Vallabhgad Fort

Vallabhgad is situated near village Hargaapur. To reach Hargaapur, we need to take a diversion on Kolhapur – Belgaon Highway, about 3 km after Sankeshwar stop. From Hargaapur, we can reach the top of the fort in 15 minutes.

Type : Hill forts

District : Belgaon

Fascinating Spots :
On the fort, there is an ancient temple of Margubai Devi near the bastion of the fort. In front of the temple is a “Deepmaal”, or an arrangement of lights. The arch of the main entrance is still in good shape. The entrance is of “Gomukhi” type. Here we find a Hanuman temple. On the eastern side of the fort is the temple of Siddheshwar. Below the temple there is a cave, in which the “Paduka” or the feet of the God are worshipped. It is said that there is a secret tunnel from this cave to Sankeshwar. In the middle of the fort there is a square shaped well. To enter this well, there is a tunnel from behind the Hanuman temple. The steps to get down are large enough. After 20-25 steps, we come across an arch. There is one large well on the fort, whose water is circulated through taps on the fort.
It takes around 1.5 to 2 hours to see the complete fort. The ramparts of the fort are destroyed completely. On the northern point, there is a bastion internal to ramparts. This was used to keep a watch on the fort. Even though the fort is not large, it is significant as one of the forts of Shivaji Maharaj outside Maharashtra.

Ways To Reach :
To reach Hargaapur, we need to take a diversion on Kolhapur – Belgaon Highway, about 3 km after Sankeshwar stop. From Hargaapur, we can reach the top of the fort in 15 minutes.