Manikgad (Raigad)

Manikgad is a hill fort and temple site at Gherakilla Manikgad, near Vashivali (Rasayani MIDC), 27 km from Panvel in Raigad district. Set among rolling hills, it is a popular hiking spot. Its purpose was to watch the trade route linking Maval, near Pune, with the coastal ports; Sarkhel Kanhoji Angre, who received it from the Peshwas in 1718, was its builder.

Only ruins remain. The Ganesh gate is the one standing structure, and there is a large rock-cut cistern called the Darya take, smaller cisterns, a small Shiva linga and a circular trench cut in the rock for mixing lime. Karnala, Prabalgad, Chanderi, Malanggad, Irshalgad, Sondai, Lohagad, Visapur and Sankshi are among the other forts in the area.