They are vital links with our colourful past-a past that resounded with war-like cries, trumpets summoning armies to battle, the clashing of swords, the clanging of shields...And the final joyous cries of victory. Today, the historic forts that dot Maharashtra have fallen silent. If only their walls could speak, they'd tell tales of the rise and fall of many empires...

Sadly, these forts figure prominently among the many national monuments battered by time, the harsh vagaries of nature and the cruel hand of human negligence. Yet, most of them are popular tourist attractions on account of their historical value and scenic locations, and most are now esily accessible from nearby towns and hamlets, primarily on account of the arrangements, made by the government and the state tourism department corporation.

It's hardly necessary to emphasise the important role that these forts have played in history. Strategically located, these forts were the strongholds wherein was concenrated the power and possessions of the rulers. Winning or losing these forts often amounted to winning or losing entire kingdoms.

In Maharashtra one can find the relics of about 175 forts. Either directly or indirectly they are all connected with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj the Maratha emperor who is reported to have either built or fortified I II of them.

It was the hill fort of Toma, (Prachandgad as it was known then), that was Shivaji's first major conquest. This hill fort is located about 35 kms north-west of Bhor. On capturing it Shivaji repaired the fort and made it his base for the early years of his campaigns. But, realising that Tomas was vulnerable as it had a large and open summit, Shivaji abandoned it for Raigad.

Raigad-located in the district of the same name-was the ancient capital of Shivaji. It can be approached from Pachad, a sleepy village that lies near the base of the mountain. Raigad got its name from the mountain Rairi and in ancient times it was so inaccessible that it was called the Gibraltar of the East by the early Europeans. It was at Raigad that Shivaji was coronated amidst great pomp and splendour in 1674.

Although Raigad has its own special concentration of Marathi veneration it is Sinhagad that has a more romantic tale linked with it. For which student of Maratha history hasn't read about Tanaji Malasure's heroic capture of the fort and Shivaji's grief at his death in that battle. Shivaji had exclaimed. Gad oala pan sinha gela! (The fort is won but the lion is gone). Situated aout 18 kms from Pune, Sinhgad can be approached from two pathways. And it was from Sinhagad that Shivaji made his celebrated attack on Shaista Khan in Pune in the dead of night. Today, Sinhagad, with the shrines located in it, is a favourite picnic spot for people from all around Pune.

Prominent among the other hill forts are Purandar (one of the strongest of the hill forts) and Panhala. Legend has it that Panhala, was the residence of Sage Parasara. Pretty close to Kolhapur, it is situated about 273 feet above sea level; the hill-stop is pleasantly broken by cliffs and pools with the result that Panhala is a popular hill station for vacationers.

Quite a few of the other forts are remembered on different accounts. Pratapgad has the honour of being an authetic Maratha fort, practically untouched by other hands. Vishalgad was one of the grandest and most coveted of hill forts, crowning as it did the Gajapur bill, about 112 kms from Kolhapur. Sajjangad is remembered on account of its being hallowed by the hands of Ramdas Swami, the spiritual guru of Shivaji. And the fort of Ahmednagar has been praised by experts as being a peculiary well-planned and well-built fort.

Apart from the forts of the Deccan there are many forts in Maharashtra's Konkan region as well. 'Konkan' is the term given to the region between the western ghats on the east and the Arabian Sea on the west. A considerable number of these are sea forts, many were built by the Bijapur kings, but were later captured by Shivaji.

One of the most important of the sea forts is Bassein, located about 55 km from Bombay. Built by Bahadur Shah, Sultan of Gujarat, it was initially one of a chain efforts intended to guard the coast against the Portuguese and the pirates. The Portuguese, however, captured it and re-modelled the fort, building a citadel inside. In course of time Bassein became a flourishing ship-building centre and the famous Bassein stone was very much in demand. The prosperity of Bassein had reached such great heights that it was ranked next only to Goa and was called the Court of the North. Bassein, however, fell into many different hands. When the Marathas captured it they renamed it Bajipur after Bajirao Peshwa. But, it was the British who had the final possession of the fort. However, maintenance costs were reportedly too high and the fort lost its prominent position. Sindhudurg, which is located on a low island, a short distance out in the sea, was Shivaji's capital on the coast. The 18-acre enclosure, once full of buildings, is now eeriely empty. This fort is a popular tourist attraction, not only on account of its location, but also because of the statue of Shivaji which is found there. Slightly different from the rest, the black stone image shows Shivaji with a slightly rotund face sporting a sailor's cap.

In the Raigad district there is the famous fort of Janjira, undoubtedly one of the most impregnable fans on the western coast. Close by on the mainland is Murud, the former capital ofJanjira state. Situated about 165 km from Bombay, its nearest railhead is Panvel. Yet another important fort in this area is Alibag which is situated on a small hill in the sea. There are a few temples and some shrines there.

A hilltop fortress par excellence is Daulaiabad. Located between Aurangabad and Ellora, Daulatabad, the impregnable fort has had a chequered history. It was plundered many times in the course of the 13th century It was made the second capital of the Delhi Sultanate, after which many successive dynasties ruled from the ramparts of this fort.

With the passing of time, the rise and fall of dynasties and the inevitable flux of political fortunes, the forts began to gradually lose their earlier grandure and significance. Methods of warfare were gradually modernised; science and technology developing at a rapid pace, evolved their own sophisticated weaponry. And, this changing ethos, it is perhaps difficult to imagine what role these forts played. The forts have been reduced to mere history lessons in text books, to be learnt for examinations. But, this is no way diminishes their significance.