| Bharatgad |
FortHeight : 225 |
| Type : Hill forts |
Fort Range : Malvan, Sindhudurg |
| District : Sindhudurg |
Grade : Easy |
| Bharatgad rests on the south shore of Kalavali creek in Masure village of Malvan taluka and has an area of about 5 to 6 acres. As the fort is now home to private Mango plantations the structures are well maintained and the citadel and bastions are still intact. |
| History : |
In 1670, Shivaji Maharaj surveyed the hill but could not fortify it due to non availability of water. Later, fearing the disputes with the Chief of Kolhapur named Bavdekar, in 1680 the Phond Savants cut a well 228 ft deep in the rock which gave them access to water and thus fortified the fort later in 1701.
The Phond Savants joined the Peshwas against Tulaji Angre who later attacked Bharatgad in 1748 and won the fort. But sooner the Savants won back the fort. In 1787 the Savants lost the fort to the ruler of Karvir but they handed the fort back to the Savants. In 1818, Captain Hutchinson won the fort into the British Empire. It was observed that the water of the well had disappeared owing to the gun shots and the garrison used wooden barrels to store water. |
| Fascinating Spots : |
Stairs built in rock takes us to the fort in 5 minutes. The main doorway is in ruins but the fort wall and bastions are still in good shape. There is a 20 X 10 feet deep ditch surrounding the fort which is not generally visible due to dense vegetation cover around it.
Moving forward after entering the main door one has to proceed south by keeping the fort wall to the left to reach the bastions. There is a deep ditch near the south side of the wall which could have been used for water storage during monsoons.
The citadel stands amid the fort on an elevated ground. There are four bastions on the four corners of the citadel and its walls are about 17 to 18 feet high and five feet thick. One can see porches built in the main door. Within the Citadel, there is a small temple, and near it is a big well about 228 feet deep, cut through solid rock. Towards the right one can see the remains of storage houses used for grains and ammunition. There is a secret door in the southern bastion which leads further to the main entrance of the fort. |
| Ways To Reach : |
One can catch Mumbai - Malvan ST bus & further travel by bus to Masure village. ST buses to Malvan also run from Pune & Kolhapur.
Malvan to Masure is 16 kms and regular autorickshaws and bus services are available. Stairs built opposite to the collector office next to the mosque takes us to the fort within 5 minutes. |
| Accommodation Facility : |
| Available in Malvan. |
| Food Facility : |
| Available in Malvan and Masure. |
| Drinking Water Facility : |
| Nil. |
| Notes : |
1. One can start early in the morning from Malvan and visit Bharatgad, Bhagwantgad and Sarjekot forts and later proceed to Sindhudurg and Rajkot in the evening.
Above plan is feasible only with one's private vehicle and not by ST buses which please note.
2. Information on Bhagwantgad, Sarjekot, Sindhudurg and Rajkot forts is available on our website. |
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