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Panhala or Panhalgarh, about 19kms
north-west of Kolhapur, is possibly the largest and most important fort
of the Deccan. Roughly triangular in shape, the hill fort stands
at a height of about 850 metres and has a circumference of approximately
7.25kms. Half of its length is protected by a natural scarp
reinforced by a parapet wall and the remaining half is surrounded by a
strong stone wall strengthened with bastions. The fort had three
magnificent double walled gates, out of which two have survived.
The Teen Darwaza to the west is an imposing and powerful
structure. There are a number of ruined monuments in the fort.
The most impressive among them are the three huge granaries. The
largest among them, the Ganga Kothi, cover nearly 950 sq m space and
10.7 metres high. In the north-east corner there is a double story
building, called Sajja Kothi, where Shivaji had imprisoned his errant
son, Sambhaji. Panhala was the
capital of the Shilahara king Bhoja II during 1178-1209 Ad. It was
successively held by the Yadava and Bahamani Kings. In 1489 AD,
the fort and the territory was taken over by the Adil Shahi dynasty of
Bijapur. Shivaji seized the fort in 1659 AD. It was from
here that Shivaji, when encircled by the forces of Siddi Johar, escaped
one rainy night to Vishalgarh. Later, the fort remained with the
Marathas, except for a short period in between, when it went to the
Mughals. The fort remained with the Kolhapur State till India
achieved independence.
The famous Marathi poet Moropanta
(1729-94Ad) was bron and brought up at Panhala. There is also the
Samadhi of Ramachandra Amatya, the author of Ajnapatra, an important
work on statecraft, including for construction. Today, Panhala is
a sort of hill station and provides all the necessary facilities for
tourists.
Pictures:
The Teen Darwaza gateway from outside (above, left), and Shringara or
Andhara Bova (Step well) in the fort (above, right). One of the
granaries in the fort (below, left) and the Sajja (below, right). |
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