Suvarnadurg Fort is located on a small island in the Arabian Sea, near Harnai village in Dapoli district of Maharashtra. The literal meaning of Suvanadurga is “Golden Fort” as it was considered as the pride or the “feather in the golden cap of Marathas”. Built for the Maratha Navy for defence purpose, the fort also had a ship building facility. The basic objective of establishing the fort was to counter enemy attacks, mainly by the colonialists of Europe and also by the local chieftains. The fort also includes another land fort called the Kanakadurga at the base of headland of Harnai port on the coast.
This fort is spread across an area of about 7 acres. The fort has strong fortifications and towers on all four sides. 10 to 15 feet walls were made for strong bulwarks. Inside the fort you will find a moss-covered pond, a well with stairs in it and a few broken platforms. Outside the fort, you will find two ruined cannons too.
Due to its location on an island, guests can only visit the site via boat or ferry services which are easily available from Harnai harbour. Taking a boat from the Harnai port and traveling to the fort is an experience in itself. The ride across the sea sets the exploration in motion, treating travellers to splendid views of the luscious greenery and hillscape nearby. As you step into the main entrance, you can feast your eyes on the marvellous sculptures and carvings of Lord Hanuman on the walls in a warrior’s pose with his tail over his head – a living attestation of the bygone era. A tortoise is also carved on the stairs of the entrance and on both of its sides are two rooms for guards. As you wander through the carved halls, you will soon come in contact with a secret passage that leads to the bastions of the fort. There are total of 24 bastions which, from above, look like an intricately woven necklace!
Being one of the most prominent forts in the Konkan region, Suvarnadurg has a rich history. This is where Sarkhel Kanhoji Angre – one of the most famous military leaders in the Maratha history – was born. As the reign of the Nizamshahi dynasty neared its end in the 16th century, the fort came under the rule of the Adilshahi family. In 1660, Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj defeated Adilshah the second and added this fort to the Maratha empire. In 1698, Kanhoji Angre became the head of the Maratha Naval Force, earning the title ‘Sarkhel’ in the process. After his promotion, armada camps were established in Vijaydurga and Suvarnadurga. From Kanhoji to Tulaji, this fort remained under the command and control of the Aangre family. In the year 1755, this fort came under the rule of the Peshwas. In 1818, the British took over the fort under the guidance of Colonel Kennedy until independence.
