Surgad, Hill fort in Raigad district, Maharashtra, India.
Surgad stands at 970 feet elevation across two hills covering approximately 15 acres, featuring stone walls, ancient gateways, and seventeen rock-cut water cisterns that demonstrate sophisticated rainwater harvesting techniques from centuries past.
Originally constructed by the Shilahara kings and later reinforced by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Surgad served as a strategic observation post to monitor trade routes along the Kundalika River and played crucial roles in various regional conflicts including the Third Anglo-Maratha War.
The fort houses a temple dedicated to Veer Maruti with a distinctive Hanuman idol featuring a mustached face and dagger at the waist, while Persian and Marathi inscriptions record construction details during Siddi rule, reflecting the multicultural influences of Maharashtra's history.
Accessible via a paved road from Khamb village on the Mumbai-Goa highway approximately 107 kilometers from Mumbai, visitors can reach the fort through a well-maintained path starting near the Hanuman temple in Gherasurgad village at the base.
Among neighboring forts like Karnala and Mirgad, Surgad retains the most complete remaining structures and offers panoramic views of several other forts including Ghosalgad and Avchitgad from its strategic vantage points across the Sahyadri mountain range.
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