Bhagwantgad

Rival forts arose from frequent battles between the Sawants (Sawantwadi) and Chatraprati (Kolhapur). - **1701:** Sawants built Fort Bharatgad (Masure Village, S. Kalaval Creek). - **Challenge:** Ramchandra Pant Amatya countered with Fort Bhagwantgad (Bandiwade hills, N. Kalaval Creek). - **Control:** Sawants eventually seized Bhagwantgad. - **1748:** Tulaji Angre attacked but couldn't conquer it for 1.5 years. - **Final Capture:** March 29, 1818, by the 4th Rifle, led by Cpt. Grey & Pearson.

**Bhagwantgad Fort: A Hidden Gem** Reach Bhagwantgad by boat from Kava Masure village (Rs. 5 fare). From the creek, it's a 5-min walk left near a school, then a 10-min walk behind the school to the fort. **What to See:** * Main entrance is mostly gone. * Bastion and fortifying wall are ruins, spread across the fort (dense vegetation cover makes remnants hard to spot). * Only remaining architecture: Lord Siddheshwar's Temple (features a shapeless stone idol) and a Tulsi Vrindavan (4' high masonry structure).**Views & Nearby:** Enjoy a bird's eye view of Bharatgad and Kalaval creek. Tip: Visit the ancient Rameshwar Temple near Angnewadi village on the way to Bharatgad from Malvan.