Panhala fort (also known as Panhalgad, Pahalla and Panalla ( "the home of serpents" ),
located at a majestic height of 3127 feet above sea level is an ideal
getaway.20 kilometres northwest of Kolhapur in Maharashtra, India. It is strategically located looking over a pass in the Sahyadri mountain range which was a major trade route from Bijapur in the interior of Maharashtra to the coastal areas. The joy of experiencing the magical amalgamation of nature and
history and drowning in the peace, tranquility and bliss, is possible
only at a place like Panhala. is located in Panhala,
Due to its strategic location, it was the centre of several skirmishes in the Deccan involving the Marathas, the Mughals and the British East India Company, the most notable being the Battle of Pavan Khind. Here, the queen regent of Kolhapur, Tarabai, spent her formative years. Several parts of the fort and the structures within are still intact.
Panhala derived it's name from a tribe called Panna, meaning serpent, which initially ruled the fort. Built by King Bhoj in 1052 A.D. and ruled in succession by the Shilahara and Yadava dynasties, it was captured by Adil Shah, the ruler of Bijapur. Shahaji Bhosale was a military leader in his service. Shahaji's son Shivaji, a Maratha futurist, had steadfastly determined that he would free his land from the Bijapur rule.
As a mark of respect, a magnificent 52 kilogram bronze statue of Bajiprabhu Deshpande has been erected at the entrance of the fort. Shivaji regained the fort the next year. The Moghul ruler Aurangzeb captured it in 1700. Panhala became the state capital under Queen Tarabai until 1782.
