Suvarnadurg (Marathi: सुवर्णदुर्ग - translation: Golden Fort, also spelt Severndroog in English, a spelling sometimes also used for Savandurga[2][3]) is a fort that is located between Mumbai and Goa on a small island in the Arabian Sea, near Harnai in Konkan, along the West Coast of India, in the Indian state of Maharashtra.

The basic objective of establishing the fort was to counter enemy attacks, mainly by the colonialists of Europe and also by the local chieftains.

Subsequently, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, other Peshwas and the Angres further fortified the forts for defence purposes.

Harnai, near the dilapidated Kanakadurg fort, is an important harbour, which is right on the edge of the land that protrudes into the Arabian Sea.

Another feature of the area is that a narrow channel separates the Gova, Kanakadurg[7] and Fattehgarh forts on the mainland.

He had complete control over the west coast, from Bombay to Vengurla, except for the fort of Janjira, which remained with the Siddis (for 200 years).

For maintaining "fealty" with the Sataras (Shivaji's family stronghold), he was granted 26 forts and its dependent villages, which included Suvarnadurg.

Leyton wrote in The "Moghul's Admiral": Angrian "Piracy" and the Rise of British Bombay: "It is now generally accepted by historians that Kanhoji [Angre], at least, was not a pirate in any sense of the word; rather, he is more properly thought of as the 'Admiral' of the Marathas"—an Indian Kingdom—"who for many years confronted European attempts to claim navigational rights over coastal shipping lanes".

In spite of conflicts with the British East India Company in 1732, Sambaji was back in Suvarnadurg unharmed.

However, by 1749, Tulaji, the stepbrother of Sambaji, had become very powerful and his ships sailed unharmed, even much bolder than what his father Kanhoji had achieved.

On 12 April 1755, British Commodore William James captured the fort and formally handed it over to the Peshwas.

In 1818, Captain William, leading a British force, attacked the fort and took full control of it on 4 December 1818.

The fort has witnessed a scene of "triumph and tragedy, of the display of heroic courage and abject cowardice.

"[6][4][15] The Angrias are also credited with not only strengthening the fort but also establishing the shipbuilding yard at Suvanadurg and creating a large fleet of warships to secure the west coast, the Konkan coast, from encroachment by the British, French and Dutch East India companies.

[6][4][16] There are several potable water sources (tanks, ponds and wells) in the fort; however, these dry up in the summer months.

This fort is now in ruins, except for a few water tanks, two dilapidated bastions (one at each end), a lighthouse on elevated ground, and also a residence for the caretaker.