Raigad: Explore The Gibraltar Of the East! Top Attractions!

Maharashtra is one of India’s most popular tourist destinations due to its historical forts, beaches, and the natural beauty of the western ghats mountains. Raigad is located atop an irregular wedge-shaped rock at 2700 feet altitude in the Konkan region of Maharashtra, India.

Raigad famous for its various heritage sites is popularly known for its main fort Raigad Fort which was the former capital of the Maratha leader Shivaji Maharaj. This fort is inaccessible from three sides.

Raigad city will welcome you with beautiful sightseeing landscapes, picturesque beaches, historic forts, and religious temples which will make you fall in love with this city. The diverse range of flora and fauna is also one of the reasons for the city’s popularity.

Below some of the must-visit places to be included on your trip to Raigad are mentioned. These places will give you a memorable and unforgettable historical experience.

So, if you are searching for a place that feels like paradise for history lovers and relaxes your whole mind and body then definitely Raigad is the best place for you. So, don’t put it off any longer and plan a trip to this beautiful city with your friends and family!!!

Best Places To Visit In Raigad

Prabalgad Fort

Prabalgad Fort has a lot of historical significance as it was used as a watchtower in ancient times. This spectacular fort is in the embrace of the Sahyadri hills along the western ghats. One has to trek through the dense forests to reach the fort.

During the monsoon, one should be avoided to trek. The plateau covered in a crown of mist while ascending the fort is an awe-inspiring sight.

Sondai Fort, a trek to some amazing views of Morbe Dam, Prabalgad, Irshalgad, Rajmachi, Songiri forts, Karnala Fort, and Matheran will leave you spellbound and tempt you to just sit, relax and enjoy its splendid views!
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Sagargad Fort

Sagargad hill fort is located in Alibaug between the lush green and thick forests with beautiful sea views. This fort was handed over to the Britishers but before that final handling, the rulers such as Shivaji, Kanhoji, etc. had this fort in their hands.

This fort becomes more beautiful and enjoyable due to the presence of a temple, water tank, and Dhodhane waterfall. These all will enhance your experience at this fort.

Diveagar Beach

Diveagar Beach is one of the most famous and charming beaches of Raigad due to its scenic natural landscapes.

The unique aspect of the beach is that it is not a flat surface beach rather it has wavy shores along with the strong tides from the Arabian sea which makes it a perfect place for sea surfing. This is the perfect place for adventurous people to have fun at this beautiful place.

Takmak Tok

Takmak Tok is a picturesque place located 1200 feet above sea level. This place is one of the most famous tourist attractions of Raigad as of now was formerly used to punish criminals during ancient times.

This place gives just a magnificent view of the Sahyadri Hills from the top that will make you fall in love and you will wonder how can someone use such a beautiful place to punish criminals. 

Vikatgad Peb Fort

The popular trekking destination Vikatgad Peb Fort is located on the Matheran Hill Range, approximately 2,100 feet above sea level.

This fort is ideal for thrill seekers. During a battle, the fort’s two entrances are in ruins. Within its perimeter, there are still traces of Lord Hanuman’s idols.

Morbe Dam

Morbe Dam is an adventurous place in Malshej. It is built on the Dhai river near Khalapur which was used in various Bollywood movies for shooting a lot of scenes.

It offers a refreshing gateway in the months of July, August, and September. One can see glimpses of this beautiful dam in the movie Slumdog Millionaire.

Jagadishwar Temple

Jagadishwar Temple was built in the royal palace and it represents the Moghul architecture of the Mughal times. Lord Shiva referred to as Shri Jagadishwara was the main deity of the temple. This temple is a depiction of the Hindu and Muslim community.

Shivaji Samrath was known to visit this temple on a daily basis as he is an ardent follower of the Hindu religion. It is a perfect place for history and religion followers.

Raigad Museum

Raigad Museum has an immaculately organized gallery of history from Chhatrapati Shivaji’s reign. This museum displays a number of items that will excite all history lovers including the turban collection of Shivaji, hand-written documents, mojari shoes, earrings, etc.

Descendants of Shri Babasaheb Purandare and Ninadji Bedekar maintained this museum. Raigad Museum can be visited on any day of the week except on Mondays.

