Malanggad Fort Details
Malanggad similarly designated Baba Haji Malang Dargah, is a hill fort located in the Matheran Hill Range, Raigad District Maharashtra. Malanggad fort situated at about 2590 feet above the sea level. Malanggad, located 17 km from Kalyan, was critical in controlling the trade routes. It held an extraordinary view of the district.
Malang Fort constructed on three levels. Sufi Saint Haji Malang Dargah situated on the lowest level plateau, which is 2500 feet long and 1000 feet broad. Panchi Pir established nearly at the corner of the rock called after the five Pirs who followed Haji Malang. The tableland is named Pir Machi.
Sone Machi is at a higher level, the lower section of the Fort. Shaped like the elephant trunk this projection of rock, it is 100 feet long and 70 feet broad. Sone Machi has two bastions on sides and a rampart wall though there are no machicolations to strike at invading troops. Highest level of the fort, which 70 yards wide and 200 yards long, crown of the hill Malanggad Fort has no fortifications. There are five reservoirs at the summit of the mountain, and pipes used to bring water to the lower levels.
Malanggad Fort in Maharashtra is unique. It depended on natural aspects of the mountain to defend itself. Maharashtra forts usually have several gates and watchtowers and machicolations to attack the enemy and protect the region. Malanggad entirely depended on the natural shape of the mountain for fortifications.
How to reach Malanggad Fort?
Local auto-rickshaws and buses ply from Kalyan till the shrine regularly it is 20 km from Kalyan. Govt of Maharashtra awarded a contract in 2007 to build Funicular Railway to Malanggad Plateau from Malangwadi towards Kalyan. Malanggad Funicular Railway will be one kilometer plus in length, gaining 320 meters in height. One thousand passengers will be able to travel per hour up and down the mountain. There are many small shacks on the way to Pirmachi.
Malanggad Fort Trekking route situated on the eastern side of the mountain. You will require one hour to reach Pir Machi from the base village and more thirty minutes to reach Sone Machi. The final climb to the Balekilla is tough and risky only attempted with proper climbing equipment under the guidance of experts. A local villager had set up a crude crossing using pipes and ropes till the steps of Ballekilla after an accident on the route the forest department banned it. Rock cut stairs that take you to the Ballekilla are complicated to climb, and one should not climb unless you are an expert mountaineer.
Malanggad Fort History
The King Naladev of the Maurya Dynasty established Malanggad in the seventh century. Nathpanthi Saint name Machhindranath stayed at Malanggad during this period. Marathas captured the fort in the 17th century. A long-drawn battle took place between the British East India Company and the Marathas under Nana Phadnavis in the monsoon of 1780 for the control of Malanggad. Pandurang Ketkar and his Gardi Musketeers fought bravely and defended the fort from the British. The Ketkar family, which attributes the 1780 success to the dargah, continues to be its caretaker. Ketakars from Shri Malang Wadi village were the Kiladars of the Fort. British East India Company conquered the Fort later in 1897, Colonel Hartley and Captain Jameson arrived in October from Kalyan with reinforcements and defeated the Marathas.
