Twelve forts built or held by the Marathas became a UNESCO World Heritage Site on 11 July 2025, as the “Maratha Military Landscapes of India”. Eleven are in Maharashtra: Salher, Shivneri, Lohagad, Khanderi, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijaydurg and Sindhudurg. The twelfth is Gingee in Tamil Nadu. It is India’s 44th World Heritage Site. Below is every fort, what makes it special, how hard it is to reach, and four ways to see them.
Why UNESCO chose these 12 forts
Maharashtra has more than 350 forts. These twelve were picked because, together, they show the whole military system the Marathas built between the 17th and 19th centuries, much of it under Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Each fort used its ground differently:
- Hill forts on the Sahyadri summits: Salher, Shivneri, Lohagad, Raigad, Rajgad (and Gingee in Tamil Nadu).
- A hill-forest fort, where the jungle was part of the defence: Pratapgad.
- A hill-plateau fort, a whole walled tableland: Panhala.
- A coastal fort on a headland: Vijaydurg.
- Island forts in the Arabian Sea: Khanderi, Suvarnadurg and Sindhudurg.
UNESCO inscribed them under criteria (iv) and (vi): as an outstanding example of a type of military architecture, and for their direct link to events of great historical importance.
Who protects them: eight forts (Shivneri, Lohagad, Raigad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijaydurg, Sindhudurg and Gingee) are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India. Four (Salher, Rajgad, Khanderi and Pratapgad) are protected by Maharashtra’s Directorate of Archaeology and Museums.
The 12 UNESCO forts at a glance
| Fort | Type | Getting up |
|---|---|---|
| Salher | Hill | 1.5–3.5 hr climb |
| Shivneri | Hill | 30–60 min climb |
| Lohagad | Hill | 30–45 min climb |
| Rajgad | Hill | 2.5–3 hr climb |
| Raigad | Hill | 4-min ropeway or 1,737 steps |
| Pratapgad | Hill-forest | 20–40 min of steps |
| Panhala | Hill-plateau | Drive to the top |
| Vijaydurg | Coastal | Walk in from the village |
| Khanderi | Island | Boat from Thal, booking needed |
| Suvarnadurg | Island | Short boat ride from Harnai |
| Sindhudurg | Island | Short boat ride from Malvan |
| Gingee (Tamil Nadu) | Hill | Long climbs to its citadels |
The forts, one by one
Salher is the highest fort in Maharashtra, about 1,567 m up in the Baglan hills near the Gujarat border. In 1672 the Marathas beat a Mughal army in the open field below it.
Shivneri, above Junnar, is where Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was born. Seven gates lead up to the small building where he was born and the cave temple of Shivai Devi, the goddess he was named after.
Lohagad, near Lonavala, is the easiest proper fort climb from Pune or Mumbai. It has four gates still standing and the long, walled Vinchu Kata ridge, with its twin fort Visapur next door.
Rajgad was the first capital of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, for about 25 years. Three great fortified terraces (machis) spread from its summit like the wings of a bird.
Raigad was the capital where Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was crowned in 1674 and where his samadhi stands. It has a ropeway and a whole ruined capital city on top.
Pratapgad, near Mahabaleshwar, saw the encounter with Afzal Khan on 10 November 1659. The forested Javali valley around it was part of its defence.
Panhala, near Kolhapur, is one of the largest forts in the Deccan, with about 14 km of walls. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj made his famous night escape from here in 1660, covered by Baji Prabhu Deshpande at Pavankhind.
Vijaydurg, on the Devgad coast, was Kanhoji Angre’s naval headquarters, with triple walls, 27 bastions and an undersea wall.
Khanderi, off Alibag, was fortified in 1679 right under the noses of the English at Mumbai. Today it is Kanhoji Angre Island, with a lighthouse.
Suvarnadurg, off Harnai, is the “golden fort”, a Maratha naval base on a rock island just offshore.
Sindhudurg, off Malvan, was built new by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj from 1664 on Kurte island. It has the only temple dedicated to him.
Gingee, in Tamil Nadu, is where Chhatrapati Rajaram Maharaj held out against the Mughals in the 1690s, keeping the Maratha state alive far from home.
Four ways to see the UNESCO forts
1. The Pune weekend (2 to 3 days). Lohagad on day one, Rajgad on day two (start at dawn), Shivneri on day three via Junnar. Add Sinhagad and Torna if you have time; they are not on the UNESCO list but belong to the same story.
2. Mahabaleshwar and Raigad (2 days). Pratapgad from Mahabaleshwar in the morning, then down the ghat via Poladpur to Raigad. Take the ropeway up in the afternoon or climb at dawn the next day.
3. The Konkan sea-fort road trip (5 to 7 days). Drive south along the coast from Alibag: Khanderi (with Kolaba fort), Suvarnadurg at Harnai, Vijaydurg at Devgad and Sindhudurg at Malvan. Go between November and March, when the sea is calm and the boats run.
4. Kolhapur and Nashik add-ons. Panhala is an easy half-day from Kolhapur. Salher needs its own trip: base yourself in Nashik or Satana and give it a full day.
Tips for visiting the UNESCO forts
- Best season: October to February for most forts; November to March for the sea forts. Lohagad, Rajgad and Panhala are also beautiful in the monsoon, but the paths are slippery.
- Start early. Most forts have little shade, and the steps face the sun.
- Carry cash. Some forts charge a small fee, and parking, boats and stalls are cash-first.
- Respect the sites. These are protected monuments and now World Heritage: no graffiti, no litter, no fires.
- Check the status line on each guide. We note fees, closures and boat timings, with the date we last checked.