Janjira Fort | Murud Janjira
Murud Janjira
fort is a very famous fort and have high historical remarks. It is located in
coastal town of Murud in Raigad district of konkan region. Janjira name came
from the name jazira which means island or island fort in Arabic language. In old
times it was also known by his name as Fort of Rajapuri. The fort falls under
category of sea fort and is surrounded by waters on all the sides.
The fort is
situated on the big rock which has oval shape in the Arabian Sea. It is one of
the strongest fort which remained unconquered till Britishers era. The fort was
built very strategically and its main gate faces the coastal side of rajapuri
village and can be seen only from 12 meters distance from it. There are around
45 canons present on the fort with 26 artillery towers. The fort has 2 very big
sweet water lakes.
The main
attraction of the fort is its canons. The fort has 3 gigantic canons. They are
named as landa, chavri and biggest of them is kalalbangadi. These canons are
made from panchdhatu which doesn’t get too hot even while firing the canons and
do not get rusty by the humid atmosphere in the region. These canons have very
high range of shooting.
The fort can be
visited all through the 12 months, but winter is recommended to visit the fort.
The temperature in summer goes very high and it feels hotter due to humid
atmosphere in the surroundings.
History
The first owner
of the fort was the local koli Raja Ram Rao Patil who was at Patil post of the
island and nearer village. The construction of the fort dates back to 15th
century. It was first built with the woods by the local koli community so they
can fight with pirates. Sultan king of ahmadnagar wished to have this fort in
his territory. But Patil refused the rule of Mohmmadian powers to his forts and
nearer area. Due to this, admiral piram khan was sent by the sultan to win the
fort and add it to the sultanate. The due to strong fortification it was
difficult for piram khan to win the fort by attacking it. So he made a
strategy, and he disguised as a merchant and requested Patil to stay at the
fort during night and also offered Patil and his men a meal in which toxic were
mixed. After piram khan and his men which came by hiding in the barrels
captured the fort by breaking the trust of Patil. This is how local power ended
on the fort and external powers ruled the fort.
After the time,
siddhis of janjira gets separated from any other sultanates and announced their
own empire, of which janjira was the capital. Siddhi Ambar was the first to
rule independently on janjira. Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Chatrapati
Sambhaji Maharaj however unfortunately failed to conquer the fort. But,
chatrapati shivaji maharaj built another fort named padmadurg very near to the
fort janjira and they called it another janjira on the head of siddhi’s
Janjira. Shambhuraje was very near to capture the fort but at same time Aurangzeb
sent his commanders in konkan region, that’s why Sambhaji raje has to go to
fight with Mughal armies and janjira won again.
However, In the
year of 1736, siddhis of janjira fought battles with the Great Peshwa Bajirao
Ballal. The Maratha empire was very strong at that time. Siddhis made mistake
to hurt the sentiments of marathas. Under Chimaji Appa (Brother of peshwa Bajirao)
Maratha Forces attacked siddhi near rewas, Chimaji Appa killed 1500 siddhi
soldiers and their king Siddhi sad were also killed.
How to Reach:
Janjira fort is
located in Raigad district on the western coast of Arabian sea. The fort is
around 160 km away from the pune city, 152 km far from Mumbai city, 200 km away
from satara city and 330 km away from Kolhapur city, the coastal village of
fort is well connected with the road transport and local transport. We have to take
boat ferry ride to visit the fort which is available in rajapuri village.
From Mumbai:
Mumbai- Vichmube- Pen- Nagothane- Roha- Murud.
From Pune: Pune-
Mulshi- Tamhini Ghat- Patnus- Indapur- Murud.
From Satara:
Satara- Mahabaleshwar- Poladpur- Mahad- Indapur- Murud.
From Kolhapur:
Kolhapur- Satara- Mahabaleshwar- Poladpur- Mahad- Indapur- Murud.
Nearest Places to Visit:
Padmadurg Fort:
The fort built by Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is very near to Murud village. Both
the forts can be visited on the same day.
Diveagar Beach:
a very famous dive agar beach is only 24 km away from the fort, one have to
take jetty from agardanda to dighi port and can reach Diveagar beach in very
less time.
https://maharashtratourists.blogspot.com/2023/04/diveagar-diveagar-beach-all-needed.html
Shrivardhan:
Shrivardhan is a village which has historical significance. It is the village
of peshwa family. And it is around 22 km away from diveagar beach.
Harihareshwar:
The very famous temple of harihareshwar is only 38 km away from Murud Janjira
fort and can be travelled by road and jetty.
Velas Beach: a
very famous velas beach for its turtle is only 17 km away from Murud janjira.
Bankot Fort:
Bankot fort comes in Ratnagiri district is around 75 km away from Murud janjira.
The fort is small but has scenic and beautiful structures.
On can Visit
kondivali Beach, Rupnarayan Temple, Lashminarayana Temple, Phansad Wildlife
Sanctury, Peshwa memorial, Somaja Devi Temple while visiting the Murud Janjira.
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