Many forts in the Konkan have been destroyed in the course of time and today the names of these forts can be found in the history books only. Not only that, but the locals are also ignorant about this fort or its information. The village of Achre, once known as a port on the banks of Achra Bay, is today famous for its Rameshwar Temple. But the Achre fort here has been destroyed over time and has been completely forgotten by the people. Achre village is at a distance of 20 km away from Malvan city. As of no remnants of the fort can be seen in the village or nearby area, its exact location cannot be ascertained. Four cannons can still be seen in the Rameshwar temple in Achare village. One of the big cannons is near the well outside the temple premises and the other three cannons are in the temple yard. ... Although it is not known who built the Achara Kot and when but it is mentioned in the period of 270 years from 1555 to 1824. During the Adilshahi period, Desai Sawant of Achre, lived like as an independent king. In 1555, when the Portuguese Viceroy Albuquerque invaded Banda, his army fight with the Adilshahi army at Achre. During this time the city of Achre came under Portuguese control for some time. After Shivaji Maharaj invaded Konkan in 1664, Naik Satam fled and took refuge with the Portuguese. After the dispute over the inheritance of the Maratha throne, Achre came under the control of Karveer SANSTHAN. In 1707, the province was given to Ramchandrapant Amatya. In 1734 Bhagwantrao Amatya complained in the Satara court that Sambhaji Angre had taken possession of Achre Kot, Sambhaji Angre rebutted the attack given by him against Amatya has attacked Rajapur. In 1744, Ranoji Naik Satam confessed to helping the Portuguese to capture the area from Achre to Vijaydurg with 2600 men. In 1812, according to the treaty between the British and Karveer Sansthan Sindhudurg came under the control of the British, but Achre Kot was under the control of the Karveer Sansthan. In a letter dated 1814, it is mentioned that the revenue going to Karveer from Achre was stopped by the case officer at Sindhudurg which he sent later to the Karveer Maharaj. Colonel Imlak, a British officer, took possession of Achre Kot after Devgad on 7 April 1818, but according to the 1812 treaty, Achre was again handed over to Karveer Sansthan. According to a letter dated 13 January 1824, 18 large and 11 small guns were brought from the Sindhudurg fort at Achre. Of these, 6 large and 2 small guns were kept at Achre and the rest were moved later. Only 4 of these guns can be seen on the premises of Rameshwar temple today.
© Suresh Nimbalkar