Forts of Maharashtra: Maratha Architecture Thread

Jai · February 24th, 2005, 04:50 AM

Maharashtra architecture is synonymous with military architecture.

"Standing as silent sentinels to history are the 350-odd forts of Maharashtra. Beaten by the sea waves, lashed at by the torrential Deccan rains, or scorched in the blazing sun, stand imposing ramparts and crumbling walls the last lingering memories of Maharashtra's martial times. Nowhere in the country would you encounter such a profusion of forts. And such variety. Sited on an island, as at Murud-Janjira or guarding the seas as at Bassein, or among the Sahyadri hills, as at Raigad, whose zig-zag walls and rounded bastions sit like a sceptre and crown amidst hills turned mauve.

Most of the forts in Maharashtra whether up in the hills or near the seas are associated with Shivaji --the great Maratha warrior and an equally great fort builder. Moreover, these forts were treated as mini-cities, such as Panhala, which is now a hill station. The concept of the fort-city was, however, not peculiar to Shivaji alone. The Portuguese who came to India as traders and missionaries, built within a century of their coming, Bassein, a garden city to rival many a European capital.

Today, these forts numbed by sun and sleet, have not only been witness to changing times, but have also shaped them and within their walls throb the heart-beat of history."

Below are some aerials of Maratha forts, taken helicopter-borne by Uddhav Thackeray, showcased across the country. Pictures courtesy Amit Save.

^ Colaba Fort, Alibaug

^ Arnala Fort, Vasai

^ Suvarnadurg Fort, Harnai

^ Lohagad Fort

^ Pratapgad Fort

^ Vijaydurg Fort

^ Fort of Janjira

^ Purandar Fort, Purandar

^ Ruins of besieged Portuguese Bassein Fort, Vasai

^ Raigad Fort

^ Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Samadhi, Raigad Fort

^ Famous Shivaji Statue, Raigad Fort

Regards,
Jai

***Suncity*** · February 24th, 2005, 05:13 AM

Superb!!!

centralized pandemonium · February 24th, 2005, 05:27 AM

Amazing.

Sridhar · February 24th, 2005, 05:40 AM

Wonderful pics, Jai.

The Sinhagarh fort is missing in this. Do you (or anybody else) have photos of that? It is a memorable fort for me personally because of the climbing and rappelling I have done there. Also famous for the wonderful stories associated with the fort (most of which I first read when all of 5-6 years old in Amar Chitra Katha picturebooks).

Jai · February 24th, 2005, 06:14 AM

Hi Sridhar,

Here you go:

-Jai

Sridhar · February 24th, 2005, 06:49 AM

Thanks a lot!

hify_ameet · February 24th, 2005, 09:10 AM

Amazing pictures

kshatriya · February 24th, 2005, 01:22 PM

Great.

Hindustani · February 24th, 2005, 11:19 PM

The Aerials are stunning. Great find. Love it.

p2p4 · February 28th, 2005, 06:37 AM

Great pics of the forts !! Thanks but can someone also post a few pics of the WAADAS of Maharashtra (in Pune, Kolhapur, Solapur etc etc).

These WAADAS were all over Pune once upon a time but thanks to unscrupulous builders lobby, many have been torn down (the saddest thing to happen) and modern monstrosities in the shape of building blocks have come up.

The least that we could do is document some of the remaining / surviving Waadas. Any volunteers?

Cheers
Prasad

Madhusudhan · February 28th, 2005, 12:07 PM

Nice thread!

Jai · March 5th, 2005, 06:10 PM

Fixed the broken pics

p2p4,
Wish you all the best in finding pics. I tried but couldn't find even one on the net

Jai · March 5th, 2005, 06:21 PM

More of Arnala Fort

sherlock01 · April 5th, 2005, 02:24 AM

I am lucky to have been to atleast five of these forts. The view from the hill forts is of course breathtaking. For me however the island fort of Janjira was the most amazing experience. You have to visit it to experience the beauty of the fort. Let me see if I can find some old pictures of the fort from my personal collection.

You also don't have pcitures of Sindhudurg and Rajmachi. Fortunately there are tons of pictures of these forts floating around. These forts offer perhaps some of the best treks in and around Maharashtra.

elitecavalier · April 5th, 2005, 08:00 AM

interesting...

adidas · September 3rd, 2005, 12:46 PM

amazing

cncity · September 3rd, 2005, 01:54 PM

wow those r amazing forts... sihivaji's forts and stories have always amazed me the most

VaastuShastra · September 5th, 2005, 10:05 AM

Truly amazing photography of truly amazing monuments ;-)

p2p4 · December 7th, 2005, 04:32 AM

HI Guys..

