Vishalgarh
| Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R) |
Vishalgarh (विशालगढ़) is an ancient hill fortress that is located almost 76 km towards the north west of Kolhapur in the Indian state of Maharashtra.
Origin
Variants
History
Vishalgad Fort is an ancient hill fortress that is located almost 76 km towards the north west of Kolhapur in the state Indian state of Maharashtra. The fortress is also known as Khilna fort or Khelna fort. It was one of most significant forts of the Maratha Empire during the reign of Chatarapati Shivaji. Shivaji captured the fortress and included it in the Maratha kingdom in 1659. Vishalgad Fort was originally occupied by Adil Shahi Dynasty of Bijapur. Later Shivaji and his army attacked the fortress but they failed as it was well defended by the Adil Shahi garrison. Eventually Shivaji again attacked the fort and became successful in capturing it. It was named as Vishalgad by the great Maratha emperor. The structure covers an area of 1130 m (3630 feet). Vishalgad Fort was built in 1058 A.C. by the Shilahara ruler Marsinh. Initially it was known as Khilgil fort. It was later seized by the rulers of Seuna Yadavas of Devagiri who defeated the Shilaharas in 1209. King Ramchandra of the Seuna Yadavas was overpowered by Ala-ud-din Khilji in 1309 and the fortress was incorporated into the Khilji Dynasty. It became a part of the Bahmani Sultanate in August 1347 after Hasan Gangu Bahamani, the Mughal chief, became independent. It was also ruled by the Vijayanagar Empire from the year 1354 to 1433. [2]
विशालगढ़ (महाराष्ट्र)
विशालगढ़ (AS, p.863): महाराष्ट्र का ऐतिहासिक स्थान है। सत्रहवीं शती के मध्य में छत्रपति शिवाजी ने विशालगढ़ के क़िले को बीजापुर के सुल्तान से छीन कर अपने अधिकार में ले लिया था। [3]
ताराबाई के शासन के दौरान मुग़ल बादशाह औरंगज़ेब ने 1700 ई. में पन्हाला, 1702 ई. में विशालगढ़ एवं 1703 ई. में सिंहगढ़ पर अधिकार कर लिया था।[4]