Sindhudurg Fort

India / Maharashtra / Malwan /
 island, fortification, heritage, interesting place

Sindhudurg(Marathi सिंधुदुर्ग) is a fortress which occupies an islet in the Arabian Sea, just off the coast of Maharashtra in western India. The fortress lies on the shore of Malvan town of Sindhudurg District in the Konkan region of Maharashtra, south of Mumbai.

Sindhudurg (Sindhu = sea, Durg = fort) was built by the great Maratha warrior leader Shivaji in 1664. Shivaji selected the strategic rocky island location, 'Kurte' for the fort himself, to counter foreign forces, and to keep the nearby Siddis of Murud-Janjira in check.

Over 4000 mounds of iron were used in the casting and foundation stones were firmly laid down in lead. The construction was started on 25 November 1664. Built over a period of three years, the sea fort is spread over 48 acres (190,000 m2) with a two-mile (3 km) long rampart, and walls that are 30 feet (9.1 m) high and 12 feet (3.7 m) thick. The massive walls were designed to serve as a deterrent to approaching enemies and to the waves and tides of the Arabian Sea. The main entrance is concealed in such a way that no one can pinpoint it from outside.

(1)There are three sweet water reservoirs in the middle of the Arabian Sea where the fort is built, and even if the water in the nearby villages dries in summer, but these wells do not dry; there is always water in them.

(2)There is a coconut tree which has a branch, if you see a coconut tree it will never have a branch but this tree not only has a branch but also gives fruit.

(3)There is a passage which is hidden in a temple which looks like a water reservoir, this passage goes under the fort for 3 kilometers, and 12 kilometers beneath the sea, and from there 12 kilometers in a nearby village which was used as a rescue door if the enemy entered the fort; this way was for the women to move out.

(4)The entrance gate cannot be seen from anywhere, and unless you are not a regular visitor, and if you are not and you are trying to enter thru a boat which is the only possible option apart from air, you would bang at the rocks around the fort which can't be seen to a naked eye, hence you have to be very familiar with the fort to enter.


www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QVvQHhZtbE
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Coordinates:   16°2'32"N   73°27'33"E

Comments

  • sindhudurg gives inspiration in life vidyadhar
  • Over 4000 mounds of iron were used in the casting and foundation stones were firmly laid down in lead.The construction was started on November 25,1664. Built over a period of three years, the sea fort is spread over 48 acres with a two-mile long rampart ,and walls that are 30 feet high and 12 feet thick. The massive walls were designed to serve as a deterrent to approaching enemies and to the waves and tides of the Arabian Sea.The main entrance is concealed in such a way that no one can pinpoint it from outside. At a time when Samudragaman (travelling by sea) was banned by scriptures,this construction on an island represents the revolutionary mind of its builder. Since the fort was abandoned, the number of permanent residents staying in the fort are on decline. At present about 15 families stay in the fort. There is a underwater tunnel from The fort to seashore. The length of the tunnel is 8km & height is like one horse rider can easily pass from it.
  • No one, read the tamil novel "Kadal Raani(Sea Queen)" by Sandilyan, can forget the Sindu Durg Fort. It explains the prowess of Satrapati Shivaji. Sure, the fort is the delight of Marathas. Do you know, Shivaji the great took part in building the fort by engaging himself as a cooly carrying sand and building materials on his own head?
  • I have seen this fort 2 times in a year with my younger brother & collogue who is staying in Pune, I gives lots of inspiration from Shivaji.
  • This fort is one of the large and beautiful fort in maharashtra... Please visit this fort atleast once in life...
  • Really Fort built by shivaji maharaj is real massive.Vision behind that was really great.we have take care about such national treasury. Malvan people would be agree with me.
  • Please delet one of these markers....both are duplicating major information
  • Thank You Shivaji Raje!
  • I have stay over night in same fort, and also enjoy the ride of small boat which call HODI in night time at 9 pm from bander to fort,
  • my salute 2 shivaji raje
  • It's not just a fort it's a great fort.
  • it is my one of the lifes great fort. it gives us interesting adventure about SHIVAJI MAHARAJ.
  • I am complited my D.ed Education in sindhudurga. Really sindhudurga gives inspirationin life. Malvan,Devghad & more places are very beautiful in maharashtra... please visit here atleast once in life...
  • what a mind did shivaji maharaj had ? what a wonderful it is ? i and my friends like to visit that fort. shivaji maharaj ki jai !
  • Nice place interesting
  • THIS IS THE MOST INTRESSTING FORT.. REALY SHIVAJI MAHARAJ IS GREAT.. JAY SHIVAJI...
  • dgffgfgyghjgighgg
  • THIS IS THE MOST INTRESSTING FORT.. REALY SHIVAJI MAHARAJ IS GREAT.. JAY SHIVAJI...
  • this is most beautiful and wonderful fort of shivaji maharaj, in 1664 that was built by shivaji maharaj and whole money which raje received from surat used to built this fort, not a single peny he used for himself in 17th century raje knows about the importance of sea fort to fight with verious enimies ! ranoji shinde one of the worker of swarajya, while working on this fort he was took hand and foot print of shivaji maharaj! today it is link between 17th century of shivaji raje and we people.......... my great pranam to shivaji maharaj.......
  • awesome place..lovely history..
  • are faadu aur itna jhatiya hai kya bolu.
  • It is one of the finest work of Architecture/Engineering/civil . This is the vision of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Completed in 3 years. Our rulers should learn from this work. Can Govt. open the secret link between fort and main land.it will be Great tourist attraction Deepak Gore
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This article was last modified 10 years ago