Forts Of India: September 2013

Sindhudurg ( Malwan Fort )

Sindhudurg was built in 1664-67 AD by Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, when all his attempts to take the island fort of Janjira proved futile.

The construction was done under the supervision of Hiroji Indulkar, an able architect.

Chatrapati Shivaji had invited 100 Portuguese experts from Goa for the construction of the fort. It is also recorded that 3000 workers were employed round the clock for three years to build Sindhudurg.

Type : Jal Durga

Distance From : Approximatly 390 km from Pune,5 km from Malwan,
490 km from Mumbai

District : Sindhudurg

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Main Entrance

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Janjira Fort

Originally the fort was small wooden structure built by a Koli chief in the late 15th century. It was captured by Pir Khan, a general of Nizamshah of Ahmednagar. Later the fort was strengthened by Malik Ambar, the Abyssinian Siddi regent of Ahmednagar kings. From then onward Siddis became independent, owing allegiance to Adilshah and the Mughals as dictated by the times. Despite their repeated attempts, the Portuguese, the British and the Marathas failed to subdue the Siddi power. Shivaji’s all attempts to capture Janjira fort failed due to one reason or the other. When Sambhaji also failed, he built another island fort, known as Kansa or Padmadurg, just 9kms north of Janjira. The Janjira state came to an end after 1947. The palace of the Nawabs of Janjira at Murud is still in good shape.

Situated on a rock of oval shape near the port town of Murud. Janjira is one of the strongest marine forts of India (the word ‘Janjira’ is a corruption of the Arabic word Jazira for island).

Type : Jal Durga

Distance From : Approximatly 194 km from Pune, 60 km from Raigad, 150 km from Mumbai

District : Raigad

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Janjira Fort - Main Entrance

Ruins of Buildings

The small pond inside Janjira fort

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Sinhagad Fort

Sinhgad Fort is located around 30 km from Pune, India.

Earlier it was known by Kondhana. It is also strategically located at the centre of a string of other forts such as Rajgad, Purandar and Torna.

The fort had seen many important battles, most noticeable was the battle of Sinhagad in 1670 between Tanaji Malusare and Udaybhan Rathod.

This is in the range of Bhuleswar range of the Sahyadri Mountains, given natural protection by its very steep slopes, the walls and bastions were constructed at only key places; it has two gates – the Kalyan Darwaza in the south-east and the Pune (Main) Darwaza in the north-east.

The Kaundinyeshwar temple, the caves and the carvings indicate that this fort had probably been built two thousand years back. It was captured from the Koli tribal chieftain, Nag Naik, by Muhammad bin Tughlaq in 1328 AD.

Most famous battles for Sinhgad was fought between Tanaji Malusare(Maratha Sardar) and Udaybhan Rathod (Mughal Sardar) to recapture the fort by, in March 1670.
Tanaji lost his life, but his brother Suryaji took over and captured Kondana.
There is an anecdote that upon hearing of Tanaji's death, Shivaji expressed his remorse with the words: "Gad aala pan sinha gela" - "We gained the fort, but lost the lion"

Type : Giri Durga

Distance From : Approximatly 30 Km form Pune

District : Pune

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