In 1818 when British won Raigad fort, they stopped local people's manning the fort thereafter. The fort was unmanned for almost 60yrs thereafter. In this time span, dense forest grew on the fort making it hard to recognise structures.
In 1880, Mahatma Jyotirao Phule walked all the way from Pune to Raigad fort. He discovered the tomb of Chatrapati Shivaji maharaj (which was built by his son, Chhatrapati Sambhaji maharaj) hidden in the dense forest. He cleared the place and paid respect to the greatest king this soil has ever produced.
The original samadhi, built by Sambhaji maharaj, is that octagonal structure which resides below the dome shape structure.
Later in 1895, Shri Shivaji Fund committee was founded by Lokamanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, a well known freedom fighter. He raised the fund through his committee and rebuilt the samadhi. This Shri Shivaji Fund committee was later renamed as Shri Shivaji Raigad Smarak Mandal.
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