Shivneri Fort

Kusur, Maharashtra, India

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Shivneri Fort, situated near Kusur village in Junnar, Pune district of Maharashtra, is famously known as the birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of the Maratha Empire, born there in 1630.

The fort has a triangular shape with seven well-defended gates and thick mud walls surrounding it. It has a South-west entrance and a unique "chain gate" where visitors must hold chains to climb steeply to the fort entrance. Inside, there is a central water pond called Badami Talav and two perennial water springs named Ganga and Yamuna. Statues of Shivaji as a child and his mother Rajmata Jijabai are prominently placed nearby.

The fort also contains a mosque, prayer hall, and an execution platform. Throughout history, Shivneri was controlled by various dynasties including the Mauryas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Yadavas, Delhi Sultanate, the Adil Shahi dynasty, Mughals, and ultimately by the Marathas. It was a crucial military stronghold with multiple gates and hidden passages designed for defense.

The fort sits atop a hill with steep cliffs on all sides, making it difficult for invaders to attack. Nearby are the Lenyadri Buddhist caves, one of the Ashtavinayak pilgrimage sites. Shivneri Fort symbolizes Maratha pride, resistance, and military ingenuity, preserving key elements of Deccan architecture and history.