Nivati Fort

Maharashtra, India

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Nivati Fort is a sea fort located about 10 km south of Malvan in the Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra, India.

Built by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj around 1664, immediately after the construction of Sindhudurg Fort, it served the strategic purpose of guarding the sea route from Karli Creek near Malvan to the Vengurla port. The fort occupies an area of 4-5 acres on a hill near the village of Nivati and is constructed from red laterite stone.

Throughout its history, Nivati Fort changed hands several times, being controlled by the Marathas initially, then seized by the Sawant rulers of Sawantwadi, captured by Ismail Khan under the Portuguese in 1748, taken over by Karvirkar of Kolhapur in 1787, and finally reclaimed by the Sawants in 1803 before falling to the British in 1818 without resistance.

The fort features gates and bastions still in good condition, surrounded by a 20-feet wide and 10-feet deep moat, though much of the fort lies in ruins today. Its elevated position offers commanding views of the Arabian Sea and surrounding coastal landscape, making it a site of historical and natural significance.