FOUR WHEELS

Forts, fast roads, and an SUV that proves you don't need a war elephant to conquer them

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There's a strange joy in knowing that history isn't just confined to textbooks or crumbling monuments; it's alive, woven into the very roads we take. On this road trip, we set out to explore some of Maharashtra's greatest forts, where battles were fought, empires were formed, and legends were created.

The Honda Elevate became our modern chariot for this historical excursion. Ancient forts were built to endure centuries, and today, the Honda Elevate is engineered to endure India's unpredictable roads. Warriors once relied on strategy and skill to overcome difficult terrain. This time, we did it with an SUV that offered the adaptability needed for India's varied roads with a design ethos that evoked the classic spirit of bygone periods.

The journey began at Shivneri Fort, a place steeped in folklore and history. As the birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, this stronghold had seen more action than a Bollywood blockbuster. If those walls could talk, they'd have tales of valour, sieges, and the occasional bit of backstabbing political drama. While its origins are traced back to earlier dynasties, most modern research credits the Yadavas with its rise, later passing through the hands of the Bahmani and Ahmadnagar Sultanates before it became synonymous with the Marathas. For Shivaji Maharaj, Shivneri was more than home. It was the foundation of an empire. Arriving there in the Honda Elevate, powered by a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated i-VTEC engine delivering 119 bhp, one couldn't help but appreciate the irony: centuries ago, warriors on horseback navigated those rugged trails, and there we were, gliding over them in air-conditioned comfort.