Vishalgad holds a highly revered place in Maratha history due to the supreme sacrifice of Baji Prabhu and Fulaji Prabhu Deshpande.
History
After escaping the Panhala siege, Shivaji rushed towards Vishalgad, which was currently being blockaded by Adilshahi forces.
While Baji Prabhu held off the pursuers at Ghodkhind, Shivaji broke through the siege at Vishalgad, captured it, and fired cannons to signal his safe arrival.
The samadhis of Baji Prabhu and Fulaji Prabhu lie at the fort's approach. The fort is also renowned for the Dargah of Hazrat Malik Rehan.
Highlights
- Samadhi of Baji and Fulaji Prabhu
- Dargah of Hazrat Malik Rehan
- Amruteshwar Temple
- Precipitous Bastions
Full History & Details
Vishalgad (also known as Khelna) is a hill fort located in Bhudargad of Kolhapur district, Maharashtra, India. The fort was built by the last Shilahara dynasty ruler Bhoja II between 1178 and 1209 CE. In 1216, it was captured by the Yadava ruler Simhana II after the defeat of the Shilahara forces, leading to the annexation of the Shilahara dynasty into the Yadava state.
After the decline of the Yadava dynasty, control of the fort passed to the Surves, a Suryavanshi dynasty that had migrated from Saurashtra to the Konkan region and established its kingdom there. In 1471, the Bahmani Kingdom general Mahmud Gawan laid siege to Vishalgad, compelling the Surves to surrender the fort. Owing to its strategic location, Vishalgad subsequently became a focal point of several military conflicts in the Deccan, involving the Bahamani Sultanate, the Vijayanagara Empire, the Surves, and later the Sultanate of Bijapur, Mughal Empire and the Maratha Empire.
Compiled by: ShivJayanti Editorial Team · Cross-referenced with: Sabhasad Bakhar, Shivaji: His Life and Times
Source: Wikipedia (English) · मराठी · CC BY-SA