Meghdambari

Visiting Forts and Historical period and reading more about it, especially of Shivaji & Marathi era are my weakness, never ever do i miss a chance to visit such places which act as a tonic and inspiration to me in my otherwise unidimensional life. I have even visited same fort again and again, every time it reveal something new, there it provides something new for exploration.

Yesterday i happened to visit Fort Raigad, it was not an unscheduled trip per se.  It was well planned many days ago, we reached the fort early in the morning, having begun our trip at around 1.40 am the earlier night.  Not that I was visiting this fort for the first time.  But still somehow the enthusiasm was there.

Visiting such places however leave a tinge of pain, to see the disgustful state in which these historical monuments are in now.   Raigad, which once upon a time was the capital of Hindavi Swaraj today is no exception, its in shambles, the authorities maintaining the fort are equally responsible, so also are the visitors who show disrespect to these monuments.  Unmindful of the historical import of these places, they do nothing else but cheap theatrics.  They leave behind the waste in form of empty water bottles, plastic and paper waste.

The fort is huge, it is tough to even climb, leave alone to capture.  Whenever i think of Shivaji Maharaj and his great deeds,  i forget  not the deeds and dedication and selfless service rendered by the people around this great warrior. The sacrifice of these people, sometimes were acknowledged while sometimes it just blurred away in oblivion.  Not a second thought these people gave to their loved ones, their near and dear ones and plunged into the fight for Swarajya, some even making ultimate sacrifice of their lives.