Refreshingly Konkan – Part IV – Diveagar to Bankot Fort

The road along the coast from Diveagar to Srivardhan

Bankot Fort
Jetty from Bagmandla to Bankot

Our next route from Diveagar to Bankot Fort was full of scenic spots and much adventure. The road from Diveagar to Srivardhan (about 11 kms) runs parallel to the coast and is breathtakingly beautiful. We reached Harihareshwar around lunch time and stopped at MTDC's Grasshopper Inn restaurant to refuel. The fare is just about ok, but the location of the restaurant bang on the seashore adds something extraordinary to the experience. Bankot fort is vaguely visible from the restaurant, but one has to cross the creek to get there.

There is a jetty service which ferries people, vehicles as well as animals across the creek from Bagmandla to Bankot. The journey of around 1.5 kms takes 10 minutes and saves you 100 kms of road travel had you been forced to take the land route instead. It reminded me of a similar passage in Goa when the bridge across the Mandovi river at Panaji had collapsed. I must've been very young but have vivid memories of that trip!

When we got off at Bankot, we stopped to get directions to the fort from a couple on a bike. They suggested a road through the village that was obviously not a problem for them, but with our four-wheeler, we were almost negotiating through people's houses. With bated breath, we braved the bylanes of Bankot and its paraphernalia of vendors, street shops, cattle, racing poultry, pigs, stray dogs, and cats, and arrived intact at Bankot feeling really lucky! If you have to do this, I suggest taking the left turn (via a more circuitous route) after the jetty harbour and approach Bankot from the highway side.

Unfortunately after all the adventure, there is nothing much at Bankot. The entrance gate is majestic, but not unique. But the fort itself is very small and can be seen in less than 5 minutes. That's not only because it is in ruins but also because there does not seem to be any major historical significance attached to the place. The view is marvelous though and can hold you for much longer.

My verdict: The fort itself may not be that exciting, but the route is an unforgettable experience. We proceeded to Murud Harnai from here.