Irshalgad is a fort in Karjat District. The name of Vishaladevi on the fort may have been changed and the name of this fort became Irshalgad. Irshalgad easily catches your attention while traveling on the Mumbai-Pune railway. While traveling from Mumbai on the old Mumbai-Pune highway, a fork recently splits at 2 km to Irshalgad. But when asking for the road to the fort, ask for Thakarwadi instead of Irshalgad. The road does not go up to Irshalgad but goes up to Thakarwadi. Irshalgad Wadi is the village at the foot of the fort and one has to walk from Thakarwadi to reach it. It takes one and a half hours to reach the village and half an hour is enough to go from the village to the fort. The height of Irshalgad is 3700 feet above sea level. You will encounter big stones in your path while climbing this fort. This path further leads to the rear of fort. ... Irshalgad is a close neighbor of Prabalgad and Matheran. Irshalgad fort is not mentioned in the history, so it would not be right to call it a fort. Looking at the remnants on it, it seems to be only a guard fort or watch tower. Irshalgad is basically a hill. While going to the fort from Irshalgad foothills, first of all we start climbing the fort by climbing a cliff. There is a water tank on the way. There is a ladder installed here. On the left before climbing the ladder is a huge idol of Goddess Vishala enshrined in a natural dome. From there, by climbing a ladder and climbing an easy platform, we reach the base of the fort. After going a little further, there is a water tank on the left side and there is a ridge on the side. This water is fit for drinking and is available till March only. It is necessary to know the climbing technique to reach the top of the hill. Prabalgad, Matheran, Chanderi, Malanggad, Karnala, Manikgad can be seen in front from the top. In May 1666, when Shivaji Maharaj took the entire region up to Kalyan-Bhiwandi-Rairi, this fort must also have come under the control of the Marathas. Except for two water tanks, there is no visible remains of the fort.
© Suresh Nimbalkar