Sindhudurg Fort

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Sindhudurg Fort is situated on Kurte Island, it lies half a km away from the Malvan Port in the Arabian Sea. Edit

Detail InformationEdit

One of the enduring symbols of Maharashtra’s rich historical past is the Sindhudurg Fort. The fort derives its name from the combination of two words, Sindhu meaning sea and Durg meaning fort. Sindhudurg is just 510 km from Mumbai on the Goa Highway.
The entrance to the fort is by the Dilli Darwaja to the north-east. The main gate is so well camouflaged within the folds of the rampart walls that it is visible only at really close quarters. A shrine to Goddess Jarimari guards the entrance to the fort. On the right, perched atop the main gate, is the fort’s most prized relic – the footprint and palm impression of the revered Shivaji Maharaj, set on a slab of dry lime.
Apart from the customary shrines of Bhawani, Mahadeo, Jarimari and Mahapurush, Sindhudurg enjoys the distinction of having the only temple dedicated to Chhatrapati Shivaji, which was built by his son Rajaram. One does also come across some ruins of ancient temples, wells and cisterns throughout the fort. The Shivaji Jayanti, Ram Navami, Janmashtami, Mahashivratri and Ganesh Chaturthi are some of the prominent festivals celebrated here on a grand scale.
Some of the temples are still in use and are maintained by the 20 odd families that live on this island fort. The Sakpal Naik family, the original killedars, still reside in one of the 16 houses within the fort.

Sindhudurg Fort

HistoryEdit

Sindhudurg, Shivaji built this ocean fort in 1664 AD on a low rocky 48-acre island off the Malvan coast. Vijaydurg and Sindhudurg are twin forts from the days of Shivaji’s time that is a historic place with its serene coastal beauty. It is believed that Shivaji personally selected the site for the construction of the fort. For casting and the foundation stones, over 2,000 khandis (4,000 mounds) of iron and lead were used to it lay down firmly. There is a temple dedicated to Shivaji inside the fort. This is the only shrine of its kind in the country, which was built by his son Rajaram. Other temples dedicated to Hindu deities renowned in the Maratha pantheon (as Maruti, Bhavani, Mahadeo, Jarimai, Mahapurush, etc) lie within the limits of the fort. The Vijaydurg or ‘Victory Fort’ and the Padamgarh Fort are other attractions in the vicinity. Rajapur and Kudal are the nearest railway stations. Sindhudurg is just 510 km from Mumbai via the Goa Highway. The fort can be reached through a narrow a channel, between two small islands of Dhontara and Padmagad. Ferries ply at regular intervals from the Malvan port to the Sindhudurg fort.

Must SeeEdit

Must See

Visiting TimeEdit

N.A.

Closed OnEdit

N.A.

Best Season to VisitEdit

October to March.

Best Time To VisitEdit

Morning, Afternoon, Evening.

Time Required for SightseeingEdit

1-2 Hours.

Ticket Required : No Edit

Individual National Adult Rs. : N.A.

Kids Rs. : N.A.

Individual Foreigner Adult Rs. : N.A.

Kids Rs. : N.A.

Still Photo Camera Rs. : N.A.

Video Camera Rs. : N.A.

Guide Required : No Edit

Approximate cost: N.A.

Dress Code (If Any) : No Edit

Dress Require: N.A.

Restaurants NearbyAdd / Edit

Chaitanya ; Main Market | On the street to malvan jetty, Malvan, India ; Ph/M – N.A. ; Food Serve – N.A.

How to ReachEdit

Taxi : N.A.

Bus : Sindhudurg is located 130 km from Goa, 150 km from Ratnagiri and 535 km from Mumbai. Malvan is connected by direct ST bus services from Mumbai, Goa, Pune and Kolhapur.

Train : Sawantwadi Railway Station is the closest station to Malvan Jetty, lying 20 km away. It is well connected to cities like Mumbai, Pune, Goa, New Delhi and Ahmedabad. Auto-rickshaws and buses are available on route to Malvan Jetty. No taxis are available.

Air : Dabolim airport in Goa is the nearest airport located at a distance of 135 km from the Malvan Jetty. Taxis and buses are available. One must board a ferry at Malvan Jetty to reach the Sindhudurg.

Others : One can take a ferry from the Malvan Port to the island fort. Also known as the Malvan Fort, this citadel is located half a kilometer away from the mainland port of Malvan.