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Monuments/ Fort / Historical Palace in Maharashtra |
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 Gateway of India
Mumbai's most famous monument, this is the starting point for most
tourists who want to explore the city. It was built as a triumphal arch to
commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary, complete with four
turrets and intricate latticework carved into the yellow basalt stone.
Ironically, when the Raj ended in 1947, this colonial symbol also became a
sort of epitaph: the last of the British ships that set sail for England
left from the Gateway. Today this symbol of colonialism has got Indianised,
drawing droves of local tourists and citizens. Behind the arch, there are
steps leading down to the water. Here, you can get onto one of the bobbing
little motor launches, for a short cruise through Mumbai's splendid
natural harbour.
Victoria Terminus A major landmark of
Mumbai city is the Victoria Terminus, designed in Italian Gothic style by
Architect F. W. Stevens. Recently renamed as Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus,
it is one of Mumbai's most prominent buildings and architecturally one of
the finest stations in the world. The building construction commenced in
1878 and was completed in 1885. With a frontage of over 15,00 feet, The
administrative offices form three sides of a rectangle enclosing an
ornamental garden and the entrance gate is guarded by a massive stone Lion
and Tiger. The most prominent feature of this building is the high 160
feet dome crowning the centre. On top of the giant dome is a statue of a
women with a torch held aloft to symbolise progress.
Agakhan Palace
On Nagar Road, this Palace is also known as Kasturba Gandhi Memorial or
Kasturba Samadhi.
This palace was built in 1892 by Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah Agakhan III and
was donated to India in 1969 by Aga Khan IV.
It was here itself where Kasturba Gandhi and Mahatma Gandhi's long time
aide Mahadeobhai Desai passed away. This palace that once belonged to the
Agha Khan, served as quarters for imprisonment of Gandhi and his wife
Kasturba towards the tail end of the British rule in India. Situated near
the River Mula the palace is a simple memorial to Gandhi and his life and
times.
A special cenotaph honours Kasturba who died here. A shop attached sells
khadi or cotton handloomed garments and textiles. Khuldabad
22 Kms. From Aurangabad. Khuldabad is called the "Valley of the Saints"
because of a large-scale Sufi migration to this spot several hundred years
ago. It is a holy shrine for the Muslims and contains the tomb of the last
Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb. The Urs celebrated here for five days is a very
famous fair and gathers a large number of Muslims.
Mumbai Fort
The old British fort was located in the area north of Colaba, which is
known as Mumbai Fort. There are a lot of monumental buildings from
Mumbai's golden period here. St. John's church, dedicated to the soldiers
who laid down their lives in the Sind campaign of 1838, and the first
Afghan war of 1843, is also located in this area. Flora
Fountain
This fountain, situated in the heart of the city, was built in 1869 in
honour of Sir Bartle Frere, who was governor of Mumbai from 1862-67. Flora
Fountain marks a junction of five streets and is referred as the
'Piccadilly Circus' of Mumbai. Decorated with mythological figures, the
fountain is a stone structure with a sculpture of the Roman Goddess of
abundance, at the top. Many of the major banks and offices are located in
Flora Fountain. Close to the fountain is the Cathedral of St. Thomas. The
construction of the chapel began in 1672 and completed in 1718.
Vijaydurg
& Sindhudurg Fort Once naval bases, Vijaydurg
and Sindhudurg bear testimony to Maharashtra's martial supremacy during
Shivaji's reign. Vijaydurg or Victory Fort was strengthened around the
seventeenth century by Shivaji, to whom it owes its finest features -- the
triple line of walls, the numerous towers and the massive interior
buildings. Once seized by the British and renamed Fort Augustus,
Sindhudurg or the Ocean Fort at Malvan port has history etched all over.
Constructed by Shivaji in 1664, at a site personally selected by him. The
construction of a sea fort is a stupendous task, and at Sindhudurg no
efforts were spared. Over 2000 khandis (4000 mounds) of iron were used for
casting and the foundation stones were laid down firmly in lead.
Even today, as one approaches the fort past a rocky reef, navigable
through a narrow channel, one marvels at the transportation of such heavy
material through such choppy waters. Within its precincts are temples
holding the shrines of Maruti, Bhavani, Mahadeo, Jarimai, Mahapurush and
also of Shivaji -- the only such shrine in the country. As for Vijaydurg
and Sindhudurg beaches, they offer the visitor one of the most serene and
beautiful coastal views in India.
Sinhagad Fort
Sinhagad -- where valour is etched on every stone and the soil has turned
red seeped by the blood of martyrs! From the time when a Koli chieftain,
Nag Naik stoutly defended this fort (AD 1328) against the might of the
Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq for nine months to Jaswant Singh, Aurangzeb's
commander, who dragged his guns up the fort's steep shoulders to avenge
the insult to Shaista Khan, who was rebuffed by Shivaji, this fort has
been infused by tales of bravery. It was here that Shivaji's general,
Tanaji Malusare launched an attack to recapture the fort. In the ensuing
battle, Tanaji valiantly laid down his life, but captured the fort. A
grieving Shivaji is known to have said,"Gad ala pan sinh gela" (The fort
is won but the lion has gone). And this is how the fort got its name: sinh
(lion's) gad (fort). Raigad Fort
This is the very heart of
Maratha country -- Raigad, the capital of Shivaji's kingdom. Strategically
perched atop a wedge-shaped block of hill, split off from the Western
Ghats and inaccessible from three sides. Stories of incredible valour and
heroic deeds are etched on every pebble at Raigad. It was here that
Shivaji built his capital city in the 14th century, and here that he
crowned himself Chhatrapati. For six years upto his death, Raigad remained
the capital of the Marathas with its broad gates and magnificent
monuments. There was only one pathway leading to the top, and prizes were
offered to those who scaled the fort through unconventional methods.
Though parts of Raigad are in ruins, yet they inspire an aura of grandeur.
Daulatabad Fort
Rising dramatically over 600 ft above the Deccan plain is the
arresting sight of Daulatabad. Once known as Devgiri, this fort served as
the head quarters of the powerful Yadava rulers. In the 13th century,
Mohammed bin Tughlak, the Sultan of Delhi, made it his capital and renamed
it Daulatabad, or City of Fortune.
One of the world's best preserved forts of medieval times, surviving
virtually unaltered, Daulatabad still displays many of the internal
contrivances that made it invincible. A series of secret, quizzical
subterranean passages lie amidst the fort. Its defense systems comprised
fortifications of double and even triple rows of massive walls. A fortress
conquered only by treachery!
The most notable structures at Daulatabad are the Chand Minar, Jami Masjid
and royal palaces. The tapering 30-metre high tower of the Chand Minar is
divided into four storeys, and was faced with glazed tiles and carved
motifs. The Minar probably served as a prayer hall or a victory monument
in its time. The Jami Masjid was a mosque built by the Khilji ruler of
Delhi, Qutubuddin Mubarak. The palaces consist of spacious halls,
pavilions and courtyards. The fort is open till 6 pm
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