Karnala Fort : In News
Over 60 hectares has been recently deforested off the Karnala Fort under Bhadbhuvan village, Uran, without prior permission of the Union govt.
- Karnala Fort, also called Funnel Hill, is a historic hill fort located in Raigad District in Maharashtra.
- Standing inside the Karnala Bird Sanctuary, it offers stunning views of the Sahyadris.
- The fort overlooks the historic Bor Pass, a key trade route connecting Konkan to Maharashtra’s interior.
- The fort was likely constructed before 1400, under the Devagiri Yadavs (1248–1318) and the Tughlaq rulers (1318–1347); Karnala was the capital of the north Konkan districts of their respective empires.
- Its strategic location made it a coveted possession for various rulers over the centuries.
- Controlled at various times by the Yadavas, Tughlaqs, Gujarat Sultanate, Nizam Shahis of Ahmednagar, Portuguese, Marathas, Mughals, Peshwas, and finally the British East India Company
- The fort’s significance grew during its role in Maratha history, when it became a crucial outpost for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in his quest to establish a Maratha empire.
- It actually consists of two forts, one at a higher level and the other lower.
- At the centre of the higher level is a 125-feet-high basalt pillar. It is also called Pandu’s tower.
- This structure was used as a watchtower when the fort was occupied; however now it is in a ruined condition.
- There is a temple dedicated to the goddess Bhavani located at the bottom of the fort.
