Pune district of Maharashtra, India: Rajgad fort Srinivasan It is nearly 450 yrs old. It is situated at around 60Km from the city of Pune. This fort was the capital of Maratha Empire for nearly 25yrs under the leadership of Chhatrapathi Shivaji Maharaj. The diameter of the base of the fort was about 40 km which made it difficult to lay siege on it, which added to its strategic value. The fort's ruins consist of palaces, water cisterns, and caves. This fort was built on a hill called Murumbadevi Dongar (Mountain of the Goddess Murumba). Rajgad boasts of the highest number of days stayed by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on any fort. It is visited often by selective tourists and trekkers from in and around Maharashtra throughout the year and especially during the monsoons for its beauty. A TO Z INDIA NOVEMBER 2022 PAGE 30