Shivaji Heritage - Chhatrapati Shivaji, Unforgettable Maratha Hero
Chhatrapati Shivaji Statue
The land of Maharashtra is adorned with the rich heritage of great
Maratha warrior Shivaji Maharaj. Chhatrapati Shivaji, who started the
Maratha Empire, was the man who stood out as a great fright to the
mighty Mughal dynasty in the Deccan Plateau. The stories and folklores
associated with the famous battles he fought and tricks he applied
from time to time have now turned into legends. For the people of
India, Shivaji is the epitome of extra ordinary courage and
perspicaciousness, who is still remembered with due honour and
dignity.
History Behind The Legend
Born in the Bhosale clan of the Maratha caste, Shivaji's father was
a chief of the kingdom of Bijapur. Shivaji was brought up in Pune city
and in the early days of his youth, he inspired the local peasant
youth to follow his ideas, which can be claimed as the origination of
guerrilla warfare in India. Soon he took control of various forts of
Bijapur and eventually arose as a big threat to Ali Adil Shah, who
sent his general Afzal Khan with a troop to catch Shivaji. The most
celebrated act of Shivaji's life is his killing of Afzal Khan, when
Shivaji killed him with a small dagger and a tiger's claw. Shivaji's
next encounter was even bigger and it was with the Mughal Emperor
Aurangzeb. His escape from Agra hiding in the sweet-box is a well
cherished story of Indian history.
The tiny kingdom set up by Chhatarpati Shivaji known as Hindavi
Swaraja (Sovereign Hindu State) flourished hugely in Shivaji's reign,
eventually becoming the strongest power in India. After the death of
Shivaji Maharaj, his son Sambhaji took the control but it is the
Peshwas who later ruled the Deccan Plateau.
Shivaji Heritage Spread in Maharashtra Forts
Sky kissing forts along the coastline of Maharashtra still narrate
the immense grandeur of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj that had shaken
the Indian soil at that era. Standing proudly on the coastline and
crumbling the huge sea waves, the forts of Maharashtra are synonymous
with the brave and courageous heritage of Shivaji. Whether it is
Pratapgarh, immortalized by his encounter with Afzal Khan or Raigad,
where he was coronated or even Sindhudurg, which still houses the hand
and foot prints of Shivaji, the forts in Maharashtra flaunt the true
flavour of Shivaji. The fact that Shivaji actually used to take part
in the fort construction himself makes these even more precious.
Cities & Towns
