About Ambolgad Fort

Ambolgad is the jewel fort at the far end of Ratnagiri district. This fort was built to protect the ancient port of Musakaji in the distance & to keep an eye on maritime traffic passing through Jaitapur creek. The distance from Ratnagiri to Adivare – Nate – Ambolgad is 60 Kms while Rajapur – Nate – Ambolgad is 36 Kms. After passing Yashwantgad, this fort is 5 Kms away in the village Ambolgad. As you enter the village, you can see the beach on the left. On the way to Gagangiri Maharaj Monastery from the village is the bus stand. On a small hill to the left near the stand, the ruined ramparts of the fort can be seen but the exact entrance to the fort is not visible. Ascending in the direction of the electricity pole on this hill, you can see the ruined entrance hidden between the two bastions. A horizontal wall has been built in front of this door & a battlefield has been formed. The ramparts of the fort, which used to be 12 to 15 feet high, have completely collapsed & turned into a 6-7 feet high mound. In the centre of the fort, there is a big Banyan tree & under this tree is a broken cannon. Behind the tree is a rectangular dry well with two stone basins beside it.

Half an hour is enough to walk around the fort. Gagangiri Maharaj’s Monastery is on the side of the road leading from the fort. The endless sea spread out in front of the ridge catches the eye. It is not possible to say exactly when this fort was built, but around the 16th Century, the Ambolgad Fort has been built by the pair of Yashwantgad at the mouth of the creek to maintain the navigability of the river Arjuna. 

According to historical records, in 1676, Shivaji Maharaj’s army clashed with Siddi & Mughals, as they burnt Jaitapur, at which time the Marathas fought under the auspices of Yashwantgad. Evidence is found that the fort Ambolgad belonged to Kanhoji Angre in 1690. Col. Imlock captured this fort for the British in 1818. The residential portion of Ambolgad was shifted out completely by 1862.