Raigad Fort

Raigad Fort
Raigad Fort
Raigad District, Maharashtra; (near Mahad)
	Nagarkhana, Raigad Fort
Site information
Type	Hill fort
Controlled by	Shirke family (before 1656); Maratha Empire (1656–1689; 1739–1818); Mughal Empire (1689–1739); East India Company (1818–1858); Government of India (after 1947);
Open to the public	Yes
Location
	Raigad Fort Shown within Maharashtra Raigad Fort Raigad Fort (India)
Coordinates	18°14′01″N 73°26′26″E / 18.2335°N 73.4406°E
Height	820 metres (2,700 ft) ASL
Site history
Built	Constructed between 1656 to 1674 under Maratha Empire
Architect	Sardar Hiroji Indulkar
In use	capital administration and military operations of the Maratha Empire
Materials	Basalt, Granite, Lime mortar
Events	Coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (6 June 1674); Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj (16 January 1681); Chhatrapati Rajaram Maharaj (11 March 1689);
Garrison information
Past commanders	Chhatrapati Shivaji; Chhatrapati Sambhaji;
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Part of	Maratha Military Landscapes of India
Criteria	Cultural: iv, vi
Reference	1739-005
Inscription	2025 (47th Session)

Raigad, located in the Raigad district of Maharashtra, India, is a hill fort situated near the town of Mahad. It is one of the strongest fortresses on the Deccan Plateau and was historically referred to as Rairee or Rairy Fort. Raigad is the largest fort in Asia, with an area of 1,200 acres.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the Maratha ruler, along with his chief engineer Hiroji Indulkar, oversaw the construction and development of various buildings and structures at the fort. In 1674, following his coronation as king, Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj chose Raigad as the capital of his Hindavi Swaraj.

Located at an elevation of 820 metres (2,700 ft)above sea level in the Sahyadri mountain range, the fort offers panoramic views of the surrounding region. The fort was home to around 1,550 residents, with an average family size of five. Access to the fort requires ascending approximately 1,737 steps. Alternatively, visitors can use the Raigad Ropeway, an aerial tramway spanning 750 m (2,460 ft) in length and reaching a height of 400 m (1,300 ft), which transports passengers to the fort in approximately four minutes.