Shivneri Fort

Shivaji Maharaj was born inside these walls in 1630, which is why the fort near Junnar carries a weight for Maharashtrians that no rating conveys; UNESCO added it to the Maratha Military Landscapes in July 2025. Seven gateways lead up in sequence to the Shivai Devi temple that gave the child his name, the Badami Talav tank, and a pavilion marking the birth spot. Two to two and a half hours from the city, free to enter, and usually taken as a full day with the Lenyadri Buddhist caves and the Junnar countryside. Best October to February; carry water for the steps.

The birthplace of Shivaji, and one of the twelve UNESCO Maratha forts