Some people would have you believe that the gods themselves once walked this land. Two particular gods in Raigad and Mahad, however, were mere mortals whose amazing lives and struggles elevated them to the level of celestials. Their images have now been strewn all over this region by people who think that the best way to become a god is to make one. So as you go from one tourist trap to another in Raigad and Mahad, your respects will be demanded many a time in front of statues of Shivaji Maharaj and Dr BR Ambedkar. It is also likely that as you move your eyes away from the consecrated sites, you may feel there is a larger nameless, faceless force at play here, because how else does one explain the beauty of the mountains?