Panhala Fort, Hill fortress in Panhala, Maharashtra, India.
Panhala Fort is a fortress in Kolhapur district, Maharashtra, that spreads across several kilometers of ridgeline and is protected by thick stone walls. The complex includes watchtowers, gates with iron spikes, barracks, and covered passages that served both military and civilian purposes.
Raja Bhoja II of the Shilahara dynasty built this fort between 1178 and 1209 to control trade routes between the coast and the interior. Later, the Adil Shahi sultans and then the Marathas under Shivaji took over and expanded this military base.
The name Panhala comes from 'Panhal', meaning refuge or resting place, reflecting how travelers once used this hilltop as shelter during monsoon journeys. Local families still visit the old granaries and water storage tanks that once supplied thousands during long sieges.
Visitors enter through Teen Darwaza or other main gates and can walk along paved pathways connecting the different structures. On clear days, the outer walls offer wide views of the surrounding lowlands and neighboring ridges.
An underground passage called the Khind runs through solid rock and connects different bastions without being visible from outside. This secret route helped defenders move troops unnoticed and transport supplies safely during attacks.
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