Gangasagar Lake

During Shivaji’s coronation with the River Ganges water in Pachad, the Gangasagar Lake was built. This is an impressive artificial lake near the Raigad fort popular for the scenic environs that are full of snow-clad peaks.

In recent times, it is considered a perfect picnic spot for domestic and international tourists with friends and family to enjoy a perfect day on any shore of the lake.

Mahad

On the banks of the Savitri River, the small town named Mahad is located in Raigad which is also a municipal council.

This town is popularly known as the Land of Freedom Fighters because a lot of revolutionary movements in India happened here. In the memory of the agitation a Kranti stambah is also present here.

Queen’s Palace

Queen’s Palace is another famous and must-visit place that is loved by most tourists in Raigad. This is also known as ‘Rani Vasa.’

This palace was built with wood comprising six chambers which are equipped with all the facilities and beautiful minarets. The interior of this place will blow your mind away.

Kondana Caves

Kondana Caves is surrounded by thick green forests situated near Kondana Village in Maharashtra. These caves were seriously damaged during an earthquake in 1900 but it still manages to leave you all spellbound with their existing structure and scenic view.

If you are a history buff, these caves will pique your interest with their excellent display of stone-cut structures.

Best Time To Visit Raigad

The best time to visit Raigad would be in the winter season i.e., in the months of October, November, December, January, February, and March. The summer season is too hot whereas the monsoon experiences heavy rainfall.

This season would be perfect for tourists as the weather is pleasant during these months which makes it suitable for sightseeing and other activities.  If you want to experience the festivals celebrated in Raigad, visit during the Diwali or Holi festival.

Diwali festival will give you a spectacular view of the Raigad fort fully lit with lights, candles, etc.

How To Reach Raigad?

The historical city Raigad named after the Raigad Fort is situated in the Konkan region of Maharashtra, India. This city is surrounded by the Arabian sea, Pune District, Ratnagiri District, Thane District, and Mumbai Harbour to the west, east, south, north, and northwest respectively.

So, Raigad city can be reached via various modes of transportation such as by air, water, train, or road as per the individual’s convenience.

By Air: Lohegaon Airport of Pune 140 km far away is the nearest domestic airport to Raigad which is well-linked to most of the cities of India including Ahmedabad, Delhi, Goa, Chennai, Srinagar, and others.

The closest international airport for Raigad is the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai 180 km far away connected to worldwide destinations such as Bangkok, Abu Dhabi, London, New York, etc. One can take an auto or taxi from there to reach Raigad.

By Water: Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) in Uran is the main national seaport for reaching Raigad. Ferry boat service and Catamarans are available from the Gateway of India, Mumbai to Alibag.

Furthermore, you can take a small boat ferry from Bhauche Dhakka port to Revas port. When reached on these ports, one can take an auto, taxi, or bus to reach their desired location in Raigad.

By Rail: Vir Dasgaon Railway Station in Veer is the nearest railway station to Raigad which is around 40 km away from the location.

This railway station is well-maintained and connected to major parts of the country such as Ajmer, Ratnagiri, Delhi, Pune, Bangalore, and some others. Another railway station can be Panvel Railway Station in the Raigad district for the neighboring cities.

By Road: The closest bus stand to Raigad is Murud which is approximately at a distance of 32 km. Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) and some other private travel service providers have well-linked all the major towns and tourist places in the Raigad District including Pune (150 km), Mumbai (140 km), Mahabaleshwar (75 km), Alibag (62 km), Shirdi (286 km), and many other places.

Conclusion

Raigad is a perfect getaway destination for history lovers to spend vacations. The rich culture of Maharashtrians will give you a memorable experience. This is the best time to plan a trip to Raigad as the month of March is apt for sightseeing in Raigad plus you can experience the Holi festival in Raigad which is celebrated with great delight.

When you visit Raigad, try their local cuisines and the Maharashtrian cuisines cooked with distinct spices, ingredients and so much love that will make your mouth watery. 

So, what are you waiting for? Plan your next trip to Raigad as soon as possible and must visit in places above mentioned in our Raigad Travel Guide.

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