Bankot

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This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS.

Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts.Many units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.

Bankot

(or Fort Victoria). — Village and old fort in the Dapoli tahika of Ratnagiri District, Bombay, situated in 17 59' N. and 73 3' E., at the mouth of the Savitri river, 73 miles south-east from Bombay. Popu- lation (1901), 276. In the beginning of the eighteenth century ( Ban- coote ' was a pirate nest of the Maratha chief Angria. It was ceded by the Marathas in exchange for the conquered fortress of Gheria in 1756, and thus became the first British possession on the mainland of Western India. It was renamed Fort Victoria, and was highly valued as sup- plying Bombay with provisions, and also as affording the inhabitants a change of air and scene.

James Forbes {Oriental Memoirs) visited it in 1 77 1. Bankot lies at the foot of a rocky headland in the extreme north of the District. The river is navigable by vessels of 16 feet draught 18 miles to Mahapral, and by vessels drawing 7 feet 10 miles farther to Mahad in Kolaba District. Until 1822 Bankot was the chief town of Ratnagiri District. It is now little more than a large fishing village with no manufactures. Coasting steamers call daily during the fair season, but the port is closed in the south-west monsoon. The value of the imports and exports is trifling. Bankot contains 7 schools, attended by 100 boys and 22 girls.