Place in news: Raigad fort

Place in news: Raigad fort

Part of: Prelims 

Context Recently, the Indian President visited the Raigad fort and paid tribute to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

About Raigad fort

• It is a hill fort situated in the Raigad district of Maharashtra.
• The fort was known to early Europeans as the ‘Gibraltar of the East’.
• The fort, which was earlier called Rairi, was the seat of the Maratha clan Shirke in the 12th century. 
• The fort changed hands a number of times from the dynasty of Bahaminis to the Nizam Shahis and then the Adil shahis.
• In 1656 Chhatrapati Shivaji captured it from the Mores of Javli who were under the suzerainty of the Adilshahi Sultanate. 
• The fort also overlooks an artificial lake known as the ‘Ganga Sagar Lake’. 

About Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

• He was the founder of the Maratha empire, a warrior king of Maharashtra.
• He was born in the Shivneri Fort in Maharashtra on 19 February 1630 to mother Jijabai and father Shahaji bhosale.
• He was widely known for his guerrilla warfare tactics.
• He was accommodative of all religions. 
• His only aim was to overthrow Mughal rule and establish the Maratha empire.