Kharepatan fort |
FortHeight : 80 |
Type : Hill forts |
Fort Range : Nil |
District : Sindhudurg |
Grade : Easy |
The village of Kharepatan, erstwhile Balipattan, which is located on Mumbai – Goa Highway on the banks of Vaghotan creek was once upon a time the capital of Shilahar dynasty in the 8th century.
In ancient times, the merchant ships used to dock at Balipattan village sailing through Vijaydurg. Goods from here were used to be transported to the villages crossing the ghats of Baavda and Fonda ghat. A village with such a vital importance in terms of trade needs to be protected and thus Kharepatan fort was built in the 8th Century. |
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History : |
Shilahar dynasty ruled south Konkan during the 8th Century A.D. King Shilahar Shwammiyara (A.D. 785-820) built this fort and established the village as the capital of his empire. Shivaji Maharaj won the forts of Rajapur and Kharepatan in 1660 A.D. The English officer of Rajapur, Gifford was imprisoned in this fort.
After the death of Shivaji Maharaj, Kanhoji Angre took command over most of the coastal forts which included Kharepatan. On 18th December, 1755; Peshwas and British army jointly attacked the fort and won it back from Tulaji Angre. Later, in 1850 A.D. the British won the fort in a huge battle with the Marathas which resulted in a huge loss to the fort's structure. |
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