Panhala Fort is also known as Pahalla, Panhalgad, and Panalla Fort. It literally means ‘the home of Serpents’. This fort is one of the most amazingly built forts which are located in Maharashtra, the land of Marathas. Panhala Fort is situated in the Panhala town which is almost 20 km away from the infamous city Kolhapur in Maharashtra, India. It is tactically situated as if making a check over the passes in mountain ranges of the Sahyadri that was a chief route of trading from Bijapur to the nearby coastal areas in the core of Maharashtra. Due to such a tactful location, this fort, over the time, became witness as well as a part of various battles in Deccan area that involved the Mughals, Marathas as well as East India Company. The most impeccable skirmish is considered the battle of Pavan Khind. It is said that various parts of this fort are still intact.

History

The Panhala Fort has got a long list of historical events associated with it yet the most famous always remain the battle of Pavan Khind which involved Shivaji, the famous Maratha warrior. As per traditions, this fort was constructed between 1178 and 1209 and was built by Bhoja II who was the king of Shilahara. From there, the fort got into hands of many kings who fought and won over this fort but during this time, the fort faced less destruction since it was well looked by majority of chiefs till it was taken over by the Shivaji in 1659 after the death of Afzul Khan, the general of Bijapur.

Architecture of Fort

The Panhala Fort is a beautiful example of ancient artistic skills. This fort is one of the biggest forts in the Deccan area. The fort is at an average height of 845 m from mean sea level. The architecture of Panhala Fort is inspired and based on Bijapuri style having the peacock design of infamous Bahmani Sultanate and is significantly visible on numerous structures. The fort has got several underground tunnels some of which are still intact. There are quite a few historical monuments at Panhala fort that have been considered prominent by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Attractions within the Fort

Panhala Fort has numerous attractions to be enjoyed in it. These are -

Fortifications – This section has almost 7 km of Fortifications that ardently defines the triangular zone of the fort.

Ambarkhana - The Ambarkhana, located in the middle of fort, were 3 granaries constructed in the Bijapuri approach in terms of architecture.

Andhar Bavadi - This is a 3 storey construction equipped with various winding staircases that artistically cover up the well. This well used to be the chief source of water for the fort.

Dharma Kothi – It is a remarkable stone building which is 55*48*35 feet in measurements.

Rajdindi Bastion – This bastion was built for emergency exists and was used by Shivaji during the battle of Pavan Khind to escape to Vishalgad.

Wagh Darwaza & Teen Darwaza – These were two of the 3 double fort gateways along with the Char Darwaza.

Temples – The fort has historical acclaimed temples which are a must watch. These are dedicated to Mahakali, Someshwar, Sambhaji II and Ambabai.

Mausoleums - The mausoleum of Jijabai is situated in the fort which lies opposite to mausoleum of Sambhaji II, her husband.

How to Reach

By Road

Panhala bus stand is well connected to all major cities in India via government operated buses.

By Rail

The closest railway station to Panhala is the Kolhapur railways station at a distance of 30 km from the Panhala. From there, taxis and tourist cabs are easily available to reach to the fort.

By Air

The nearest airport at Panhala is the Kolhapur airport which is at a distance of 35 km from the fort. A taxi or bus is easily available from there to reach the fort. The second nearest is Mumbai airport which is almost 419 km away.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Panhala Fort is all year round since the Panhala offers a benign ambience all year round. It is perfect for those who love rains since during rains it offers extreme greenery with pictorial views. During summers and winters, the atmosphere is quite pleasant to visit so the fort can be visited all year round.

Visitor Information

Visiting Hours

You can visit the fort everyday during day time. It is closed at evening.

Entry Charges

There are no entry charges at Panhala Fort. It is free of cost to visit for tourists.