Khandesh province is also known as the home of “Saade Bara Rawal”. Rawal is the title given to the clans and there are different clans like Sisodia, Solanki, Parmar, and Pratihar in this Rawal. These twelve and a half Rawals are 1. Dondaicha 2. Malpur 3. Sindkheda 4. Ashte 5. Sarangkheda 6. Ranjane 7. Lambola 8. Lamkani 9. Chaugaon 10. Hatmoida 11.Ranale 12.Manjar 13.Karvand is known as “Ardhe Watan” (half) as it is half native in Khandesh and half outside Khandesh. Out of these 4 forts namely Ashte, Lambola, Chaugaon, Hatmoida have been completely destroyed while the remaining 5 fortress are struggling with time while maintaining their ruins. 4 of these fortress still remain in their original form. After the dissolution of the institution, most of the fortress are falling into ruins as it becomes difficult for the fortress owner to maintain it, which is a private property, but the fortress of Dondai is an exception. ... The fortress of Dondai is still in good condition. Presently the residence of Hon'ble Jai Singh Rawal, Minister of Tourism and Employment of Maharashtra State, this fortress can be seen from the outside and some parts of the interior with his proper permission. The fortress of Dondai is located in Sindkheda taluka at a distance of 57 km from Dhule and 35 km from Nandurbar. This fortress is located at the confluence of Amravati and Bhogavati rivers and inside it is the residence of Hon'ble Jai Singh Rawal, Tourism Minister of Maharashtra. This triangular shaped fortress is spread over an area of about three acres and Jaisingh Rawal's office is in the fortress's premises and Rawal's mansion is in the inner part. The main entrance of the fortress faces north and its original ramparts along the river bank are still there. Inside the fortress premises is the main gate of the mansion and near this gate two small cannons can be seen placed on wheel carts. Rawal's private office is on the inner side of the mansion gate and only limited access is allowed there. In this office you can see old documents as well as old photographs of the fortress and some other items. Here your visit to the fortress is complete. While walking around the fortress, one can see four bastions in the ramparts. Half an hour is enough to see the fortress and its surroundings. After Khilji invasion, 24 clans of Rajput’s headed towards Mandu under the leadership of Abhay Singh Rawal. His son Ajay Singh Rawal established his stronghold on the banks of Amravati River in AD 1333 and built a small fortress, which is the Dondai fortress. 52 villages in the area of Dondai were under the authority of this institute. Although there was a change of power from time to time, the rulers did not make any changes in the authority of these Rawals.
© Suresh Nimbalkar