Travel Information about visiting Panhala Fort

Click Here To --   Buy clothes online  

Panhala Fort is a famous and historical fort situated 1312 feet above the ground on a route in the Sahyadri mountain range near Kolhapur. The Panhala Fort, built during the reign of the Shilahara dynasty, has the distinction of being the largest fort in the Deccan region while it is also counted among the largest forts in India. The fort bears witness to the ancient Indian heritage and the grand rule of Shivaji Maharaj which makes it a very special place for history lovers to visit.

Being situated at an altitude of about 4000 feet above the ground, the fort of Panhala also offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountain ranges. Apart from all this, this place is not only good for those who love exploring historical places but also for those who love to trek. In this article, we are going to tell about the history, structure and information related to its travel, so read this article completely –

History of Panhala Fort

The colossal Panhala Fort was worked by Raja Bhoja II of Shilahara alongside 15 others between 1178 BC to 1209 BC to keep up with appropriate organization of his domain. Another main purpose of the construction of this fort was to keep an eye on a major trade route starting from Bijapur to other coastal areas. This fort was in the possession of kings from the period of construction till independence, including the name of the great Maratha warrior and ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji, who ruled this fort for almost 20 years till his death.

Structures inside Panhala Fort

The fort follows the Bijapur architectural style which displays peacock motifs on many monuments. There are many structures mentioned below inside the fort, which you can see in your visit to Panhala Fort –

Andhar Bhavadi

The Andhar Baori or Hidden Well was a three-storied structure that hid the main water source of the fort from encircling enemies, along with residential quarters, military posting recesses and escape routes outside the fort. It acted as a second level firewall at the core of the fort.

Ambarkhana

Amberkhana is the main attraction of Panhala Fort which houses the royal palace and granary.

Kalavanticha Palace

Kalavanticha Mahal was originally a terrace room for the courtiers, which is now in ruins due to the dissolution of the British and the influence of time.

decoration kothi

It is a single storey structure overlooking the deep valley below which was used as a prison cell.

great gate

The Panhala fort had three magnificent gates to welcome its guests with grandeur and to protect it from enemies. The door was the main entrance with Persian inscriptions and carved motifs of Lord Ganesha, the favorite deity of the Marathas. The second gate, was demolished during the British siege and the last one, the Wagh Darwaza, used to be an illusion with a small courtyard next to it, where the intruders would be trapped and defeated.

 Rajdindi Citadel

One of the secrets to be uncovered from the grand fort, it was used by Shivaji to escape during the Battle of Pawan Khindi.

All this is one of the structures of Panhala Fort which is still intact for tourists to see. Apart from this, tourists can also see Ambabai Temple and Sambhaji's temple here. There is also a huge statue of Shivaji Maharaj outside the fort holding a spear in his hand.

Tips to visit Panhala Fort

Whenever you go on a visit to Panhala Fort, then definitely follow the important tips given below –

If you are going to trek to Panhala Fort then wear comfortable clothes and shoes and prepare yourself for trekking.

Before going on trekking, definitely carry a water bottle and some food with you because this trekking takes about 1 or more time in between which you may need water and food.

Take a camera with you on your trip to Panhala Fort because you will get to see many such views on the way and from the top of the fort which you will not be able to stop yourself from capturing in your camera.

Keep in mind that whenever you go to visit Panhala Fort, you must come back before dark.

 Panhala Fort opening and closing time

Tell that the fort of Panhala is open for tourists from morning till evening, you can come to roam here anytime during this time.

Click Here To --   Buy clothes online  

Entry Fee of Panhala Fort –

No entry fee

Places to visit around Panhala Fort –

If you are planning to visit Panhala Fort with your friends or family, then let us tell you that there are many famous tourist and historical places to visit in Kolhapur around Panhala Fort which you can visit during your visit to Panhala Fort. -

Dajipur Wildlife Sanctuary

Shri Chhatrapati Shahu Museum

Ramtirth Falls

Kopeshwar Temple

Sagareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary

Mahalaxmi Temple

Rankala Lake

Jyotiba Temple

Bikhumbi Ganesh Temple

Dream World Water Park

Kalamba Lake

DYP City Mall

Best time to visit Panhala Fort -

Although Panhala Fort can be visited by tourists at any time of the year, but the months between October and March are the best time to visit Panhala Fort. During this the weather here is quite pleasant, apart from this the lush green landscape around the fort is mind-blowing.

Where to stop during the visit to Panhala Fort –

If you are planning a trip to Panhala Fort with your family friends or your couple and want to know about hotels to stay in your trip, then let us tell you all budget hotels, lounges and hotels in Panhala Fort and Kolhapur. Homestay facilities are available which you can pick up for your stay during the trip.

Sayaji Hotel Kolhapur

Treebo Trend Balaji Residency

Nisarga Resort

Hotel Ramakrishna Inn

How to reach Panhala Fort –

Panhala Fort is located at a distance of about 20 km from Kolhapur, where you can travel by flight, train and road. If now you are thinking that how? So we are going to know about it below –

Step by step instructions to arrive at Panhala Fort by flight –

Those tourists who are planning to travel by flight to visit Panhala Fort Kolhapur, let us tell them there is no direct flight connectivity here. Pune International Airport and Goa Airport are the two nearest airports located at a distance of about 250 and 241 kms from Panhala Fort. If you have already made up your mind by traveling by up flight, then you will have to take a flight to one of these airports. And after traveling by flight, after landing at the airport, you can first take a taxi or train to Kolhapur.

How to reach Panhala Fort by train –

If you are going to visit Panhala Fort by traveling by train, then let us tell you that the nearest railway station to Panhala Fort is Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Railway Station which is located on Pune-Miraj-Kolhapur section of Central Railway. Daily trains are available to Kolhapur Railway Station from cities like Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Tirupati, while there are weekly trains from other cities by which one can reach Kolhapur by traveling. Once you reach Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Railway Station, you can reach your destination with the help of local vehicles plying here.

How to reach Panhala Fort by road?

Traveling to Panhala Fort by Road is much easier and more comfortable than any other mode of transport as Panhala Fort is well connected to several major neighboring cities by a well-organized network of roads via Kolhapur. Kolhapur is located on National Highway 4 which connects Mumbai and Bangalore. From Mumbai, Kolhapur is about 8 hours drive while from Pune it is around 3 hours. There are state-run buses from Pune and Mumbai that leave for Kolhapur every half an hour and an hour respectively, you can first go to Kolhapur and from there to Panhala Fort.

Map of Panhala Fort