Sajjangad

Sajjangad, the fort of good people, stands about 18 km from Satara and holds the samadhi of Sant Ramdas, whose Dasbodh is still read widely in Maharashtra, making it a popular place of pilgrimage. Built under the Bahmanis, it passed to the Adilshahis and was taken by Shivaji on 2 April 1673, who renamed it from Parali to Sajjangad. The Mughals held it briefly from 1700, and it stayed in Maratha hands until 1818.

The Shri Ramdas Swami Sansthan and the Shri Samarth Seva Mandal look after the fort and samadhi, with daily prayers, abhishek, bhajans and readings of the Dasbodh. The fort is open from 5 am to 9 pm; devotees are given free meals at midday and night and free lodging overnight. Vehicles go most of the way, followed by about 230 steps to the gate, and thousands walk up at Shiv Jayanti.