Sindhudurg Fort is a historical fort located off the coast of Maharashtra in Western India on an Arabian Sea island. The fortress is situated on the shore of Malvan town in Sindhudurg District in Maharashtra's Konkan region, 450 kilometres south of Mumbai. It is a protected landmark. It is situated in the middle of the sea in Malvan.
Sindhudurg Fort, built by Shivaji, was the Marathas' naval headquarters. It is located on Kurte Island, half a kilometre from the Malvan Port in the Arabian Sea. The fort is situated 130 kilometres north of Goa.
Shivaji built the fort to protect his kingdom's maritime borders and keep rival rulers at bay. The fort's foundations were reinforced with molten lead mixed with mortar. Its foundation was cast with over 70,000 kilos of iron.
The fort's construction began in 1664 and took three years to complete. Approximately 100 Portuguese architects were invited from Goa for its construction and a strong workforce unit of 3000. The fort is said to have been built by the great warrior king.
Sindhudurg is spread across 48 acres, with fortified walls that stretch for two miles and are 29 feet high and 12 feet thick. Fifty-two bastions with cannon embrasures guard its borders. Some defences have hidden exits leading out of the fort.
Places To Visit In Sindhudurg Fort
What to see Shivrajeshwar Temple:
Chhatrapati Shivaji's younger son Rajaram built the temple in memory of his father. Shivaji's idol is dressed as a boatman inside the temple, and it is likely the only one of its kind in the country - an image of Shivaji without a beard. The black stone idol enshrined in the temple's sanctum was carved in the Vajrasana pose.
The Shiva temple, built in 1100, is about 40 kilometres from Sindhudurg. It is known as Konkan Kashi on the Arabian Sea's coast. Shivaji frequently visited the temple.
Kunkeshwar Cave:
The Kunkeshwar Cave is located east of the Kunkeshwar Temple and contains statues of male and female warriors. It is a well-known tourist attraction.
It is located 8 kilometres from Sindhudurg. Tarkarli is one of Konkan's most picturesque beaches, known for its white sandy beach and water sports activities. On a sunny day, the sea at Tarkarli is crystal clear, and the seabed can be seen up to a depth of 15 feet or more.
The Vijaydurg Fort is a testament to the Marathas' naval prowess. It is located 500 kilometres south of Mumbai on Maharashtra's western coast.
Visit Sindhudurg Fort this vacation.
The main gate, Dilli Darwaja, allows access to the fort. The entrance is only visible from close quarters due to its architectural design and appears as part of the walls. Shivaji is said to have been very pleased with the outcome of the fort. A handprint and footprint of the Maratha King are embedded on a slab within the fort at the request of the fort architect.
The fort is best known for the Shivaji temple and the traditional shrines to Hanuman, Jarimari, and Goddess Bhavani. Aside from the temples, there are a few tanks and three sweet water wells in the fort area.
Some major festivals celebrated in Sindhudurg include Shivaji Jayanti, Ram Navami, Janmashtami, Mahashivratri, and Ganesh Chaturthi.