Panhala fort also known as Panhalgad, Pahalla literally “the home of serpents”, is located in Panhala, 20 kilometres northwest of Kolhapur in Maharashtra, India. It is strategically located looking over a pass in the Sahyadri mountain range which was a major trade route from Bijapur in the interior of Maharashtra to the coastal areas. Due to its strategic location, it was the centre of several skirmishes in the Deccan involving the Marathas, the Mughals and the British East India Company, the most notable being the Battle of Pavan Khind. Here, the queen regent of Kolhapur, Tarabai, spent her formative years. Several parts of the fort and the structures within are still intact. Panhala fort was built between 1178 and 1209 CE, one of 15 forts by the Shilahara ruler Bhoja II. Thereafter on the establishment of the Adil Shahi dynasty of Bijapur in 1489, Panhala came under Bijapur and was fortified extensively. They built the strong ramparts and gateways of the fort which, according to tradition, took a hundred years to build. In 1659, after the death the Bijapur general Afzul Khan, in the ensuing confusion Shivaji took Panhala from Bijapur.
In May 1660, to win back the fort from Shivaji, Adil Shah II (1656–1672) 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 and, on 13 July 1660, they 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, 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. After Shivaji it went to Sambhaji, then Rajaram and thereafter it was held by Tarabai until finally it went to Bristish Raj. A British force under General Delamotte was sent against the rebels and on 1 December 1844 breached the fort wall, took it by storm, and dismantled the fortifications. Thereafter, a British garrison was always left to guard the fort. The administration of the fort remained with Kolhapur until 1947 and rest is the history….
Today this place is a one of the upcoming tourism spot and hill station in Maharashtra although the place is developed to extent it could be due to lack of interest of Maharshtra government to develop tourism industry here but due to few sebsible business people from kholhapur who put their efforts to promote the tourism in this place have supported lots of development over here.
This is place is around 3127 feet above the sea level and hence the climate around here is very cold but pleasant. This is one of the best and very reasonable palce as far as the hill stations around the India are concerned. There are many small and medium hotels providing reasonable accommodation with the facility of restaurant only one thing you will not get the liquor over here as it is prohibited in this area by the Maharashtra government.
[su_highlight background=”#1c58eb” color=”#fafcfc”]VALLEY VIEW RESORT:[/su_highlight] When you are in Panhala I would like to suggest you the Valley View Grand Resort may be for business or holiday it has all the facilities. Valley View offers you 31 well appointed rooms including 15 cottages. A well equipped conference facility with a capacity for 75 participants. Valley View is situated in a quiet and refreshing location which is ideal for your conferences, seminars and training programs which can be immensely successful. A well staffed restaurant conjures up Indian, Continental and Chinese delicacies to suit every palate. Satellite TV in all rooms. All rooms with attached bath. Doctor on call, Lockers, Hot & Cold Water in all rooms, Tourist Taxis available on call, Travel Counter, Conference/Banquet facilities available, Indoor Games/Outdoor Games/Trekking & Children’s’ Park. So if you are planning a trip to Panhala do not forget VALLEY VIEW RESORT
