Maharashtra has been blessed with such a rich heritage of forts and fortified structures that many gadhi-forts are not even recorded in official government documents or in the lists maintained by fort enthusiasts. During the later Maratha period, when the Peshwa held central authority, many ground forts (Bhuikot) and gadhis were constructed across Maharashtra. Some of these gadhi-wada were private structures used for revenue collection and self-defence. After the abolition of the jagir system and the conversion of lands into state property, it became increasingly difficult for the gadhi owners to maintain these private structures. Consequently, many such gadhis have fallen into ruin. In several places, growing families and occupational migration have led owners to relocate elsewhere, leaving the gadhis abandoned and consigned to history. Additionally, local apathy towards these structures has also contributed to their neglect and gradual destruction. ... One such unrecorded fort-like structure is located in the village of Malnagaon, which has no official registration or mention as a fort or gadhi in any available documentation or online sources. Hence, this is a small effort to introduce this relatively unknown gadhi. The gadhi is located in Malnagaon village in Kavathe Mahankal Taluka of Sangli district. To visit it, one must travel via Sangli-Miraj or the town of Kavathe Mahankal. Malnagaon is situated about 32 km from Sangli-Miraj and 12 km from Kavathe Mahankal. Locally, the gadhi is known as the "Shinde Sarkar Wada." This rectangular gadhi spans about one acre. Due to extensive deterioration, it is difficult to determine the original architectural details. Built on a small elevated mound, a few wall sections and two bastions remain standing, while most of the structure has been destroyed. The surviving portions suggest that the 20-foot-high walls were constructed with rough stones and bonded with mud mortar. Inside the gadhi, dense thorny vegetation has grown, making it difficult to enter and explore. Within the structure, a newly constructed small dome houses a deity known as Tandala. There is no visible source of water within the gadhi. Some descendants of the Shinde family, the original owners of the gadhi, still reside in the surrounding area, with their homes located nearby. Exploring the entire gadhi takes approximately half an hour. This structure, which has silently witnessed the passage of time, deserves to be visited and acknowledged before it fades entirely into oblivion.
© Suresh Nimbalkar