About Mangalgad Fort

The Mangalgad Fort is situated in the Dudhanewadi hamlet in the Mahad taluka of the Raigad district of Maharashtra state.

The distance between it and the town of Mahad is around 11 kilometers. It is located in the Mahad subdivision.

The stronghold in the Sahyadri is 2457 feet high and perched above a sheer rock. A nearly two-mile-long, rocky, and narrow route leads to the location.

The building’s dimensions are 264 feet north to south and 1485 feet east to west. Kangori Fort is another name for Mangalgad Fort.

Mangalgad Fort is one of the forts in the thick Jawali valley also known as Kangorigad.

The Valley of Jawli was impregnable throughout the medieval era because of its large mountains, dense woods, and deep valleys. Mahabaleshwar, Makarandgad, Mangalgad, Chandragad, Pratapgad, Kawala Fort, and Parghat are all in close proximity to Jawli.

This valley was dominated by the “More” Dynasty for many years.

The main trading hub back then was Mahad. The many trade channels were used to transport the goods discharged at Mahad to different locations.

Forts are constructed on the Western Ghats and Konkan to keep a watch on these trade routes. To protect the trade routes of Bhop Ghat, Varandh Ghat, and Aswal Khind, Mangalgad Fort was constructed.

History Of Mangalgad Fort

Chandra Rao More of Jawli constructed the city of Mangalgad. It was one of the seven forts Shivaji took control of in 1648.

From 1812 till his passing in 1818, Chitursing, the Raja of Satara’s brother, was imprisoned there.

Two English officers assigned to the Madras establishment, Cornets Hunter and Morrison, were captured at Uruli, 20 miles east of Poona, in 1817 while traveling from Hyderabad to Poona with a little escort.

They were transported to Vasota in Satara at some point later on Gokhla’s instructions, and after that fort was destroyed in April 1817, their freedom was restored. Following the collapse of Raigad Fort in 1818, Colonel Prother captured Kangori.

Architecture

Mangalgad Fort is 264 feet wide in the north and south and extends 1485 feet east and west. Although its main entrance is gone, the nearby bastions and ramparts are still visible.

If you turn right after entering, you will arrive at the citadel. We travel to Machi by the left-hand path, where you may find the temple of Kangori Devi.

You will come upon a step-entry rock-cut water cistern on your right as you approach this temple.

A dry tank is located on the left side. Near this tank are the idols that were discovered on this fort. The temple of Kangori Devi is carved out of a rock platform.

The entrance’s ruins are still there, but the roof has been damaged. Here, one can find the idols of the gods Kangori Devi and Lord Bhairav.

The fort’s final point, from where we can see the surroundings, is located behind the temple. We can see a bastion with a flag post from here.

We can see a wide tank on top of the castle and a narrow tank headed for the cliff as we approach it. Two mansions’ remains are visible here.

The fort’s easternmost point, which has a noticeable bastion, is located behind these homes. This point can be seen the entire time you are climbing the fort.

There are two other tanks nearby that permanently store drinkable water.

Location

The fort is 2,457 feet (749 m) high and perched on a steep, treeless Sahyadri spur. It is accessible by a two-mile-long, winding approach that is both rocky and narrow.

The Mangalgad Fort measures 264 feet (80 meters) from north to south and 1,485 feet (453 meters) from east to west. From the base town of Dudhanewadi, the fort is accessible through a 2-hour trek.

Places To Visit

A portion of the rampart is still present despite the ruin of the buildings and the doorway.

There are just two structures of any size or significance inside the rampart: a ruined temple and a cistern carved out of rock.

Kangori Devi Temple, the only structure in Mangalgad Fort, has cisterns at the top. Both the wada and the prison are in disrepair.

About Mangalgad Fort – Kangori Fort Dudhanewadi