Revisit history, witness the glories and explore the valorous tales of the past with this Panhala to Pavankhind trek!
A 2 days trek that revolves around the historic Panhala fort and Pavankhind, this is, in fact, the best trek that will get you acquainted with the fascinating history of the great Maratha legacy.
Starting from Pune, this Panhala to Pavankhind trek will also take you to the quaint and rustic villages. Walk through this hamlet and witness its local life; get the utmost feel of country life with an overnight stay in a local house! It will genuinely add a warm touch to the experience. It gives you a feel of home away from home.
Adding more to this amazing trek, you can also pay tribute to the great Maratha warriors who sacrificed their lives to safeguard their homeland!
Join this exciting trek steeped with history and liveliness; know more about the golden past of India!
The Masai plateau, also known as the Masai Pathar is a plateau situated 30 km west of Kolhapur city in Maharashtra.
There is a temple of the goddess Masai on the Masai plateau. Many people come here to worship during the Navratra festival. It is known for scenic beauty and various types of seasonal wildflowers that bloom in the months of August and September.
The plateau is situated at an altitude of 900 MSL and is approximately 1.5 square km in area. Masai plateau has a diversity of flowering plants. These include orchids and carnivorous plants such as Utricularia and Drosera Indica.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was under siege of Siddi Johar on Panhala fort from 2nd March 1660. The siege lasted long and all food stocks had finished and made things difficult for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. It was impossible to defeat the 30,000 soldiered troops of the Siddi. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj with some 600 Mavalas decided to escape to the Vishalgad, 65 km away. It was Aashadhi Pournima, with heavy rains falling. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj informed Siddi that he would surrender hence Siddi’s troops were a little careless. Taking advantage Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj escaped from the Panhala fort. He wasn’t safe till he reached Vishalgad fort. Somehow Siddi’s troops spotted Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s escape, he immediately sent horsed troops behind him and they got hold of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who was later brought to Siddi’s camp. But it was Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaja’s game plan; the person whom they had caught was not Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, but Shiva Kashid Nhavi who was immediately killed. Siddi somehow came to know that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was on his way to Vishalgad and so sent troops behind him.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj knew that Siddi’s troops were following him. Sardar Baji Prabhu Deshpande, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaja’s loyal Sardar decided to stay in Ghodkhind with 300 Mavalas, a col where mountain ridges near Vishalgad unite and were the only way to Vishalgad then. Sardar Baji Prabhu Deshpande with his 300 Mavalas had guerrilla warfare at Ghodkhind and held the Siddi’s troops there. They fought bravely till their death. It was only after Sardar Baji Prabhu Deshpande heard the cannon fire indicating the safe reach of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Vishalgad, that he gave his life. It was a 21-hour continuous journey from Panhala to Vishalgad.
The story didn’t end here; Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had to fight his way to the Vishalgad fort.
Vishalgad is a fort difficult to conquer, difficult to lay siege to. Also even if the siege was laid, one would have enough time to escape to Konkan. Siddi was building siege on Vishalgad, but the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj with his diplomatic trick made Adilshah bring back Siddi Johar.
