62 Kms). Catch another bus to GAJAPUR and on to the base of VISHALGAD (4 Kms).State transport buses ply regularly from Kolhapur, Ratnagiri and Belgaum.

Things to carry

Mineral water bottles, food, first aid kit,camera and so on

Best time to visit Vishalgad

October to March: cool and pleasant weather ideal for trekking. Avoid monsoon (June–September) as trails become slippery and dangerous.

Timings & opening hours

Typically open from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily. Some forts may close earlier during monsoon or for maintenance.

Entry fee & tickets

Free entry for most hill forts. ASI-protected forts may charge INR 25 for Indians and INR 300 for foreign nationals.

Duration needed

3–4 hours including trek to the top and exploration. Larger forts may require a full day.

Safety tips

Wear sturdy footwear with good grip. Carry sufficient water — many forts have no water sources on top. Do not climb on unstable walls or edges. Start the trek early in the morning to avoid afternoon heat. Inform someone about your trek plan.

Nearest airport, railway & bus

Nearest airport: Pune International Airport (PNQ) or Mumbai International Airport (BOM). Nearest railway station: Pune Railway Station or nearest station on the Central Railway. Well-connected by road from Pune and Mumbai.

Mobile network coverage

Airtel, Jio, and Vi all provide excellent coverage across Maharashtra’s cities (Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur) and major tourist areas. 4G is reliable along highways and in most towns. Coverage may be weaker in deep forest areas of Tadoba, Melghat, and certain ghat sections. Free Wi-Fi is widely available in hotels and cafes.

Food & restaurants nearby

Most hill forts in Maharashtra have local snack stalls at the base serving pithla bhakri, vada pav, and tea. Carry food for longer treks — many forts on hilltops have no facilities. The nearest village or town offers Maharashtrian thali meals.

Climate & weather

Maharashtra has a diverse climate spanning coastal Konkan, the Western Ghats, and the interior Deccan plateau. Winter (November–February) is the best time to visit: temperatures range from 12°C to 30°C depending on region. Summer (March–June) is hot, with interior areas reaching 40°C+ while hill stations (Mahabaleshwar, Lonavala) remain pleasant. The monsoon (June–September) brings heavy rainfall to the coast and ghats but transforms the landscape into lush green. October–November is pleasant post-monsoon.

Nearest petrol pump

Petrol pumps are available in the nearest town or on the approach road to Vishalgad. It is advisable to fill fuel before heading to remote areas, especially hill forts and wildlife sanctuaries.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to trek to the top? The trek to most forts takes 1–3 hours depending on the fort’s height and the trail condition. Some forts have road access up to the entrance.

Is there food and water available on the fort? Most forts have no facilities on top. Carry at least 2 litres of water per person and some snacks. Local stalls at the base village sell refreshments.

Can I visit during monsoon? Many forts are open year-round but trails become extremely slippery during monsoon. November to February offers the best trekking conditions.

Quick facts

• Location: Maharashtra
• Best time to visit: October to March for comfortable exploration
• Ideal duration: 1-2 hours to explore the site
• Entry: Nominal entry fee at most ASI-protected sites
• Photography: Allowed at most sites; videography may require permit

Map & location view

• Destination: Vishalgad
• State: Maharashtra, India
• Region: historical region of Maharashtra
• How to reach: Accessible by road from nearby towns and cities. Local transport options include buses and taxis.
• Google Maps: Search for “Vishalgad, Maharashtra” on Google Maps for precise directions and navigation.