I would like to report the bad conservation work being done by Archaeological Department at Rasalgad Fort in Ratnagiri. I’m doing research on forts like Rasalgad, Sumargad and Mahipatgad. The forts are 250 km away from Mumbai, but a good weekend trekking spots. During my visits to the fort, I noticed the shoddy conservation work being done by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Ancient heritage
In fact, large amount of funds had been spent, but upon examination the work looks inferior. Rasalgad, Sumargad and Mahipatgad are three well known forts in Ratnagiri. As forts controlling the Sahyadri pass, from the Konkan side, Mahipatgad (3,090 ft), Sumargad (3,090 ft), Rasalgad (1,770 ft) facing the Amboli Ghat, Mashal (3,348 ft) opposite the Vishalgad route, were important in Maratha history.
These forts are the favourite spots of trekkers and mountaineering enthusiasts. Among them, Rasalgad fort has traces of history from an era more than 2,000 years ago. It had great importance in the period of Emperor Shivaji. Before Shivaji, it was in the territory of More of Javli. Shivaji conquered it in the year 1656. Rasalgad was captured by Peshwas with the help of British and was finally lost in the last Maratha war with the British in the year 1818.
Protected monument
In the year 2003, Rasalgad was declared as a protected monument under the Maharashtra Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1960. After declaration as a protected monument, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) carried out some repairs, restoration and conservation activities on existing ancient structures of Rasalgad fort.
Inferior work
The department restored old basalt stone carved lamp post known as Deep Maal, a prominent structure on Rasalgad.
As per historical evidence, the Deep Maal is more than 250 years old. Originally, it had 7 layers of lamp posts each having 5 pots. However, the ASI department has restored it partially. The overall architectural view and ratio of height to base area is disturbed drastically resulting in an odd shape. Some missing parts of Deep Maal are replaced by new carved substitutes.
Other flaws
The ASI has conducted other restoration work of old the Zolai Devi temple. The old temple had some rich wood carving. While doing the restoration work, ASI department demolished the old temple and reconstructed it with an awkward shape. While repairing the shrine they have used corner stones of another ancient heritage structure of the commandant’s house. After exhausting the funds wastefully for black basalt tiling around the temple, ASI has left the shrine without roof since April 2009. The temple was covered with plastic papers. Now they have proposed to provide galvanised metal sheets for the temple. The previous old roof consisted of Mangalore tiles. Architectural harmony, aesthetics are now on the way to ruin. There are many artefacts of immense importance in the fort. There is a rare idol of Lord Hanuman with a moustache. There are 21 cannons of different sizes. Ancient treasures of the fort is being ruined steadily. If such shoddy restoration work is conducted, our heritage will be destroyed.
— Pravin Kadam
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