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Murud-Janjira Fort

Murud-Janjira Fort

heritage site · Maharashtra

State
Maharashtra
Type
Heritage Site

Murud-Janjira is an oval-shaped island fort in the Arabian Sea off Raigad district, about 165 km south of Mumbai, famed as the sea stronghold of the Siddis that was never conquered despite repeated Maratha, Mughal, Portuguese and British attempts.

Murud-Janjira Fort is known for

never-conquered sea fortSiddi/Abyssinian rulers572 cannons19 bastionsfreshwater wells surrounded by seawater

A short history

A stone fort was built by Malik Ambar in 1567, replacing an earlier wooden garrison. In 1621, Siddi Ambar the Little became the first independent Nawab of Janjira. In 1676, Maratha forces under Shivaji Maharaj failed to breach the fort's roughly 12-metre granite walls. In 1682, Sambhaji laid a prolonged siege, including an attempted causeway, which also ultimately failed. By 1736, after losses to Baji Rao's forces, the Siddis were confined to Janjira, their power greatly reduced. The fort's 40-foot-high walls carry 19 rounded arches, and it once housed as many as 572 cannons, including three famous named cannons. Janjira became part of independent India in 1947. [Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murud-Janjira]

Why Murud-Janjira Fort matters

Murud-Janjira is nationally significant as the only major coastal fort in Maharashtra never captured by the Marathas, Mughals, Portuguese or British, standing as a symbol of the Siddi rulers' defensive and naval prowess.

When to go

November to February

Why visit

India's unconquered sea fort — you arrive by sailboat through the surf, exactly as attackers never could.

How to reach

Roha is the nearest railway station; from Roha, buses or taxis run to Murud town, from where a ferry from Rajapuri jetty reaches the fort.

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