Bhagwantgad

Sindhudurg, Maharashtra, India

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Bhagwantgad Fort is a historic fort located in Sindhudurg district, Maharashtra, about 18 kilometers from Malvan.

It is situated on the northern bank of the Gad River or Kalaval creek and spans around 1.5 acres surrounded by dense vegetation. The fort was built by Pant Pratinidhi of Kolhapur to counterbalance the Sawants of Sawantwadi, who had recently constructed Bharatgad Fort nearby on the southern bank of the creek. Initially under the control of the Kolhapur Chhatrapati, Bhagwantgad later came under the Sawantwadi rulers.

Tulaji Angre, son of the famous Maratha admiral Kanhoji Angre, attempted to capture the fort in 1748 but failed after a prolonged 18-month siege due to the strong resistance from the fort's commander. In 1818, the British East India Company took control of the fort after the Maratha garrison abandoned it.

Today, the fort is mostly in ruins with damaged gates and bastions, but some structures like the Siddheshwar Temple remain relatively intact. Despite its ruined state, Bhagwantgad offers scenic views of the surrounding creek and neighboring forts and remains a site of historical and cultural significance in the region.