Revdanda Fort is a fort in Konkan coast in Maharashtra. The fort history goes back to Mahabaratha period!
The fort has also witnessed a violent war between King Hansdhwaj and the great Arjuna! And that’s not all, the Portuguese ruled these parts and the Revdanda creek became an important locale of their trade and commerce. They even built the Revdanda Fort in 1558, which still stands in remnants as a testimony of their reign in India.
Many powerful rulers of that time had laid their hands in besieging the fort, but all their effort went in vain. The fort withstood many attacks from the English rulers and even the Marathas. And believe it or not, the legendary St. Francis Xavier himself delivered one of his early sermons over here! Another famous traveler, Afanasy Nikitin, who is considered the first Russian traveler in India, also visited Revdanda. A monument stands in this part as a gesture of gratitude.
This ancient fort stands in a mere dilapidated condition, but still holds the secrets of the past. Since it’s a sea fort, the fortification starts on the golden sands of the Revdanda Beach. However, the western walls which face the Arabian Sea, have witnessed tremendous erosion over time due to the salty sea waves and are completely ruined.
The fortification has two main doors, one from the north and the other from the south. The northern gate was for land connection and the southern gate was used as a passage to the sea. Portuguese built a dock over here which has now become non-existent over time. The north and south gate is connected directly by a long road made of stones. The western part of the compound is where tourists can find some relics of the ancient fort, but the rest of it has become the Revdanda village with houses and patches of farmlands. The entire Revdanda village is presently within the fort compound walls. The walls around the fort are pretty tall and are toughened by the covering bastions. And you can even find some age-old guns covered under the growing weeds!
But wait, there’s more! The most exciting part of the Revdanda Fort is the network of underground tunnels. The tunnels are made of brick and mortar and there are decorated arches to hold the tunnel walls.
How the Portuguese built arch decorated tunnels with no modern instrument is a mystery. The height and width of each tunnel is 3 meters both ways and all the tunnels have small openings on the top for light and fresh air. These tunnels were used for people safekeeping during war and other emergencies. Unfortunately, they’re closed for tourists to avoid any accidents. But the thought of exploring these tunnels will give you an adrenaline rush!
In conclusion, Revdanda Fort is a must-visit place for tourists visiting Alibag and its surrounding areas. The strong sea breeze and the sound of the waves, along with the historic remnants, are what makes the visit to Revdanda Fort so special.
This fort was built by Portuguese Capt. Soj, and completed in 1524. It was in the control of Portuguese till 1806 when it was captured by Marathas. Finally it was captured by British in 1818.
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