Shivneri शिवनेरीDay 2
Birthplace, 1630. ◆ UNESCO
The honest count
300+
forts in popular memory
~240
a careful early count (Sabhasad Bakhar)
~111
built by Shivaji himself
12
now UNESCO World Heritage (July 2025)
Teach the numbers, not every name — that's the honest way to hold "hundreds."
Tier 1 — a full scene each
The forts that carry a whole night of the story.
Torna तोरणाDay 6
His very first fort (~1646), also called Prachandagad.
Rajgad राजगडDay 6
First capital, for ~26 years. ◆ UNESCO
Pratapgad प्रतापगडDay 10
The Afzal Khan encounter (1659). ◆ UNESCO
Panhala पन्हाळाDay 11
The great siege and the night escape. ◆ UNESCO
Vishalgad विशाळगडDay 12
The refuge Baji Prabhu died to reach.
Pavan Khind पावन खिंडDay 12
The pass (once Ghod Khind) held to the last man.
Purandar पुरंदरDay 15
Murarbaji's last stand; the 1665 treaty.
Sinhagad सिंहगडDay 17 · 29
Tanaji's night climb (1670). Once Kondhana.
Salher साल्हेरDay 18
A decisive open-field win, 1672. ◆ UNESCO
Nesari नेसरीDay 19
Prataprao's charge with the seven (1674).
Raigad रायगडDay 21 · 22 · 28
The coronation capital; his samadhi. ◆ UNESCO
Sindhudurg सिंधुदुर्गDay 24
Island sea-fort; the navy. ◆ UNESCO
Gingee (Senji) जिंजीDay 25
The southern campaign, Tamil Nadu. ◆ UNESCO
Vellore वेल्लोरDay 25
The moated fort that fell after a long siege (1678).
Tier 2 — a mention or mini-scene
The sea forts — the navy
Sindhudurg सिंधुदुर्गDay 24
Flagship of the fleet (also Tier 1). ◆ UNESCO
Vijaydurg विजयदुर्गDay 24
"Victory fort" — a great naval stronghold. ◆ UNESCO
Suvarnadurg सुवर्णदुर्गDay 24
"Golden fort" island near Harnai. ◆ UNESCO
Khanderi खांदेरीDay 24
Island fort guarding the coast. ◆ UNESCO
The fort he never took
Janjira जंजिराDay 24
The Siddi's island fort he could not capture — a lesson on limits, and the reason he built Sindhudurg.
Padmadurg पद्मदुर्गDay 24
The counter-fort he built on an islet beside Janjira, to keep watch on it.
The Maval backdrop
Forts of his homeland valleys — glimpsed rather than told in full.
Lohagad लोहगड
The "iron fort." ◆ UNESCO
Rajmachi राजमाची
Twin peaks above the Borghat pass.
Tikona तिकोना
The "triangle" hill-fort.
Tung तुंग
A sharp little watch-fort.
Rohida रोहिडा
A Maval fort of the Rohida valley.
Chakan (Sangramdurg) चाकणDay 13
Firangoji Narsala held it about 56 days against Shaista Khan (1660).
The saint's fort
Ramsej रामशेजDay 29
Small hill fort near Nashik that held out for years against Aurangzeb's army.
Sajjangad सज्जनगडDay 27
Home of Samarth Ramdas, near Satara.
Tier 3 — the idea of hundreds
Beyond the named forts stretch hundreds more, strung along the Sahyadri like beads. A child doesn't memorise them — they feel the number, and the way the whole mountain range became one great fortress. That feeling is the lesson.
The UNESCO-12 (July 2025)
Inscribed together as the "Maratha Military Landscapes of India." All are real and visitable — see them on the trip map.
| Fort | Where | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Raigad | Raigad dist. | Coronation capital & samadhi |
| Rajgad | Pune dist. | First capital, ~26 years |
| Pratapgad | Satara dist. | The Afzal Khan encounter |
| Panhala | Kolhapur dist. | The great siege |
| Shivneri | Pune dist. (Junnar) | His birthplace |
| Lohgad | Pune dist. | The "iron fort" of the Maval |
| Salher | Nashik dist. | Open-field victory, 1672 |
| Sindhudurg | Malvan coast | Island navy fort |
| Vijaydurg | Sindhudurg coast | Naval stronghold |
| Suvarnadurg | Harnai coast | Island navy base |
| Khanderi | Off Alibag | Coastal island fort |
| Gingee (Senji) | Tamil Nadu | Southern campaign fort |
News on the UNESCO listing and fort access is time-sensitive — re-check current status before a visit.