In Maharashtra, Satvahan, Rashtrakuta, Shilahar, Yadav, and Kadamba dynasties have built forts since ancient times. Later in the medieval period, Mughal, Bahamani, Siddi, English, Portuguese and Marathas also built a large number of forts. But the only fortress built by the Dutch is in Maharashtra today and that is the Warehouse like a fortress at Vengurla. Today, the fortress has fallen into disrepair and if not taken care of in time, it is likely to go beyond the veil of time. This is the only fortress built by the Dutch in Maharashtra that needs to be preserved in time. The Vengurla Warehouse is located in the heart of the city. Due to neglect, a large number of trees have grown in this fort and the inner building is in a dangerous condition, the Archaeological Department has put up a signboard here telling this. ... The fort is spread over an acre and has four square bastions at each end. The facade of the gate of the fort is about 20-22 feet high and the ramparts are 10-12 feet high. The arch of the main gate of the fort is semicircular and has a window at the top of the gate. The ramparts are lined with cannons and have large trees growing on them. The inside of the door has guard porches on both sides. Upon entering through the door, there is a collapsed two-story building in front. There are steps to go up to the top of this building but you need to be careful. There are several rooms on this floor. One of the halls has a narrow staircase to go up but at present, it is dangerous to go upstairs. Peeking out from the window over here, you can see the entire Warehouse. When you walk around the entire Warehouse, you can see some other structures built on the bank. Besides, there is a deep well in the yard of the Warehouse. The bastion is lined with ramparts to mount the cannon. There are no cannons in the warehouse today, but two cannons can be seen at the nearby Vengurla port. As Vengurla was a famous trading port in ancient times, a Dutch trader who came to India in the 16th century arrived at Vengurla. Dutch traders from Holland are referred to as "Valandej" in Maratha documents. As Vengurla was a major trading port, with the permission of the Adilshah of Bijapur, who ruled the place at that time, the Dutch merchant chief 'Literd Janszuns’ started the trade. The warehouse was built here in 1655. But when it collapsed, a new fortified Warehouse was built. It cost three thousand guilders (three thousand tola weights of gold) to build it. Built-in the Portuguese style, the Warehouse was designed for double use as a warehouse and fortress. The warehouse was guarded by ten cannons and two hundred armed soldiers. While slaves from Africa were assigned to the cannons on warehouses, others were Indian soldiers for protection. In 1671, Badi Begum had stayed in this warehouse before going on Hajj. In 1680, a moat was dug around the warehouse and a bridge was built over it. It was convenient to lift the bridge in times of difficulty. It is recorded that Adilshah's chiefs Mustafa Khan, Afzal Khan and Rango Pandit, and Neto Pandit from Shivaji Maharaj came to negotiate with the Dutch in Vengurla's warehouse. Aurangzeb's rebellious son Akbar had lived here for some time. In 1736, Karveerkar's army looted the Dutch warehouse. The Dutch then obtained permission to build a warehouse at Malvan port. In the year 1765, the forts of Yashwantgad and Bharatgad of Wadikar were captured by the British. At that time, the British returned the Bharatgad fort and made it a condition that Vengurla would remain in the possession of the British till they received Rs. 2 lakhs. Accordingly, Vengurla was under the control of the British till 1780. In the same year, the Wadikars attacked and captured the town and fort of Vengurla. In 1786, a joint force of Karveerkar and Peshwa captured Vengurla Kot. But soon later, a joint force of Wadikar and the Portuguese recaptured it. In the war between Karveerkar and Sawantwadikar in 1813, the British mediated. To repay the expense of the war to the British, Sawantwadikar handed over the city and fort of Vengurla to them. Until 1963, the warehouse was replaced by government offices. After that when the building was abandoned, the materials used for construction, door frames, and other items were stolen and the building collapsed and only stands as a relic. When the Dutch Embassy demanded the protection of the warehouse in 1983, the fort was temporarily repaired at Rs 10,000.
© Suresh Nimbalkar