An Unforgettable visit to Fort Raigad

Independence Day was falling on Monday. We had continuous holidays for 3 days. Monsoon had not fully retreated from Pune. My parents decided to take my sister and me for a one day picnic. We chose to go to Fort Raigad on Sunday. hat was much e!citing to me "ecause I had read the stories of #hhatrapati Shi$a%i during my history classes in class &. Raigad fort is situated in the western ghats. Western 'hats are e!tremely "eautiful during monsoon with its greenery and waterfalls. We started our trip early morning on Sunday. Father had collected from $arious sources as much information as possi"le regarding route and $arious attractions en(route. Mother had prepared all sorts of snacks to satisfy our rum"ling tummies. here is nothing more e!citing for my younger sister as an outing. )owe$er* she was slightly sleepy when we started our %ourney. I had taken with me some of the story "ooks especially of Shi$a%i Mahara% to add to my e!citement. Raigad is in the +onkan region of Maharashtra located around ,-.km from Pune. We ha$e to cross the ahmini 'hat near Mulshi to reach Raigad. Dri$e along 'hats is enchanting with lush green mountains and sparkling waterfalls. We stopped o$er many points to en%oy the waterfalls and mountain flora. /y this time my sister too started en%oying the trip. It was dri00ling all along the route. 1fter crossing the 'hats we reached $ery plain land gi$ing an indication of coastal plain. Father told me we had reached +onkan region. +onkan region has large hills on the eastern side and sea shore on western side. 2n the way we saw sign "oards indicating Raigad. We were nearing our destination. Raigad fort is situated on the top of a tall hill. he fort was not $isi"le from the foothill "ecause clouds had shrouded the hill top completely. he "iggest attraction at Raigad fort was the Ropeway meant for reaching the top. Rope way was "uilt "y a company to facilitate people to reach the fort without much effort. We purchased the ticket and waited for our turn. In the mean time* we finished our lunch too. While waiting for our turn to get into the ca"le car* I took a notice of the surroundings. 3arge crowd had gathered there to $isit the fort. he lounge was 4uite noisy. here was a small museum in which story of Shi$a%i Mahara% was depicted. We had a stroll in the museum. When we came out* I saw ca"le cars going up in the air taking $isitors to the fort. It was ama0ing to see that the car simply $anished in the clouds as it reached the top. 1fter a long wait finally our turn came to get into the ca"le car. I was thrilled. Slowly* with a slight %erk* the car started its upward %ourney. hat was really wonderful. I found the people* the trees* and the $ehicles down "elow

"ecoming smaller and smaller. #ool "ree0e and tiny droplets of water made us chilled. 1s we closed in to the mountain* clouds engulfed us completely. hat was really a wonderful e!perience. #a"le car took us to the top station. We had reached at the rear gate of the fort. We sought the help of a guide for a tour around the fort. )e e!plained in simple language a"out the story of Raigad Fort. I stood in ama0ement thinking of the might and prowess of the 'reat warrior Shi$a%i. During Shi$a%i5s rule* his family was put up in fort Raigad. 6$ery facility was "uilt within the fort. It had temples* market place* huge granaries and an underground room for secret meetings. Remains of a royal dar"ar and court room depicted the historic era of a mighty ruler. It took more than an hour to take a glimpse of the fort. Shi$a%i Samadhi was located at a farther end of the fort. 1 statue of Shi$a%i5s pet dog was erected "y the side of the Samadhi. We spent some time at the Samadhi and then returned to the ca"le car. here was a long line of $isitors waiting for the ca"le car to go down the hill. We waited for our turn. here was a small restaurant where we en%oyed some Maharashtrian snacks. Return trip to the foot hill was e$en more e!citing. We saw streams of water falling down the hill. When we reached the lower station* another group was waiting there to go to the fort. It was e$ening when we started our %ourney "ack home. We took a different route to reach Pune. he route was e4ually e!citing. It was slightly scary when we passed though a 'hat during night. /ut all along return %ourney* I was fully engrossed in the stories of 'reat #hatrapati Shi$a%i. I remem"ered of his $alour* might and greatness. 1s we reached home* it was time to go to "ed. Since it was a holiday ne!t day* a concession was granted "y mother to get up late in the morning.