Bot at 11:30, 19 August 2022

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{{Short description|Fort in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2017}}
{{Infobox military installation
|name = Gopalgad Fort
|native_name = अंजनवेल चा किल्ला/ गोपाळगड
|image = Gopalgad Outer Wall.jpg

|caption = Anjanvel Fort
|partof = Malabar sea coast
|location = [[Ratnagiri district]], [[Maharashtra]]
|map_type=India Maharashtra
| map_size = 300
|map_caption = Shown within [[Maharashtra]]
|type = Sea fort
|coordinates = {{coord|17|34|17.3|N|73|09|06.5|E}}
|materials = Stone
|height = 300 Ft.
|used =
|condition = Ruins
|ownership = {{flagcountry|India}} Government of India
|open_to_public = Yes
|controlledby = {{noflag}}[[Adil Shahi dynasty|Bijapur]] (–1660) {{flagcountry|Maratha Empire}} (1660–1699) {{flagicon image|Janjira State Merchant Flag vector.svg|Siddi Sultanate|Janjira}}Janjira State (1699–1745) {{flagcountry|Maratha Empire}} (1745–1818) {{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
* {{flagicon image|Flag of the British East India Company (1801).svg}} [[East India Company]] (1818–1857)
* {{flagicon image|British Raj Red Ensign.svg}} [[British Raj]] (1857–1947)
{{flagcountry|India}} (1947-)
}}

'''Gopalgad Fort ''' / '''Anjanvel Fort''' ({{lang-mr|अंजनवेल चा किल्ला/ गोपाळगड}}) is a fort located {{cvt|51|km}} from [[Chiplun]], in [[Ratnagiri district]], of [[Maharashtra]]. This fort is an important fort in Ratnagiri district. The Fort is located on a prominent and commanding point for guarding the trade route along the [[Vashishti River]], which runs till [[Govindgad]] near [[Chiplun]] and the [[Dabhol]] port which was a busy route in medieval times. It is a fort located on a hill near the sea.

==History==
No record evidence about the construction period of this fort is known. This fort was captured by the king [[Shivaji]] from [[Mohammed Adil Shah, Sultan of Bijapur|Mohammed Adil Shah]] of [[Bijapur]] in 1660 during his conquest of Dhabol creek. A dockyard/shipbuilding dock was later built by him and the fort was named Gopalgad. It was later under the control of an [[Ethiopian Empire|Abyssinia]]n general Khairriyatkan from 1699 for further 46 years. It was won by Tulaji Angre in 1745. An officer of [[Angres]] Ramji Mahadev Bivalkar captured the fort in 1756. The Fort was won by Colonel Kennedy in 1818.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://trekshitiz.com/trekshitiz/marathi/Gopalgad-Trek-G-Alpha.html|title=Gopalgad, Sahyadri, Shivaji, Trekking, Marathi, Maharastra|website=trekshitiz.com}}</ref>

==How to reach==
The nearest town is [[Guhagar]] which is 46 km from [[Chiplun]]. The base village of the fort is Anjanvel which is 13 km from Guhagar. There are good hotels at Chiplun, Guhagar, and Anjanvel, now tea and snacks are also available in small hotels along the coastal road. The trekking path starts from the hillock west of the Anjanvel village. Now there is a very safe and wide road up to the fort. It takes about half an hour to reach the entrance gate of the fort.

==Places to see==
The fort is spread over an area of {{cvt|7|acre}}. The Fort is rectangular in shape with a dry moat on all the sides. The Fort walls are 12 feet high and 8 feet thick.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cultural.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/RATNAGIRI/places_Anjanvel.html |title=The Gazetteers Department - Ratnagiri |publisher=Cultural.maharashtra.gov.in |date= |accessdate=2019-01-30}}</ref> The road to the fort ends near a small entrance on the western side of the fort. There were 15 bastions on the outer walls of the fort armed with cannons. there was an inscription in [[Persian language|Persian]] language on the fort till 1707, now it is nowhere seen. The entire fort is constructed from lateritic rock. The fort is divided into three sections: Varchakot, Parkot and Balekot. There is a small entrance to the Padkot which opens to the outer-side. There is a mango orchard inside the fort walls, the fort has remained in a dispute for ownership issue.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guhagar.ind.in/guhagar-forts.html|title=Guhagar Forts - Ratnagiri - Gopalgad - Forts in Guhagar - Guhagar Travel Guide|website=www.guhagar.ind.in}}</ref> There is an ancient temple of Uddalakeshwar near the fort. There is a lighthouse about 2 km from the fort which can be visited by paying a nominal fee.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.trawell.in/maharashtra/ganpatipule/gopalgad-fort-anjanvel-lighthouse|title=Gopalgad Fort & Anjanvel Lighthouse – Travel Info|website=Trawell.in}}</ref>

{{Coord|17|34|17.3|N|73|09|06.5|E|display=title}}

== See also ==
* [[List of forts in Maharashtra]]
* [[List of forts in India]]
* [[Kanhoji Angre]]
* [[Marathi people|Marathi People]]
* [[Maratha Navy]]
* [[List of Maratha dynasties and states]]
* [[Maratha War of Independence]]
* [[Battles involving the Maratha Empire]]
* [[Maratha Army]]
* [[Maratha titles]]
* [[Military history of India]]
* [[List of people involved in the Maratha Empire]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Gopalgad Outer Wall East side.jpg
File:Gopalgad Inside view.jpg
File:Sea View from Gopalgad.jpg
</gallery>

{{Forts in Maharashtra}}
{{MarathaEmpire}}

[[Category:Buildings and structures of the Maratha Empire]]
[[Category:Forts in Ratnagiri district]]
[[Category:16th-century forts in India]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Pune district]]
[[Category:Former populated places in India]]
[[Category:Hiking trails in India]]
[[Category:Backpacking|*]]

Anjanvel Fort - Revision history

Bot at 11:30, 19 August 2022