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Lohagad: Won by a Teenager, Lost by a Man
A teenaged Shivaji won the Lohagad Fort; later he was forced to hand it over to Aurangzeb as part of a treaty. While this fort has become synonymous with the escapades of Shivaji, it has a rich history of its own.
Shivaji's courage is not just folklore. His daring escapades are legends, especially the ingenious way in which he tricked Aurangzeb and escaped from Agra, in the guise of a fakir.
After his escape, one of the first forts he recaptured from the Mughal king was the formidable Lohagad or the Iron Fort. This fort stands atop a hill at Lohagadwadi village, 3500 feet above the sea level. Ironically, he had conquered it as a mere teenager, only to surrender it along with 22 other citadels to Aurangzeb, some years later.
It is said that after Shivaji attacked and plundered the Mughal army at Surat, he hid the loot at Lohagad.
It is difficult to assign a year of construction to this fort. Who built it, is not clear either.
What is known is that, it changed several hands: Satavahanas, Rashtrakutas, Yadavas and Marathas-they all held it at some point of time. The fort has four mammoth gates, all in good condition. One can find water tanks and granaries as well. The twin forts of Visapur face the Lohagad Fort from across the ravines.
The Lohagad Fort is a great place for those with an interest in architecture, archaeology and history.
Good to Know
Location: 22 km from the Sterling resort
Timings: 9am to 6pm
Entry Fee: As applicable
Take care to: Travel light; Don't reach out to touch artwork; Follow photography/mobile phone instructions; Keep kids safe (and quiet).
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