The plight of unfamiliar forts can be seen not only in Maharashtra but also in other states adjoining Maharashtra with a slight difference. While exploring the forts in Belgaon, we come across an unfamiliar and neglected fort. The exact name of the fort is not known to anyone even the villagers don’t know this. It is also a question that after which village should the fort be named as this fort is situated on the border of two villages, namely Kutarnotti and Shiltibhavi. The devotees of both the villages visit the temple on the fort and say that it belongs to their respective village. The fort is at a distance of 8 km from Shiltibhavi village and 2 km from Kutarnatti village. This fort is located in Gokak taluka of Belgaon district on Gokak-Bailhongal road. This fort is at a distance of 25 km from Gokak as well as from Bailhongal. ... This fort is on the way to Gokak after seeing Chachadi fort and the fort at Bailhongal. At a distance of 8 km from Chachdi on the Bailhongal-Gokak road, there is a fork leading to Kutarnatti village on the left, while on the right the unpaved road leads to the hill in front. From here, looking towards the hill on the left, you can see the bastion of the fort. Continuing along this road, you can see a spacious courtyard and a temple on the left. From this temple, there is a footpath leading to the fort on the right side of the road. If you have a vehicle like a jeep, the vehicle goes straight to the fort but if it is a small vehicle, it should be parked at the temple. Built-in wrought stone, this temple belongs to God Hanuman and there is a tall stone Deepmal in front of the temple. We reach the top of the fort in 10 minutes by following the steps adjacent to the temple. There is a small temple of the goddess carved in the rock outside the fort and the idol of this goddess is installed inside it. After taking a detour to the temple, we reach the ruined gate of the fort. The size of the fort is very small and the inner area should be ¼ acre. The ramparts of the fort are built of solid stone and there are 3 bastions in it. One of these bastions is slightly larger. The ramparts of the fort are not very tall and there are curtain walls on the ramparts. In the center of the fort is a fallen stone structure and there is a small door to go out of the fort in case of emergency. 10 minutes is enough to see the entire fort. As this is the only hill fort in this area, a very large distant region can be seen from here. The history behind this fort is not available. Due to the lack of population in the vicinity of the fort and also the difference in languages, it is difficult to communicate with the locals and locate the fort. Therefore I am giving the latitude and longitude of the fort (15.989811, 74.874810) so that it becomes easy for you to locate the fort on maps.
© Suresh Nimbalkar