Nomad Saikat
Have you ever visited a coastal fort? It’s a fort that can only be reached via a boat ride. Now I am sure that sounds intriguing already. And if you have never visited any such location then you must visit the Murud Janjira Fort in Maharashtra. This fort is one of the finest examples of extraordinary planning and architecture. Even after so many years of its construction the structures and formations of this fort will leave you with awe. This is one of the forts that nobody could capture even after repeated attempts. Presently this is one of the popular tourist spots in Maharashtra. Keep on reading this article to know all information about Murud Janjira Fort. I am sure you would like to visit the Murud Janjira Fort Maharashtra after reading this article.
Murud Janjira Fort
Location of Murud Janjira Fort: Murud, Raigad district, Maharashtra
Murud Janjira Fort timings: 7 am to 6 pm
Entry fee of Murud Janjira Fort: There is no entry fee. However there is a fee for vehicle parking and that is Rs. 30.
How to reach Murud Janjira Fort
This fort is an offshore sea fort and the only way to access the fort is via a boat. However distance wise this fort is 5 km away from Murud. Also it is 21 km away from Divegar, 53 km away from Alibaug and 162 km away from Pune. From Mumbai this fort is about 170 km away and you can either take a bus or travel through your own vehicle to reach here.
To reach the fort at first you will have to reach the Rajapuri Jetty on Murud Beach. From there boat services are available to reach the fort. It takes around an hour or two for the boat ride to reach the fort.
The cost of the boat rides vary according to the number of people and also on the basis of the size of the boat. It takes around Rs. 25 – Rs. 50 per person and even goes up to Rs. 100 to Rs. 300 for bigger boats. Moreover the prices also vary depending on the time and season as well. For people travelling in a big group a good bargain can fetch you a good price. Also you can have the whole boat to yourself after bargaining with the boatmen. Also if you can book a whole boat for just your group or family then it will be economically convenient for you too. So keep that in mind.
These boatmen also act as guides inside the fort too if you feel the need for it. However you may also ask them questions about the fort once you are on the boat and you just might gather a lot of information from them.
Best time to visit Murud Janjira Fort
The ideal time to visit here would be from October to March. This is by far the ideal time according to the weather. During this time the weather will be pleasant and therefore you will be able to explore the whole area well. And if we talk about the time you can avoid visiting here it is during the summer season. The area gets quite hot during the summer and it can be a bit uncomfortable for the boat rides too in the scorching afternoon sun. So if you want you can avoid that.
However monsoon season is one time when you should not visit here at all. Maharashtra is known for its heavy rains and thunderstorm activities. And this location involves a boat ride as well. In case of heavy rain or storms the boat rides get suspended. So obviously it would not be a good idea to visit here during monsoon for safety reasons. So plan your visit accordingly.
Overview of Murud Janjira Fort
The Murud Janjira fort is located on an island in Maharashtra. It is a magnificent architecture in Maharashtra that is a witness to multiple attacks. This Fort punches with itself a long history and is therefore one of the popular locations that you need to visit here. It is located in a coastal village that is 55 km away from Alibag in Maharashtra.
In the coast of the Arabian Sea this mighty structure stands tall like a rock. The fort shows how it has passed the test of time. Along with that this fort also reflects the glorious past as well. This is an offshore sea fort and therefore the backdrop looks even more alluring. A small boat ride is also required to reach this fort. With Arabian Sea all around the fort is like a picture perfect location and definitely you would want even more of it. The glimpses from the past and the reminisces of past events is something you need to explore here. So make sure that you are visiting here.
History of Murud Janjira Fort
Who built Murud Janjira Fort?
The history of this ancient fort goes back to the 15th century. There was a time when the local fishermen of Rajapuri built a small fort of wood. This wooden fort was called Medhekot and the purpose of building this fort was to save them and their families from the attacks of the pirates. However the Nizam Shahi Sultan of Ahmednagar liked this idea and he wanted to make this as a stronger base. Also he really liked the strategic location along with the massive area as well. According to the wishes of the Sultan, Piram Khan, a general captured this fort. Later the Abyssinia regent of Siddi origin Malik Ambar ordered for the construction of this fort. He ordered that there will be a construction of a solid rock fort in the same location of the wooden fort.
Later there were many renovations of this fort during the rule of Piram Khan’s successor Burhan Khan. It was then that the fort got its name Jazeere Mehroob Jazeera. At present the name of the fort Janjira came down from this. The Arabic word Jazeera means island and Murud refers to Shahi of Ahmednagar. And with the mix of these words the present name of the fort came.
One of the important highlights of this fort is the fact that this fort was invincible till a very long time ago. Everyone including the Marathas, British and the Portuguese had tried their hands on capturing this fort. But every time they failed in their attempt to capture this fort. The Siddi overlords were extremely powerful and were typically well equipped to handle attacks. No matter whichever way they were attacked, they were able to resist these attacks. In fact they became so powerful that they even moved forward to form their very own sovereign Sultanate of Janjira. Even after many attacks this is a fort that remained unconquered till 1947 when it became a part of Indian Territory after India’s independence.
Architecture of Murud Janjira Fort
The construction of the fort goes long back but it has also seen its fair share of fortification as well. During the 17th century it witnessed a series of significant fortifications. Some of the portion of the fort was in ruins though. Moreover the Murud Janjira Fort is one of the strongest coastal forts in India and through sailboats you can reach the fort.
One of the most significant structures of this fort are the three massive colossal cannons. They are Landa Kasam, Kalal Bangadi and Chavri. At one point of time the fort housed 572 canons here. All these canons were used for the defense purposes however at present only 3 of these are here. According to the word of mouth these canons were always very powerful. It was because of these cannons that the fort was defending them so well. People say that these canons were so efficient that they could fire 12 km into the sea. Now that is really something to witness here. Along with that 26 artillery towers are here in the fort that are still intact.
At one point of time this fort was a full fledged living fort. From quarters to offices to barracks and mosques, fresh water ponds this fort was well equipped with all facilities. One of the specialities is also the oval shape of this fort which is different from usual square or rectangular forts. The walls of the fort are 40 feet high. Now there are ruins of mosques and palaces inside the fort.
What’s more?
Other than these the Murud Janjira Fort also has two significant doorways here. There is one main entrance that faces the jetty here. It is the same jetty where the boats carrying the visitors go and come back too. It is a comparatively sizable gate with an arched shape. This gate also has motifs of animals in it. On one side there is a group of total 6 elephants that a tiger had trapped with its claws. Also there is another one here that shows two massive elephants locking their tusks in a fight while two lions are standing just next to it being the spectators.
From the entrance you can reach the Durbar Hall. The Durbar Hall was basically the courtroom of the fort. Previously this was a magnificent three story structure and many important activities used to take place here. However at present the majority of it is in ruins. That was all about the first entrance. Now there is a second entrance here as well. This other doorway is located in the west side and this is known as the Darya Darwaza. Darya basically means the sea and the doorway rightfully got its name as the Darya Darwaza. This doorway actually opens up into the sea. Probably the purpose of the construction of this entrance was to execute emergency exits. During times of emergency or sudden attack the sultans could quickly escape through this doorway that led to the sea.
Wrapping Up!
So now that you have all the Murud Janjira Fort information with you, just plan a visit to this location already. This is one such structure that you need to witness with your eyes to understand the massiveness. One of the popular tourist places in Maharashtra, this fort is a brilliant example of skillful architecture. Undoubtedly the fort has exceeded the test of time and you simply cannot afford to check out this massive fortress. So let me know when you are planning a trip there. Also let me know if this article is helpful for you in planning a visit to the Murud Janjira Fort.
