While exploring the forts of Yavatmal district, one comes across small and large fortresses like Raveri, Kayar, Durg, and Kalamb. However, these forts are rarely mentioned in any historical records. Among them, although Kayar, Durg, and Kalamb are classified as forts, the structure at Raveri is actually a ground-level fortress, or gadhi. Locally, this gadhi is known as the residence of Balasaheb Deshmukh. To visit the Raveri gadhi, one must first reach Ralegaon, a taluka town in Yavatmal district. Ralegaon to Raveri is about 3 kilometres, and private rickshaws are available for transport. Upon entering Raveri village, the outer fortification of the gadhi can be seen directly from the road. ... The gadhi consists of two main sections: the core fortress and the outer rampart (parkot). The outer rampart adjoins the wall of the main gadhi, and within this outer area stands a mansion built by Balasaheb Deshmukh around 100–125 years ago. The lower portion of the gadhi is built of stone, while the upper section is constructed using white clay plaster. The fortress wall includes five bastions. There is a hollow bastion located in the central northern part of the wall, through which a winding path leads into the gadhi. Inside the gateway, there are small sentry rooms on either side, which are now crumbling. Most of the internal structures within the gadhi have collapsed and are now overgrown with vegetation. A staircase leads to the southwest bastion, from which one can view the entire gadhi complex as well as the surrounding region. There is also a stone-built well that once supplied water to the gadhi, now almost filled and on the verge of being lost. In addition, there is an underground passage running through the inner part of the fort wall, but due to loose and crumbling earth inside, entering it would be dangerous. It takes only about fifteen minutes to explore the entire gadhi. Apart from the fortress, the village also has an ancient temple known as the Sita Mandir. The current descendant of the Deshmukh family, Balasaheb Deshmukh, resides in Nagpur. This Deshmukh family once held the villages of Raver, Watkhed, and two other nearby settlements as hereditary estates.
© Suresh Nimbalkar