The pictures are indeed very interesting. To further the study / documentation of Marathi architecture, I repeat my requests to fellow members to post pictures of "WAADAAS" (these are close to havelis in the north except that the Marathi Waadaas are unique in their deccan artwork & archways. THe parapets too are very unique - however, unfortunately, not too many have survived the onslaught of time & modernisation).

If anyone of you have links / pictures of such Waadas, please post them.

Apart from Waadas, the true depictation of Marathi Architecture is that of the typical houses / bungalows built in the Koknan region of Maharashtra. They look like any other house in anywhere in India but there is a system of planning based around an EXTENDED FAMILY NEST (grandparents / man of the house / childrens room / servants room / labours seating area / verandah etc etc.. )

Anyone?

Jai · December 14th, 2005, 06:55 AM

Request to Maharashtra based photographers here:

Please photograph the forts of M'rashtra and post them here for all to enjoy. There are so many unpolished gems in that historic land!

February 24th, 2005, 04:50 AM	#1
Jai ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Haleiwa, Oahu, HI :. Waianae, Oahu, HI :. DETROIT, MI Posts: 3,855 Likes (Received): 11	Forts of Maharashtra: Maratha Architecture Thread Maharashtra architecture is synonymous with military architecture. "Standing as silent sentinels to history are the 350-odd forts of Maharashtra. Beaten by the sea waves, lashed at by the torrential Deccan rains, or scorched in the blazing sun, stand imposing ramparts and crumbling walls the last lingering memories of Maharashtra's martial times. Nowhere in the country would you encounter such a profusion of forts. And such variety. Sited on an island, as at Murud-Janjira or guarding the seas as at Bassein, or among the Sahyadri hills, as at Raigad, whose zig-zag walls and rounded bastions sit like a sceptre and crown amidst hills turned mauve. Most of the forts in Maharashtra whether up in the hills or near the seas are associated with Shivaji --the great Maratha warrior and an equally great fort builder. Moreover, these forts were treated as mini-cities, such as Panhala, which is now a hill station. The concept of the fort-city was, however, not peculiar to Shivaji alone. The Portuguese who came to India as traders and missionaries, built within a century of their coming, Bassein, a garden city to rival many a European capital. Today, these forts numbed by sun and sleet, have not only been witness to changing times, but have also shaped them and within their walls throb the heart-beat of history." Below are some aerials of Maratha forts, taken helicopter-borne by Uddhav Thackeray, showcased across the country. Pictures courtesy Amit Save. ^ Colaba Fort, Alibaug ^ Arnala Fort, Vasai ^ Suvarnadurg Fort, Harnai ^ Lohagad Fort ^ Pratapgad Fort ^ Vijaydurg Fort ^ Fort of Janjira ^ Purandar Fort, Purandar ^ Ruins of besieged Portuguese Bassein Fort, Vasai ^ Raigad Fort ^ Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Samadhi, Raigad Fort ^ Famous Shivaji Statue, Raigad Fort Regards, Jai Last edited by Jai; March 5th, 2005 at 06:11 PM.

February 24th, 2005, 05:27 AM	#3
centralized pandemonium Satyameva Jayate Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Can-duh-a Posts: 2,906 Likes (Received): 0	Amazing. __________________ Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish and he gets drunk and sunburned every weekend. www.ironaddicts.com

February 28th, 2005, 06:37 AM	#10
p2p4 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 2,281 Likes (Received): 254	The Waadas of Maharashtra Great pics of the forts !! Thanks but can someone also post a few pics of the WAADAS of Maharashtra (in Pune, Kolhapur, Solapur etc etc). These WAADAS were all over Pune once upon a time but thanks to unscrupulous builders lobby, many have been torn down (the saddest thing to happen) and modern monstrosities in the shape of building blocks have come up. The least that we could do is document some of the remaining / surviving Waadas. Any volunteers? Cheers Prasad

April 5th, 2005, 08:00 AM	#15
elitecavalier Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 110 Likes (Received): 0	interesting... __________________ Will Durant, (1885-1981) American historian: "India was the motherland of our race, and Sanskrit the mother of Europe's languages: she was the mother of our philosophy; mother, through the Arabs, of much of our mathematics; mother, through the Buddha, of the ideals embodied in Christianity; mother, through the village community, of self-government and democracy. Mother India is in many ways the mother of us all".

