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Biking to Raigad Fort
Our guide had showed us the way to this secret passage. But she had refused to come with us there.
She heaved a sigh of relief when we returned. She thought we had slipped and fallen off the cliff!
Ranjana was right when she said we would feel dizzy looking down to the countryside below from Hirkani Buruj. Surprisingly you don't feel the same way when you look down from other parts of the fort.
• Airfare for Rs 100 and less!
We headed to the other points from where the view was very pleasant.
We also saw the elephant tanks. Our guide told us baby elephants were brought to the fort and then raised here. That set to rest my doubts on how grown elephants could have climbed this mountain.
The queens' quarters got a peep too. Shivaji, Ranjana told us, had eight queens, six lived in Raigad while the other two lived in some other fort he had captured or built.
We were surprised to see MTDC shacks here for people who wanted to stay the night. It seems to be good initiative by the Maharashtra government. If you plan to explore Raigad Fort thoroughly you need two full days!
We saw the dharamshala. And the dungeon, a damp and dark well where prisoners were imprisoned. The sentenced prisoners were thrown off Takmaktok cliff.
We also visited the king's court. I sat on his throne and got my picture taken which did not go down too well with other visitors. I could hear their displeasure from about 200 metres away! They were standing and grumbling at the Nagarkhana, an open area that resembles a football field. Nagarkhana was designed to allow even the lighting of a matchstick to be heard clearly in the court; a smart strategy to ensure a king knew what his courtiers were talking about!
Also read: On the tiger trail, in Corbett
Share YOUR travel stories and pix!
Have you been to Fort Raigad? What was your favourite sight there? Where did you have the best meal? Do you have a hotel to recommend?
Do post details on the message board below so other readers can benefit from your advice. Remember to add information on what was special about the restaurant, hotel or sight you visited, along with relevant telephone numbers and addresses.
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