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Vijaydurg Fort

Vijaydurg Fort

heritage site · Maharashtra

State
Maharashtra
Type
Heritage Site

Vijaydurg Fort occupies a peninsula in Devgad taluka, Sindhudurg district, surrounded by the Arabian Sea on three sides, spanning roughly 17 acres and known as the "Eastern Gibraltar" for its role as the principal Maratha naval stronghold.

Vijaydurg Fort is known for

Maratha naval capitalKanhoji Angre's headquartersrock-cut ship dock"Eastern Gibraltar"triple-walled sea defenses

A short history

The fort's initial construction dates to 1193-1205 CE under Raja Bhoja II of the Shilahara dynasty. In 1653, Chhatrapati Shivaji captured it from the Adil Shahi of Bijapur, renaming it from "Gheria" to "Vijaydurg," and expanded the fortifications with three eastern walls each about 36 metres high and 20 bastions. In 1698, Admiral Kanhoji Angre made it his naval capital. The fort possessed a rock-carved naval dock about 1.5 km up the Waghotan creek, used to build and repair warships. In 1756, British forces under Admiral Watson and Colonel Clive attacked the fort; the Angre fleet caught fire and the fort fell on 11 February. The British took complete control by 1818. [Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vijaydurg_Fort]

Why Vijaydurg Fort matters

Known as the "Eastern Gibraltar" and headquarters of the Maratha navy under Kanhoji Angre, Vijaydurg exemplifies the sophistication of Maratha maritime power and its resistance to European colonial navies.

When to go

October to March

Why visit

The Maratha navy's home port — triple sea walls, naval history and almost no crowds.

How to reach

The nearest railway station is Kankavli, about 53 km away; the nearest airport is Goa (roughly 200 km), and Mumbai is about 485 km away via the Mumbai-Goa highway.

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