Kothaligad

Kothaligad is a small fort (1500ft.) is situated to the east of Karjat in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is one of the famous treks in the Karjat area, because of its small height and easy climbing.

It has a large cave. Another interesting feature is the pinnacle which is carved from inside, made into a staircase to reach at the top. It is also called the Fort of Peth because of its vicinity to Peth village at its base.

History

The cave and the temple carvings date back to the 13th century. Not much is known about the history until the 18th cent. In 1716, this cave was captured by the British. Then later on, on November 2, 1817, it was recaptured by the Marathas under the leadership of Bapurao who belonged to the generation after Bajirao. It was recaptured by the British, on December 30, 1817, the very next month, under Captain Brooks. The British had the fort till 1862 as an outpost for vigilance on the surrounding valley and the hills all around it.

There is a small temple and huge cave at the base of the fort and of course, the dramatic chimney like tunnel to the top of the fort. There is a tank of water at some distance from the cave and another one at the top of the fort, and this is usually well maintained. This tunnel is the high point of the trek, with its funnel like structure and steps along the inside in a steep ascent to the very top. The top affords a breath taking panorama of the Karjat and Bhimashankar area.

Reported and photography by Suvir Ranaware, [e-mail]