Janjira Murud – An Important Marine Fort in Maharashtra
Just off the coast of the Arabian Sea, at a little distance away from Mumbai, you will come to a picturesque island. On the island sits one of the most important forts in India. It’s called Janjira Murud. The name comes from the name of the village on the coast – Murud in Raigad district of Maharashtra. Sure enough, there are plenty of forts in India, and some of them are indeed fascinating. So what makes the Janjira Murud so striking? At one time, this was among the strongest marine forts in India. This was occupied by the Siddis, rulers of the princely state of Murud-Janjira. In fact, it is the only fort on the western coast of India that couldn’t be conquered ever, even though the British East India Company, the Dutch and the Marathas kept trying again and again. That’s quite a feat.
What to See In the Fort
It was just a wooden structure once. Over time, it has been strengthened to make it impregnable. It stands in good condition too. There are 19 bastions in this big fort that is spread out over 22 acres. A lot of cannons used to defend the fort in its heydays. You can see many of them to this day. The water tank, deep well and its walls stand. The well holds sweet water, which is quite a miracle, because the fort is located in an island off the Arabian Sea. However, the officer quarters, markets, mosque and palaces are in ruins. They are still worth seeing though. See the sculpture of a beast that looks like a tiger clasping elephants with its claws.
Around Janjira Murud
There is a lot to see around Janjira Murud as well apart from the main attraction. Don’t miss out the beaches. This part of the state has some of the finest beaches you will find in Maharashtra. The sandy coastline is just perfect for swimming, beach volleyball, soccer, cricket, or simply for relaxing. There are sparkling rivulets, rolling hills and lush paddy fields as well. There are coconut groves everywhere. Even the village of Murud is very picturesque.
Here are some other tourist attractions near Janjira Murud. There is a magnificent palace located on a cliff, the Datta Mandir, Koteshvary Mandir, and the Sidhivinayak Mandir.
Everything together makes Janjira Murud a thriving tourist destination. It is just 165 kilometers south from Mumbai.
