# Chandragad

- **Country:** India
- **Location Text:** /Dhavalgad

Chandragad Fort, also known as Dhavalgad, is a historic hill fort situated in the Raigad district of Maharashtra, India. Located approximately 182 kilometers from Mumbai within the Sahyadri Hill Range, the structure stands at an elevation of 2,337 meters. Constructed primarily from stone, the fort was strategically positioned to oversee the vital trade routes passing through the Varandha Ghat, connecting Bhor to the Konkan region. Surrounded by dense forests and steep hill slopes, its location near the Krishna River valley made it a critical defensive point for controlling movement between the Deccan plateau and the coastal lowlands.

The fort holds significant historical importance tied to the rise of the Maratha Empire. It was famously captured by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj from Chandrarao More on January 15, 1656, alongside the nearby forts of Kangori and Rayari. Following the death of Shivaji's successor, Chhatrapati Sambhaji, the fort fell to Itkadar Khan, a commander serving under the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. Over subsequent centuries, control shifted to the British East India Company and later the British Raj before becoming part of independent India in 1947. Today, the site is owned by the Government of India and remains open to the public, though it currently exists in a ruined condition.

Visitors reaching the fort typically begin their trek from Dhavale village in the Poladpur taluka, passing through the small hamlet of Shelarwadi. Despite its dilapidated state, the site retains several features of interest, including approximately fourteen rock-cut water tanks that once sustained the garrison. Remnants of old building structures still dot the landscape, along with a Shivling that indicates the presence of a former temple. As a monument reflecting the military architecture of the Maratha era, Chandragad serves as both a historical landmark and a destination for trekkers exploring the Western Ghats.

![Photo of Chandragad](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d0/Sri_Ramalingeswara_Temple_in_chandragad_fort.jpg)

**Source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandragad (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)