Jaigad Fort stands on a rocky promontory about 55 kilometres north of Ratnagiri town, at the point where the Shastri River meets the sea. Built in the seventeenth century, it commands the river mouth and was strategically vital during the Maratha period for controlling sea trade along the Konkan coast.
The fort is more rugged and less visited than Ratnadurga, which is part of its appeal. The Jaigad Lighthouse at the tip of the headland is still operational and the views from around it — south to the river delta, north to open sea — are spectacular. The road from Ratnagiri follows the coast and is worth driving slowly for its own sake. Allow half a day for the trip.