Some of the forts in Konkan have been destroyed in the course of time and some of the forts are still standing but have been forgotten. The existence of such forts remains in the pages of history to date. Awade Kot is one such forgotten fort. Although Awade Kot in Dodamarg taluka still carries a lot of remains on its shoulders, no one turns to this fort due to the misconception that this fort does not exist. Awade Kot aka Awade fort is located at a distance of 35 km from Banda city and 12 km from Doda Marg. Although no one knows the fort in this area except the people of Awade village. The locals not only show the exact location of the fort but also come with you to show the fort. Awade fort is located on the banks of the Tilari river which flows out of the village and the water of this river is diverted into the moat around the fort. ... Even today, the water of this river seems to have flowed into some places. A large number of bamboo trees grow inside and outside of the fort and your entry is through a moat and then into the fort. The width of the trench is about 15 feet and the depth cannot be estimated due to the soil accumulated in the trench. The main gate of the fort has been destroyed and its exact location cannot be ascertained. Your entrance to the fort is through a ruined rampart. The fort is about a square in size and spreads over an acre. The ramparts of the fort should have four bastions at the four ends as there are three bastions at the three ends and the fourth end is inaccessible due to heavily overgrown trees. The bastions and ramparts of the fort are built-in carved stone and the height of the ruined rampart is only four to five feet. Although the height of the bastion is a bit high, a large number of trees have grown on it. Walking through the bushes, you can see a ruined structure measuring 15 x 25 feet with walls on all four sides. Apart from this, there is a toilet in the ramparts of the fort and some remnants of houses in the inner area. The fort has a square-shaped well to supply water and this well still has water but it is not potable as it is not in use. The villagers show the inner part of the fort as a Talim (Wrestling house). There is a small door leading to this area. It takes half an hour to see the entire fort through the bushes but you have to be accompanied by a local man to show the remains. Wadikar Fond Sawant built the Awade fort near the Goa border in around 1732. The fort is mentioned in a letter written by Nanasaheb Peshwa to Ramchandra Sawant during 1738-55 when there was a dispute over inheritance in the Wadi Sansthan. Awade Kot is mentioned in a letter written by Nag Sawant, son of Khem Sawant to Pantamatya from Awade. In October 1746, after Sankhalikar Rane and other Desai left Sawant's party and joined the Portuguese, Satroji Rane handed over Sawant's Awade fort and some other forts to the Portuguese. After that, this fort seems to have come under the possession of Sawant again in 1832, the list of people in this fort, and the provision of expenses can be found in the Sawantwadi office. In 1844-45, due to the uprising against the British rule in Karveer province, many forts in the area were demolished including Awade fort.
© Suresh Nimbalkar