| Fort Name : | Alphabetically | RangeWise | DistrictWise | CategoryWise | GradeWise |
| Samangad | FortHeight : 3004 | ||
| Type : Hill forts | Fort Range : Kolhapur | ||
| District : Kolhapur | Grade : Medium | ||
| Samangad is located to the South of Kolhapur district. As this fort is located between Vishalgad, Panhala, Bhudargad, Rangana and other forts, it was used as a supply center. Thus the purpose would have derived its name Samangad, where “Saman” in local language means “Things”. | |||
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| History : | |||
| The Shilahar king Bhoj II built this fort. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj won this fort in 1667. The administrative control of this fort was with Surnis Annaji Datto Prabhunikar who was the in charge of South sector and one of the important persons in the eight minister council. He played a major role in re-building the fort. in 1688, the Mughals won the fort. the Marathas won back the fort before 1701. When Shehezada Bedarbakht laid siege and won the fort, he named Shahamir as the fort keeper. The Marathas won it back in 1704 and put it under the custody of the Chhatrapati of Karvir. In 1844 the first resistance against the British rule was declared from this fort by Munjappa Kadam and others. 350 fort keepers, 10 canons, 100 riflemen, 200 soldiers were involved in this to defeat the British twice. But at last on 13th October 1844, the Marathas lost the fort to British. In this war the British devastated the fort hugely with the use of canons. |
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| Fascinating Spots : | |||
| One can reach the fort plateau region from Gadhinglaj, then via Bhadgaon and Chinchewadi villages. There are two big canons of foreign make besides the well in Chinchewadi village. The tar road to the left goes to the fort while the right one goes to a Lord Hanuman temple. The entrance door of the fort is completely devastated. The fort has been built on a chiseled rock face and the fort wall has been built on it with bastions mounted. As we proceed to the left side from the tar road on the fort we reach Nishana bastion of the fort. Proceeding towards right from here there is a square shaped well built of laterite stone. To the east of well there is roofed temple of Goddess Ambabai and adjacent to it many platforms and dried water tanks. To the right of the temple as we move ahead we come across an arch well which has beautiful arches on its steps built inside. Where the steps end there is a narrow chamber and water ahead of it. There are seven arches here. This place was used to keep prisoners. There are three such wells on the fort. After visiting the arch well, take backside of the temple path to reach the other edge of the fort. While we move alongside this edge we can see many pillars built of laterite stone. Their purpose has not been known yet. Further there is a secret doorway and as we proceed the ridge becomes narrow and we come to a double fortified bastion. Opposite this bastion we can see a small raised ground which the locals believe that the Mughal army built it to attack the bastion. Head back to the Lord Hanuman temple where rock cut caves are built opposite to it. There is a Lord Shiva temple inside it which has many arched porches. The tar road further to the temple leads to the shrine of Bhimshappa where potable water can be found. It takes about 2 hours to visit entire fort. | |
| Ways To Reach : | |
| Samangad can be reached with one’s own vehicle via Gadhinglaj-Bhadgaon-Chennakuppi-Chinchwadi. | |
| Accommodation Facility : | |
| Not available | |
| Food Facility : | |
| Not available | |
| Drinking Water Facility : | |
| Water in the wells and ponds is not potable. |
| Marathi Version |