Mahipatgad
Mahipatgad is a hill fort situated on the east of the Khed. It is one of the largest forts in Maharashtra, with an area of 120 acres. This fort is located 23.6 km from the Khed City. The Mahipatgad. Suamargad and Rasalgad are situated on a same spur 8 km long, which runs parallel to the Western Ghats. The Mahipatgad is on the northernmost end of the spur. The altitude of Mahipatgad is 3490 feet.
History
This fort was built by Adilshah of Bijapur in the 15th century. This fort was captured by King Shivaji in 1661. Later it passed to the Peshwas and finally to the British in 1818. There are 18 houses in the Beldarvadi village, which is at the foot hill of the fort.Places to see
The Mahipatgad looks like a hill-top covered with dense forest of Jamun, Pisa and similar trees found at higher altitude similar to that of Mahabaleshwar. There are Leopards, Wild pigs, Jagur, Mouse deer, Porcupine, Hayenas, Hornbill and barking deer on the fort.The fort is a table land with six battlements and six gateways. The gateways are in a mint condition. The gateways are:
- Laldevdi, on north-eastern side
- Pusati, on eastern side, formerly entered by a ladder
- Yeshwant, on south-eastern side
- Khed, towards southern side; this route is still in use and connects the village Beldarwadi to the fort
- Shivganga, on western side; there is a rock cut shivling near this entrance
- Kotwal, on northern side; the pathway from this gate leads to the village Kotwal in Poladpur taluka