Manikgad Fort

The Manikgad Fort is built 1663 feet above sea level, and though in ruins, continues to be on the list of historical monuments of Maharashtra. Built with huge black stones, the walls surround a valley that is dotted with the ruins of buildings and a cannon made of iron straps welded together and it is one of the best historical places in Maharashtra.

You will also spot run-down apartments around the fort. But despite most of it being in ruins, the entrance of the fort with a Naga image carved into it is still intact. From the top, you’ll get a beautiful view of the deep valleys and dense trees around.

History

The Manikgad fort’s history goes back to the 1700s when Sarkhel Kanhoji Angre built it. The Manikgad fort was a point to keep an eye on the trade route from the Maval to the West Coast. This Manikgad fort was one of the several that the Marathas handed over to the Mughals under the Treaty of Purandar.

Architecture

The Manikgad fort does not have many structures to see today. The remains inside the fort are a stark difference from the other forts we have seen in Maharashtra, which still have entire structures, including granaries and stables standing. There are some structures along the way and on the trek. For example, when you begin your trek, you start it from a Maruti temple.

In Manikgad fort, you only see a plateau that has the first gate, but that gate is now in ruins. You will start noticing the water cisterns and lakes as you go ahead. From this point, you will be able to make out the top of the fort. One of the few props remaining from a bygone era is a limestone crusher. You will also see a small doorframe that has the carving of Lord Ganesha, and a small stone temple is nearby. As you venture upwards, you see large water cisterns. Up the road, you see a Mahadev Temple and more water tanks. A while later, you finally reach the top of the fort, but there are no fortifications or bastions. The view is beautiful, and you can see other famous forts of the Konkan area, like Kalavantin, Prabalgad, and Irshalgad, at a distance.