On the Kolhapur–Belgaum highway, about 17 km after Sankeshwar, lies the small town of Yamkanmardi on the left side of the road. In the middle of this village, located right next to the highway, there is a unique and approximately 40-feet-tall bastion that is worth a visit. Since this bastion is largely unknown, few people visit it. However, fort enthusiasts and researchers should definitely make a visit to witness this unusual example of fort architecture. Located just 16 km from Sankeshwar and only 32 km from Belgaum, this bastion is about 16 km from the taluka headquarters of Hukkeri. Though situated around 1 km off the highway, it is visible from the road, making it easy to locate by tracking the route. Inside the bastion are two chambers, which are currently misused for drinking alcohol and gambling, so one should proceed with caution. ... There is a small entrance to access the bastion, which is built about 10 feet above the ground. In later times, stairs were constructed to reach this doorway. Above this door, at the edge of the bastion, there is a stone balcony (Sajja) enclosed with protective features designed to attack any enemy reaching the entrance. Upon entering, there is a circular arched staircase. To allow light and for firing guns, small window-like openings have been created along the passage. On the right side of the staircase, there is a chamber with another room inside. This was likely a storage room for ammunition and weapons. Further ahead, toward the top of the bastion, is another room, probably used as a resting place for soldiers stationed there. Upon reaching the top of the bastion, a raised platform can be seen at the center. On this platform, there are eight circular arches made of bricks. To access this area, steps have been carved into the stone. Beneath each brick arch, there are stone niches likely used for placing torches — but why so many torches were needed remains unclear. At the edge of the bastion is a round parapet with stairs leading up to it at two points. There is also a small door that provides access to the upper balcony located above the main entrance. Once a full circle is made on the bastion, the visit is complete. It takes around 15 minutes to explore. In the northern Konkan region, similar isolated bastions built by the Portuguese can be seen near the coastline, but such standalone bastions are rarely found on the Deccan plateau. A comparable bastion from the Peshwa era exists near the Arnala Fort, but its construction differs significantly from this one. A closer comparison could be made to the bastion located in the middle of the Kittur fort, which is, however, protected by fort walls. Yamkanmardi bastion stands apart from all these, as it has no surrounding fortifications and relies solely on its own structural defence. As of now, no historical records about Yamkanmardi Fort have come to my attention, but judging from the overall construction, the bastion is likely 350 to 400 years old.
© Suresh Nimbalkar