Janjira Fort

At Janjira fort you shall discover the charms of an island fortress. The beach is clear and wide, fringed with palm trees. The fortress is 300 years old, and an architectural marvel. In fact, it was once considered to be impregnable. The palace of the Nawab at Murud and the Janjira caves are also a must for tourists. A few kilometers away are two pristine and beautiful beaches- Kashid and Nandgaon.

Main attraction of Murud is Janjira fort. It is about 2 kms. from sea shore.  Cannons are on every bastion to attack enemy. The huge and historically well-known cannons ‘Kalal Bangadi', 'Chavi', and ‘Landa Kasam' are on the bastion near main door. Situated on a rock of oval shape near the port town of Murud, 165kms south of Mumbai, Janjira is one of the strongest marine forts of India (the word ‘Janjira' is a corruption of the Arabic word Jazira which means island). The forts is approached by sailboats from Rajapuri jetty.  The main gate of the fort faces Rajapuri on the shore and can be seen only when one is quite close to it.  It has a small postern gate towards the open sea for escape.  The fort has 19 rounded bastions, about 30-40 ft high, still intact.

Originally the fort was small wooden structure built by a Koli (fishermen community) chief in the late 15th century. Pir Khan, a general of Nizamshah of Ahmednagar, captured it.  Later Malik Ambar, the Abyssinian Siddi regent of Ahmednagar kings, strengthened the fort.  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(lotus shaped), just 9kms north of Janjira. The palace of the Nawabs of Janjira at Murud is still in good shape.

Janjira and Padmdurg can be seen in same trip from Murud. Beside Janjira and Padmdurg thick forest of Kesoli, Fansad caves near Kudya are worth visiting. 

Accommodation:

Holiday camps of Tourism Development Corporation are in Murud.

Getting there:

By Air: Nearest airport is Mumbai 165 kms.

By Rail: Nearest railhead is Roha 50 kms.

By Road: Mumbai – Murud – Via Revdanda. 165 kms.

Pune – Murud via Mahad 230 kms.

Alibag – Murud 52 kms.

Mumbai, Pune to Murud.

Places to visit nearby:

The place of the Naeab, Janjira caves, two undiscovered beaches Kashid and Nandgaon are few kilometers away.