Sakharkherda

The mountainous districts of Western Maharashtra are dotted with the ruins of hundreds of mountain forts mainly from the Deccan sultanates and the Maratha Empire eras. Some such as Daulatabad fort are even older. These forts and the surrounding hills are popular among people interested in trekking, hiking, and heritage tourism related to the life and times of Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of the Maratha Empire. Notable forts popular with tourists include Shivneri Fort, Rajgad, Sinhagad, Raigad Fort, and Pratapgad. A group of 11 such forts in Maharashtra along with one fort in Tamil Nadu, officially called the Maratha Military Landscapes of India, were recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 2025. Many, if not most of these forts were destroyed by the British after they defeated the Maratha empire.