Haji Malang Gad is a fort situated in the Matheran Hill range, in the Raigad district, Maharashtra. It is also known as Shree Malang Gad or Malang gad. Malang Gad fort is about 2590 ft. above sea level. It is approximately of the same height as that of Chanderi Fort in Badlapur. It is as far as 17km from Kalyan city, near Mumbai.
It is now best known for trekking and an extraordinary view of the district from the top of the hill. It is an east-west facing a mountain that provides a good view of dusk and dawn. Haji Malang Dargah is situated at the lower level of the fort, where people come to worship. Once every year a festival is celebrated at the Dargah which is named after Baba Haji Malang. Also, there is a deep history of Haji Malang Baba which you can read at "History of Haji Malang Baba, A Sufi Saint of Malang Gad".
Let’s Learn the History of Haji Malang Gad
In the seventh century, king Naladev of the Maurya Dynasty had built the Malang Gad fort. During this period Nathpanthi Saint (famously known as Machhindranath) lived at the fort.
In the 17th century, the Marathas captured the fort. A huge battle was fought between the Marathas and the British East India Company in the monsoon of 1780, under the control of Nana Phadnavis. The battle was bravely fought by Pandurang Ketkar and his Gardi Musketeers. The Britishers lost the battle, and in this success of the Marathas, the Ketkar family who imputed the battle continued to become the caretaker of the fort. Ketkars, who belonged to the Shri Malang Wadi village, were the kiledars of the fort.
Later in 1897, the British East India Company conquered the Haji Malang Gad fort. In October, Colonel Hartley and Captain Jameson came from Kalyan with their reinforcements. They then defeated the Marathas and ruled over the fort.
How Haji Malang Gad is distinguished in three different levels
Haji Malang Gad is structured in three distinct levels, namely, Pir Machi (big plateau), Sone Machi (long thin plateau) and Balekilla (Citadel).
Pir Machi (Big Plateau) –
The Tableland of the fort is known to be "Pir Machi". It is the lowest level of the mountain. A Dargah is situated at this lowest level of the plateau. It is named as Sufi Saint Haji Malang Dargah. This Haji Malang Dargah is 2500 feet long and 1000 feet broad. To know more about Haji Malang Dargah read our blog "Haji Malang Dargah, A Holy Shrine of Haji Malang Baba". Towards the corner of the rock, Panchi Pir is established. This Panchi Pir is named after the five Pirs that followed Haji Malang. It is said that those are the five disciples of Baba Malang.
Sone Machi (Long Thin Plateau) –
"Sone Machi" is the higher level at the lower section of the fort. This Machi is shaped like an elephant’s trunk. The outgrowth of the rock is 100 feet long and 70 feet broad. Sone Machi has projected in a way that it has two bastions on sides facing the east and a rampart wall facing the west through which there were no machicolations to attack the invading enemies. Sone machi also has a Chor Darwaja (Hidden door) that opens deep into the valley on the east side of the Gad.
Balekilla (Citadel) –
This is the topmost and difficult level of the fort. At this level of the fort, are five reservoirs, and with the help of pipes, the water is supplied to the lower levels of the fort. These reservoirs are filled with water during the month of May-June. At the Balekilla there is a rectangular shaped open stone-built structure which is called as Devni or Bara Ansaar Pinnacle.
Haji Malang Gad is a fort that is depended on the natural aspects of the mountain that is well versed to defend itself. For fortification, the fort is truly dependent on the shape of the mountain. Haji Malang Gad is visited by people from all caste and creed as there are many mosques and temples on its way. The walls of the Malang Gad are very high and have a sheer drop on the sides. The dense forest near and around the fort are evergreen in the base and Machi areas.
Now Haji Malang Gad is best known for Trekking. It is rated from medium to difficult level of the trek.
