Panhala

After Jyotiba we headed towards the Panhala fort. It was one of the important forts which were under rule of Maratha Empire’s King Shivaji Maharaj. Shivaji captured this fort in 1959 but In May 1660, to win back the fort from Shivaji, Adil Shah of Bijapur sent his army under the command of Siddi Johar to lay siege to Panhala. Shivaji fought back and they could not take the fort. The siege continued for 4 months, at the end of which all provisions in the fort were exhausted and Shivaji was on the verge of being captured.

Under these circumstances, Shivaji decided that escape was the only option. He gathered a small number of soldiers along with his trusted commander Baji Prabhu Deshpande andthey escaped in the dead of night to flee to Vishalgad. Baji Prabhu and a barber, Shiva Kashid, who looked like Shivaji, kept the enemy engaged, giving them an impression that Shiva Kashid was actually Shivaji. In the ensuing battle at ghodkhind which later on named as Pavwankhind, almost three quarters of the one thousand strong force died, including Baji Prabhu himself. The fort went to Adil Shah. It was not until 1673 that Shivaji could occupy it permanently.

Panhala is also famous for the hill station in Maharashtra. It is again situated around 19 Kms from Kolhapur. When you enter in Panhala you can see the statue of greate Baji Prabhu Deshpande. Statue has been given a aggressive look with bajiprabhu is in middle of war and swords in his both hands. Panhala fort also has statue of Shiva Kashid.

The other things to visit on Panhala fort are Andhar bawadi, Kalwanticha Mahal, Ambarkhana, Dharma Kothi, Teen Darwaja and Sajja Kothi. Sajja Kothi has good view of surrounding as it is the top most point on fort. We spent our evening nearby Sajja Kothi and end our day.