Kokan is a land that gives every type of person everything. It has beaches, temples, mountains, forts, and seas. Here are the main, strong, old, incredible 4 forts in Konkan.1.Sindhudurg Fort/ Malvan Fort
Sindhudurg Fort was built by Shivaji Maharaj in 1664. The fort was built in 3 years. It is located on Kulte island, Malvan, Sindhudurg, Maharashtra. It spread in the area of 38 acres. It is located between the Arabian sea, so we have gone by boat to reach the fort. The fort was very important for Shivaji Maharaj. It is also said that the fishermen who suggested the place for building the fort, Shivaji Maharaj gave them a village as a gift. 15-20 families still live in the fort. There are many secret paths which are also called ‘Chorwat’ in Marathi, in the fort which ends to the sea and it helps to escape the fort. There is a bastion for keeping an eye on the enemies. There are many wells of sweet water which are also called Dudh (Milk), Dahi(Curd), and Sakhar(Sugar) wells. There are 4 temples in the fort, Lord Hanuman temple (On the entrance door/ gate), the temple of Lord Shivrajeshwar (Conceptual god considering Shivaji Maharaj was an avatar of Lord Shiva built by Chatrapati Rajaram Maharaj), Goddess Bhavani Temple, and Lord Mahadev.
2.Devgad Fort
Devgad Fort is located in Devgad, Sindhudurg, Maharashtra. It was built in 1705 under the Leadership of Kanhoji Aangre, Maratha naval chief. The fort was previously known as Janjire- Devgad as the fort was covered by the sea on all the sides at that time. Janjire means island in Arabic. It is a peninsular Fort it is covered by the sea on 3 sides.3.Bharatgad Fort
Bharatgad Fort is located in Malvan, Sindhudurg, Maharashtra. In 1670 Shivaji Maharaj visited the place to have a survey, but he refused to build a fort there as there was a lack of water. In 1680 Wadikar Sawant (rival of Marathas) of Sawantwadi, Sindhudurg, Maharashtra, decided to build a fort at the same place. Then the fort was named Bharatgad. There are 9 bastions and a balli killa (a fort inside the fort to confuse the enemy) at the fort. The fort has a gunpowder room, green room, and wells. The fort also has a Mahapurush Temple.
4. Vijaydurg Fort
Vijaydurg Fort is one of the oldest forts in the Sindhudurg district. The fort was built by Raja Bhoj II of the Shilihar dynasty between 1196- 1206. The fort was built in 12 years. Shivaji Maharaj captured the fort in 1653 from Adil Shah of Bijapur. Shivaji Maharaj reconstructed the fort and extended the fort to 17 acres from 5 acres and renamed the fort as Vijaydurg (Vijay- win, durg- Fort = Fort which is won). The previous name of the fort was Gire Fort, as the village that is around the fort was Gire. The fort is one of the rare forts where Shivaji Maharaj self-visited and hosted the saffron flag. The fort is a peninsular fort, which has covered by the sea on 3 sides. The fort was also called the “Eastern Gibraltar”, as it was virtually impregnable. Fort’s locational advantages also include the 40 km long Waghotan/ Kharepatan creek (a place near Kankavli, Sindhudurg, Maharashtra). Large vessels cannot enter the shallow water of the creek. There was a wall built in the sea (inside the sea) when the enemy (British and Portuguese) tried to attack from the sea, the boat would crash the wall and get their plans ruined. The ship of the enemies was v-shaped so when they crashed the wall the bottom part would be destroyed that’s why Maratha’s ships were flattened from the bottom instead of v-shaped boats. There were 4 slots in the cannon launcher for attacking any angle. The fort also has 52 bastions.
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