Kanakdurg Fort Dapoli
Dapoli is a lovely town in the Konkan region. Konkan’s coastline region is wide and spans a large area. The Kanakdurg fort is situated on a small island off the coast of Dapoli, Konkan. In the year 1660, the founder of the Maratha Empire, Shivaji Maharaj, erected the Kanakdurg fort. As we all know, Shivaji Maharaj was the founder and father of the Indian Navy. This fort (also known as the Golden Fort) was built for defense purposes. The fort had a ship-building facility too. The fort was built to counter enemy attacks. As the fort had such immense importance, the fort needed high-level security from enemies.
Forts are surrounding Suvarnadurg fort called Bankot fort, Kanakdurg Fort, Fategad fort, and Gova. Kanakdurg Fort adjoins the Harnai port. This fort covers a total area of 0.25 hectares. A stunning lighthouse enhances the beauty of this fort. The fort is in complete ruins now except for water tanks, two dilapidated bastions, and a beautiful lighthouse. This grand fort, situated on the coast near Harne village in Maharashtra, is a favorite spot for trekkers, fort lovers, history lovers, etc. To ascend the fort, rock steps were built.
The fort is strong and still standing firm like other giant sculptures made by Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. If you wish to visit this fort, you can look for accommodation in Harne village. You can take public or private transport facilities to reach Dapoli. If you are traveling by train, the nearest railway station is at Khed (24 km).
Construction of Kanakdurga Fort:
To protect Suvarnadurga, three forts named Goa fort (not to be confused with Goa state), Kanakdurga and Fattegad were built on the coast near Harne village in Maharashtra. Amongst these, the Goa fort is comparatively large and is still in good shape.
The area of the fort is around 5 hectares. It is not known when the fort was built. Kanakdurga fort is built on a huge rock.
There are rock steps to ascend the fort. Some ramparts do exist, with water tanks on the top. There is a lighthouse on the fort. To the left side of the steps is a strong bastion built-in black rock. The rock on which the fort is built has been carved out for the same.
How to reach:
By Road :
Kanakdurg Fort is located at a distance of 17 km from Dapoli. We can reach Harne village via Dapoli from Mumbai
By Rail :
Nearest railway station is Khed.
History of Kanakdurga Fort:
This fort must have been built to safeguard the Suvarndurga fort, which is at a short distance on an island in the sea. The other two forts near this one are Fattegad and Goa Forts. The Angre family ruled this fort before the Britishers. During the reign of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Angre was the commander of the Maratha Navy.
As we enter, Cemented steps lead us to this fort. At the entrance, there is a bastion. There is no gate. As we enter the fort, we see many fishes kept on the net for drying on the right side. These can also be seen on the top of the bastion. We can see the ruins of a small room that has bricks scattered. As we move further, we reach the lighthouse, which is currently non-functional. Also, there are some rooms built behind the lighthouse. In front of the lighthouse, we see a couple of pillars.
As we go behind the lighthouse, we get a beautiful bird’s eye view of Harne port. We can see many small and medium-sized boats stationed in the sea. We also get to see the complete picture of Harne port from here.
As we move ahead, we can spot a small portion of rock coming out of the sea. Besides it, we can see that rock has been leveled below the fortification. The sea tides hit that rock instead of the fort.
As we move further, there is a deep dried water tank. Ahead, there are multiple water tanks. One is more significant than the previous one but not that profound.
Also, there are four more water tanks adjacent to each other. These are made by drilling the rock. It shows there was a good amount of investment to store drinking water on the fort. Coming near the entrance, if we look back on the seaside of the fort, we can spot the fortification. It is in ruins.
Suvarndurg fort as seen from this fort.
Best Time to Visit Kanakdurg Fort:
The best time to visit Kanakdurg Fort is between October and March, when the weather in the Konkan region is pleasant and ideal for sightseeing. During these months, the humidity is low, and the sea remains calm, allowing visitors to enjoy panoramic views of the coastline and Harne port.
Nearby Places to Visit Around Kanakdurg Fort:
Visitors exploring Kanakdurg Fort can also visit several nearby attractions. Suvarnadurg Fort, located on an island, is the most prominent among them and can be reached by boat from Harne port. Fattegad Fort and Goa Fort are located close by and are worth visiting for history enthusiasts.
Harne Beach is ideal for relaxing after the fort visit, while Dapoli Beach and Karde Beach offer clean shorelines and beautiful sunsets. Nature lovers can also explore Murud Beach and nearby temples in the Dapoli region.
Apart from these, there is nothing much to see in the fort. Also, the fort is not maintained at all. After seeing the fort, you can take a stroll in the Harne port market only if you are a seafood lover.