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Panhalekaji Fort FortHeight : 900
Type : Hill forts Fort Range : Panhalekaji
District : Ratnagiri Grade : Medium
19 Photos available for this fort
Panhalekaji Fort
Fascinating Spots :

      The two small rivers of Dhakti and Kodjai served a trade route for the port of Dabhol. This fort was built on the mountain between the two rivers so as to protect this trade route. After visiting Panhalekaji caves the road ascends to Panhalekaji village. The point where the village ends a temple of Goddess Jholaidevi is located on a hill to the left. It takes a 15 steps ascend to reach this temple. The rocks used to build these steps have carvings on them. The original temple was built out of black rock. However it no longer exists. What we see today is the rebuilt temple structure built of cement concrete and the rocks from the old structure can be seen scattered aside. There is a stage built in front of the temple, besides which a path takes us to the cleft between the Jholaidevi hill and Panhale fort; also called as Pranalak fort. There are two paths from here of which we have to take the right path to ascend further.

The fort had dual fortification wall. By crossing the first wall we reach the water tank carved in rock within 5 minutes. Just before the tank we can see the steps carved in rock. On the upper side there are remnants of the fort wall from where we enter the fort. Due to the farming activities on the fort summit, the remnants of the fort parts lie scattered on the fort. There are many bricks on the fort which can be dated to different eras and also the limestone mixer made of stone could be found. The local villagers erected a statue of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in 1994. Besides the statue there a pillar of approx. 4 feet lying on the ground. Towards the right side of the statue there is a path which descends from the fort. On this route by avoiding the Jholaidevi temple route take the opposite route to reach a dried up water tank which is supported by built in pillars. After this we have to get back to the cleft between the fort and Jholaidevi temple. From here take the route opposite to the village and start descending where we come across a path to the right side. There is a dried up water tank here. After seeing this by coming to the Jholaidevi temple we complete the fort visit. As many routes are confusing and the parts of the forts are scattered over the fort it is recommended to take the help of a local villager as a guide.
Ways To Reach :
      Via Khed:-
Khed is a station on the Konkan Railway route. A bus leaves at 5.30 pm from here to Panhalekaji. Otherwise one has to get down at Vakavli junction on the Khed – Dapoli route and board the bus coming from Dapoli for Panhalekaji. Auto tickshaws are also available to reach Panhalekaji village which is at 18 kms. Vakavli is equidistant from Khed and Dapoli at 14 kms.

With our own private vehicle one can take Khed – Dapoli route and use the diversion for Panhalekaji. The road from here is in a very bad condition so it takes very long time even for a 18 kms drive. Panhalekaji caves are to the right after crossing the Kodjai river bridge. The same road further continues to Panhalekaji village and Jholaidevi temple.



Vi Dapoli:-
On the Dapoli – Dabhol road, one can go via Dapoli – Terevayangani – Gavhane – Panhalekaji village. Here we come to Jholaidevi temple first and then further to the caves.
Accommodation Facility :
      Available at Khed and Dapoli
Food Facility :
      Available at Khed and Dapoli
Drinking Water Facility :
      Not available
Time To Reach :
      10 minutes from Jholaidevi temple
Best Season To Visit :
      Except monsoon season
Marathi Version   Print

Forts of Grade: Medium
 Aad  Achala  Ahivant  Ajmera
 Ambagad  Ankai  Antoor  Asawa
 Balwantgad  Barvai  Bhairavgad (Satara)  Bhairavgad(kothale)
 Bhandardurg  Bhaskargad  Bhavanigad  Bhivagad
 Bhivgad(Bhimgad)  Bhorgiri  Bhushangad  Bishta
 Bitangad  Chambhargad  Chandragad(Dhavalgad)  Chavand
 Daulatmangal  Dehergad (Bhorgad)  Dermal  Devgiri (Daulatabad)
 Dhakoba  Dharmapuri  Dubergad(Dubera)  Dundha
 Durg  Durg Dhakoba  Gagangad  Galna
 Gambhirgad  Gavilgad  Gharapuri  Ghosalgad
 Ghotawada Fort (Gotara)  Gorakhgad  Gorakhgad(Manmad)  Gowalkot
 Gunawantgad  Hadsar  Hanumantgad(Nimgiri)  Hanumantgad(Sindhudurg)
 Hargad  Harihar  Harishchandragad  Hatgad
 Hatkeshwar to Lenyadri  Honnur Fort  Indragad  Jangli Jaigad
 Janjala (Vaishagad)  Jawlya  Kailasgad  Kalanidhigad (Kalanandigad)
 Kaldurg  Kalsubai  Kamalgad  Kamandurg
 Kanchan  Kanhergad(Nashik)  Karha  Katra
 Kavnai  Kenjalgad  Khairai  Kohoj
 Kokandiva  Koldurg  Kolkewadi  Kondhavi
 Korlai  Kunjargad(Kombadgad)  Laling  Madhu makarandgad
 Mahimangad  Mahimatgad  Mahipatgad  Malanggad
 Mandangad  Mangad  Mangalgad  Manikdurg
 Manikgad  Manikpunj  Manjarsubha Fort  Manohar-Mansantoshgad
 Markandeya  Mirgad(Songir)  Mohangad  Mordhan
 Mrugagad  Mudagad  Mulher  Nanded Fort (Nadgiri)
 Narayangad  Narayangad(Amboli)  Narnala  Nhavigad
 Nimgiri  Pabargad  Padargad  Padmagad (Malvan)
 Palgad  Pandavgad  Panhaledurg  Panhalekaji Fort
 Pargad  Parnera Fort  Parvatgad  Pateshwar
 Peb  Pemgiri(Shahagad)  Peth (Kothaligad)  Pimpla
 Pimplas Kot  Pisol  Prabalgad  Premgiri
 Raikot  Raireshwar  Rajgad  Rajmachi
 Ramgad  Ramshej  Ramtek  Ranjangiri
 Ratangad  Ratangad(Ratnadurg)  Rohida  Rohilgad
 Sada Fort  Sagargad  Sajjangad  Salher
 Salota  Samangad  Santoshgad  Saptashrungi
 Sarasgad  Shivgad  Shivneri  Siddhagad (Malvan)
 Sondai  Songad  Songir (Dhule)  Songir (Karjat)
 Songiri (near Roha)  Suvarnadurg  Tahuli  Takmak
 Talgad  Tandulwadi  Thalner  Torna
 Trimbakgad  Umberkhind  Underi  Vairatgad
 Vallabhgad(Hargapur)  Vardhangad  Varugad  Vasota
 Vetalgad  Vetalwadi Gad  Vilasgad (Mallikarjun)  Visapur
 Vishalgad