Harnai, Maharashtra

Suvarnadurg is a fort that is located on a small island in the Arabian Sea, near Harnai in Konkan, a rugged section of the coastline along the West Coast of India.

Suvarnadurg fort was built in the 16th century during the rule of emperor Adilshah. In 1660, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj defeated Adilshah the second and added this fort to the Maratha empire. In the year 1688, after the death of Shivaji, Rajaram appointed Sarkhel Kanhoji Aangre as the authority over this fort. This fort was a headquarter to the great soldier Kanhoji Aangre who was known as the Shivaji of the sea. From Kanhoji to Tulaji, this fort remained under the command and control of the Aangre family. In the year 1755, this fort came under the rule of the Peshwas and later, under the British in the year 1818. This fort continued to be under the British until Independence. Suvarnadurg fort at Harnai, is the oldest forts in Dapoli.

The Harnai port at Dapoli Taluka^[2] has a group of 3 forts, namely Kanakadurga, Fateh Gadh and Goa Fort. There is no proper information about who built these forts, but it is known that these forts were built to strategically support and protect the main Suvarnadurg fort. Among these 3 forts, Goa Fort spreads in a surface area of three and a quarter hectors. The fort is surrounded by sea on the western and northern sides and has a natural high rise at the southern part. There are remains of structures on this high rise.