Panhala Fort

Panhala Fort on the Sahyadri hills, 20 km northwest of Kolhapur, is arguably the largest fort in the Deccan and one of the most historically significant in Maharashtra. Originally built by the Shilahara king Bhoja II in the 12th century and successively controlled by the Yadavas, Bahmanis, Adil Shahis and Marathas, the fort gained its greatest renown as a key stronghold of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The legendary Battle of Pavankhind was fought nearby in 1660 when Bajiprabhu Deshpande held a narrow pass with 300 soldiers to allow Shivaji to escape a siege. The fort's massive Teen Darwaza, Sajja Kothi tower and panoramic views of the valleys below make it an outstanding day trip.