Maloji Raje Bhosle Gadi (Fortress) and Shahaji Raje Bhosle Monument

If you are a fan of Maratha Empire's history, then a visit to this relic from few centuries ago is a must to trace the ancestry of Bhosle warrior clan. Maloji Raje Bhosle, grandfather of Shivaji, the founder of Maratha Confederacy, once lived in the village of Verul, popular for Ellora caves. The relics of his fortress discovered a few years ago, stand as testimony to this historical anecdote. Maloji Raje is said to have wished for children at Shah Sharif Dargah in Ahmednagar and hence he named his son, the father of Shivaji, as Shahaji. A tall statue of Shahaji Raje Bhosle can be seen on a towering platform just as you enter the monument. It is flanked by a garden on either side. For the relics of the fortress, simply walk past the statue and cross a gated compound to observe the structural remains of this protected monument. The lone curator at the site would guide you through the ruins of kitchen and foundations of the house. Maloji Raje Bhosle is credited with the restoration work of Ghrishneshwar Temple, located opposite the fortress that houses one of the twelve naturally occurring Shiva Lingas or Jyotirlings in India.

Tip: On the way back from Gautala Wildlife Sanctuary and just before your reach Ghrishneshwar Jyotirling Temple, keep an eye to your right for gray and pink building that resembles a fort's design. Its board is titled in Devanagari script as ‘Maloji Raje Bhosle Gadi and Shahaji Raje Bhosle Smarak’.