2409:4081:EC8:ADCE:0:0:75CA:6612 at 16:18, 28 January 2025

2025-01-28T16:18:46Z

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{{Short description|Historical ruins}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox historic site
| name = Bhimgad Fort
| location = [[Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary]], Khanapur Taluk, [[Belgaum District]], [[Karnataka]], [[India]]
| image = 
| image_caption = 
| coordinates = 
| elevation = {{convert|550|m}}
| type = Historical ruins
| built = Mid 17th century
| builder = [[Shivaji]]
| height = {{convert|91|m}}
| ownership =
| events =
| site_other =
| open_to_public =
| designation1 =
| designation1_offname =
| designation1_date =
| designation1_number =
}}

'''Bhimgad Fort''' are historical ruins located within the [[Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary]], on a detached spur of
the [[Western Ghats]], in [[Khanapur]] Taluk of [[Belgaum District]] near [[Jamboti]] Village, [[Karnataka|Karnataka state]], [[India]]. It is located in the heart of the [[Mandovi river|Mhadei river]] watershed. It was built and occupied by [[ch.Shivaji maharaj]] in the mid 17th century during his conquest of [[South India]] to defend from the Portuguese colonial troops who controlled [[Goa]] at that time.

==Location==

The fort sits on top of a {{convert|300|ft|m|abbr=on}} rock outcropping at the crest of the [[escarpment]] overlooking the [[Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary]] and rising {{convert|1800|ft|m|abbr=on}} near vertically above the plains to the west. The defenses were almost entirely natural, requiring little additional construction.<ref name="GBP"/>

==History==

Near the end of 1676, Chattrapati Shivaji besieged [[Belgaum]] and Vayem Rayim in current day northern Karnataka.
From here he launched a wave of conquests in [[South India|southern India]] with a massive force of 30,000 cavalry and 20,000 infantry.<ref name="Babasaheb Purandare">{{Cite journal|title=Raja Shivachhatrapati (Marathi: राजा शिवछत्रपती)|first=Babasaheb |last=Purandare|authorlink = Babasaheb Purandare|publisher=Purandare Prakashan| date=August 2003 |location=[[Pune]]|edition=15th}}</ref> Bhimgad was one of the forts that Chattrapati Shivaji still held when he died in 1680.<ref name="GBP"/>

In 1719, the fort was included with the 16 districts given to a grandson of Shivaji, [[Chattrapati Shahu]], at the beginning of his own rule. About 1787, the fort was overtaken by the [[Nesagari]] chief but it was soon retaken. In 1820 it was observed by the British and in 1844 it was occupied by them to guard against insurgents who threatened Belgaum.<ref name="Babasaheb Purandare"/>

==Description==

There is one narrow stone-cut trail leading up to the fort. The ruins are {{convert|1380|ft|m|abbr=on}} long from north to south and {{convert|825|ft|m|abbr=on}} broad from east to west.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}} The fort has only one gateway and the walls are still mostly intact. The inside is overgrown with brush and there is one fresh-water spring on the west side and a small reservoir in the north, both of which are dry in the two hottest months of the year. The fort had an eight-pound gun and a three-pound gun plus a wall musket. Bhimgad was one of the forts that Shivaji still held when he died in 1680.<ref name="GBP">
{{cite book
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ar8MAAAAIAAJ&q=wolf+Bhimgad&pg=PA9
|title=Bimgad Fort
|work=Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency
|volume= 21
|pages=9, 552
|publisher=Government Central Press
|place=Bombay
|year=1877
|accessdate=2012-01-14
}}</ref>

==References==

{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Forts in Karnataka}}
{{Forts in India}}
{{coord|15|31|30|N|74|16|57|E|region:IN|display=title}}

[[Category:Forts in Belagavi district]]

Bhimgad Fort - Revision history

2409:4081:EC8:ADCE:0:0:75CA:6612 at 16:18, 28 January 2025