Harne Port in Dapoli tehsil of Ratnagiri district has been famous since ancient times. From Mahad, Mandangad, and Khed, Dapoli could be reached by road and from there you can reach Harne. The port of Harne is of historical importance due to the fort of Suvarnadurg. Goa Fort, Kanakdurg, and Fatehgad were built on the shores of Harne in different dynasties to protect Suvarnadurg. This small fort was built on the top of a small hill in the sea in front of Suvarnadurga to the south of Harne. It is not known exactly when and by whom the fort was built but most historians believe that it was built after Shivaji Maharaj’s period. The road from Harne village to Kanakdurg takes you to the fort by a stone bridge. The bridge has been constructed to prevent the connection of Kanakdurg with the land during monsoons and high tides. ... On reaching the fort, on the right side of the road, you can see a big black stone bastion and a saffron flag fluttering on it. To the right of this bastion are steps leading to the fort. The gate of the fort here is destroyed today. This step takes you to the top of Kanakdurga in five minutes. Going up the steps, you can see some water cisterns carved on the slope on the right side. Due to so many years of neglect and use by the locals all these cisterns have turned into garbage bins. The fort is spread over an area of about 5 acres and there is a small fortification in the area facing the sea. The structures at the top of the fort have been destroyed and in some places, their quadrangle structure remains. The lighthouse is built at the top of the fort and is not in use at present. From Kanakdurg, Suvarnadurg is seen on the west and Fatehdurg hill is surrounded by fishermen's houses on the north. The beach of Murud, Dabhol to Gopalgad can see from the lighthouse. Since there are not many remains on Kanakdurga, you can explore the fort in half an hour. In a reference to the year 1862, it is said that both Kanakdurg and Fatehgad forts were in bad condition.
© Suresh Nimbalkar