Some of the forts in the Konkan are in the dark today and their existence is only in the pages of history. The fort of Nandgaon in Devgad taluka is an example of this. Today, the fort is only a name in the pages of history. To reach Devgad on the Mumbai-Goa highway, a fork erupts from Nandgaon. Although Nandgaon still exists, its fort or its remains are nowhere to be seen. Not only that, but even the elderly people here do not know that there was a fort here. I found mention of Nandgaon fort in Satish Akkalkot's book ‘Gadkille Sindhudurg Jilhyatil’. The fort is mentioned in a non-dated copy letter as per the historical record made by him in his book. ... According to his records, Shekhoji, son of Khandoji Naik Jagtap, who was the patron soldier of Kolhapur Maharaj, became a Sardar by his power and was appointed in the Bhudargad region. He made arrangements for the Negroes who were kidnapping people’s wives in the Rajapur area, so Maharaj imprisoned him up at Nandgaon in the Konkan. Shekhoji was later killed in an attack on Bhudargad. There is no mention of this fort anywhere other than this record. Nandgaon is an important place on the way from Kolhapur to Vijaydurg Devgad port in Konkan via Bavda Ghat. But since this fort is not mentioned anywhere else and the letter received is not an original letter but a dated copy, there is some room for doubt. As there is no sign of a fort in and around the village, it is not possible to say for sure that there was a fort here.
© Suresh Nimbalkar