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February 24th, 2005, 05:13 AM	#2
*Suncity* By the ocean Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 24,070 Likes (Received): 493	Superb!!!

February 24th, 2005, 05:40 AM	#4
Sridhar Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,505 Likes (Received): 0	Wonderful pics, Jai. The Sinhagarh fort is missing in this. Do you (or anybody else) have photos of that? It is a memorable fort for me personally because of the climbing and rappelling I have done there. Also famous for the wonderful stories associated with the fort (most of which I first read when all of 5-6 years old in Amar Chitra Katha picturebooks).

February 24th, 2005, 06:14 AM	#5
Jai ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Haleiwa, Oahu, HI :. Waianae, Oahu, HI :. DETROIT, MI Posts: 3,855 Likes (Received): 11	Hi Sridhar, Here you go: -Jai

February 24th, 2005, 06:49 AM	#6
Sridhar Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,505 Likes (Received): 0	Thanks a lot!

February 24th, 2005, 09:10 AM	#7
hify_ameet Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Delhi, Bangalore. Posts: 164 Likes (Received): 0	Amazing pictures

February 24th, 2005, 01:22 PM	#8
kshatriya His Royal Highness Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,533 Likes (Received): 0	Great.

February 24th, 2005, 11:19 PM	#9
Hindustani Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 4,015 Likes (Received): 7	The Aerials are stunning. Great find. Love it.

February 28th, 2005, 12:07 PM	#11
Madhusudhan BANNED Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 362 Likes (Received): 1	Nice thread!

March 5th, 2005, 06:10 PM	#12
Jai ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Haleiwa, Oahu, HI :. Waianae, Oahu, HI :. DETROIT, MI Posts: 3,855 Likes (Received): 11	Fixed the broken pics p2p4, Wish you all the best in finding pics. I tried but couldn't find even one on the net

March 5th, 2005, 06:21 PM	#13
Jai ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Haleiwa, Oahu, HI :. Waianae, Oahu, HI :. DETROIT, MI Posts: 3,855 Likes (Received): 11	More of Arnala Fort

April 5th, 2005, 02:24 AM	#14
sherlock01 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 81 Likes (Received): 0	I am lucky to have been to atleast five of these forts. The view from the hill forts is of course breathtaking. For me however the island fort of Janjira was the most amazing experience. You have to visit it to experience the beauty of the fort. Let me see if I can find some old pictures of the fort from my personal collection. You also don't have pcitures of Sindhudurg and Rajmachi. Fortunately there are tons of pictures of these forts floating around. These forts offer perhaps some of the best treks in and around Maharashtra.

September 3rd, 2005, 12:46 PM	#16
adidas BANNED Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: London Posts: 205 Likes (Received): 0	amazing

September 3rd, 2005, 01:54 PM	#17
cncity Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 3,341 Likes (Received): 7	wow those r amazing forts... sihivaji's forts and stories have always amazed me the most

September 5th, 2005, 10:05 AM	#18
VaastuShastra Cats > Squirrels Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 8,599	Truly amazing photography of truly amazing monuments ;-)

December 7th, 2005, 04:32 AM	#19
p2p4 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 2,281 Likes (Received): 254	HI Guys.. The pictures are indeed very interesting. To further the study / documentation of Marathi architecture, I repeat my requests to fellow members to post pictures of "WAADAAS" (these are close to havelis in the north except that the Marathi Waadaas are unique in their deccan artwork & archways. THe parapets too are very unique - however, unfortunately, not too many have survived the onslaught of time & modernisation). If anyone of you have links / pictures of such Waadas, please post them. Apart from Waadas, the true depictation of Marathi Architecture is that of the typical houses / bungalows built in the Koknan region of Maharashtra. They look like any other house in anywhere in India but there is a system of planning based around an EXTENDED FAMILY NEST (grandparents / man of the house / childrens room / servants room / labours seating area / verandah etc etc.. ) Anyone?

December 14th, 2005, 06:55 AM	#20
Jai ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Haleiwa, Oahu, HI :. Waianae, Oahu, HI :. DETROIT, MI Posts: 3,855 Likes (Received): 11	Request to Maharashtra based photographers here: Please photograph the forts of M'rashtra and post them here for all to enjoy. There are so many unpolished gems in that historic land!