Panhalgad to Vishalgad Trek

The 75 Km-long route of the escape is broadly known. It extends across a portion of Kolhapur district in Maharashtra, from Fort Panhala to Fort Vishalgad. On this route, Pawankhind lies at a distance of 55 Km from Fort Panhala. Even today, the landscape is as rugged, has few roads and is dotted with nothing more than quaint hillside villages, peopled by simple Marathas farmers or Dhangar shepherds.

Panhala-Pavankhind-Vishalgad 

Chatrapati Shivaji 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 Shivaji. It was impossible to defeat the 30000 soldiered troop of Siddi. Shivaji with some 600 mavalas decided to escape to Vishalgad, 65 kms away. It was Ashadi Pournima, with heavy rains falling. Shivaji informed Siddi that he would surrender hence Siddi troops were little careless. Taking advantage Shivaji escaped frm Panhala. He wasn’t safe till he reached Vishalgad. Some how Siddi’s troops spotted Shivaji escape, he immediately sent horsed troops behind him and they got hold of Shivaji, who was later brought to Siddi’s camp. But it was Shivaji’s game plan; person whom they had caught was not Shivaji, but Siva Kashid Navi who was immediately killed. Siddi somehow came to know that Shivaji was on his way to Vishalgad, and so sent troops behind him. Shivaji knew that Siddi’s troops were following him. Baji Prabhu, Shivaji’s loyal sardar decided to stay in Ghod Khind with 300 mavalas, a col were mountain ridges near Vishalgad unite and was the only way to Vishalgad then. Baji with his 300 mavalas had guerilla warfare at Ghodkhind and held the Siddis troops there. They fought bravely till their death. It was only after Baji heard the canon fire indicating safe reach of Shivaji at Vishalgad, he gave his life. It was 21 hour continuous journey from Panhala to Vishalgad. Story didn’t end here; Shivaji had to fight his way to Vishalgad. Vishalgad is a fort difficult to conquer, difficult to lay siege. Also even if siege was laid, one would have enough time to escape to Konkan. Siddi was building siege on Vishalgad, but Shivaji with his diplomatic trick made Adil Shah bring back Siddi Johar.