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Panhala fort was built between 1178 and 1209 CE, one of 15 forts
(others including Bavda, Bhudargad, Satara, and Vishalgad) built by the
Shilahara ruler Bhoja II. It is said that aphorism Kahaan Raja Bhoj,
kahan Gangu Teli is associated with this fort. A copper plate found in
Satara shows that Raja Bhoja held court at Panhala from 1191–1192 CE.
About 1209–10, Bhoja Raja was defeated by Singhana (1209-1247), the
most powerful of the Devgiri Yadavas, and the fort subsequently passed
into the hands of the Yadavas. Apparently it was not well looked after
and it passed through several local chiefs. In 1376 inscriptions record
the settlement of Nabhapur to the south-east of the fort.
It was an outpost of the Bahamanis of Bidar. Mahmud Gawan, an
influential prime minister, encamped here during the rainy season of
1469. On the establishment of the Adil Shahi dynasty of Bijapur in 1489,
Panhala came under Bijapur and was fortified extensively. They built the
strong ramparts and gateways of the fort which, according to tradition,
took a hundred years to build. Numerous inscriptions in the fort refer
to the reign of Ibrahim Adil Shah, probably Ibrahim I (1534-1557).
This Fort
is built on the Sahyadris, rising more than 400 m (1,312 ft) above its
surrounding plain. Numerous underground tunnels stretch out from
underneath the fort, one of which is almost 1 km long.[13] Most of the
architecture is of the Bijapuri style with the peacock motif of the
Bahmani Sultanate prominently visible on several structures. Some of the
older bastions also have the lotus motif of Bhoja II. There are several
monuments at the fort which are considered notable by the Archaeological
Survey of India.
Getting There
Panhala Fort is located 20
kilometres northwest of Kolhapur. Taxi and autorickshaw
are available from Kolhapur city center to the Fort.
Kolhapur is very well-connected with most of the cities in Maharashtra by a
good network of roads and railway. Maharashtra State Transport Corporation (MSTC)
has regular services on routes to major cities in India with semi luxury and
regular buses.
The Kolhapur Railway Station
known as Chatrapati Shahu Maharaj Terminus is well linked with the major
cities of the state as well as the adjoining states including Mumbai, Pune,
Bangalore, New Delhi and Ahmedabad.
Kolhapur Airport
is about 9 kilometers away from the city center and currently there are no
scheduled airlines operating at this Airport. The nearest domestic
airport is Belgaum
Airport, located at Belgaum, Karnataka, 120 km away from Kolhapur
Central Bus Stand.
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