01The Bandals and Baji Prabhu
Rohida stands on a ridge south of Bhor, over the valley of the Nira. In the 1650s it was held by the Bandal deshmukhs, hereditary lords of the Hirdas Maval, who served the Adil Shahi state. When Shivaji, then building his power in the Maval, moved against them, the Bandals resisted; Baji Prabhu Deshpande, who kept their records and led their men, fought against Shivaji’s troops. Shivaji took Rohida in 1656. He saw Baji Prabhu’s worth and took him into his service, and four years later Baji Prabhu, with the Bandal Mavalas, gave his life at Ghod Khind so that Shivaji could reach Vishalgad.
02Climbing Rohida
The climb from the village of Bajarwadi at the foot takes about an hour. Three gateways lead in, the third carved with a Ganesha and with elephant and lion figures; within are rock-cut water cisterns, the remains of the bastions on the corners of the ridge, and a small temple of Rohidamalla, the Bhairava who gives the fort its name. From the top you can see Rajgad, Torna, Purandar and the Raireshwar plateau where, by tradition, the young Shivaji and his companions took the oath of Swarajya.
The life of this place
- 1656Shivaji takes Rohida from the Bandal deshmukhs; Baji Prabhu Deshpande enters his service.
About 10 km south of Bhor; the trail from Bajarwadi is steep but short. Carry water.
