Janjira
Located in the Raigad district of Maharashtra, the Janjira fort built on a rocky island rise above the Arabian Sea. It is an epitome of what human determination can achieve.
It took almost took 22 years to build (1118 to 1140) the fort and it is able to defy the incessant lashing of sea waves till today. No wonder it remained invincible to naval onslaught by the English, Portuguese and many other pirates of the sea. Why, even the great Maratha warrior Shivaji who knew forts inside out failed to enter this floating fort. Of course, its strategic location and unique 12th century architecture have largely assisted in protecting the fort from elements and foes alike. On chemical analysis, it was found that the fort was structured by a mixture of sand, lead and gul.
Even though the fort’s 18 bastions are still intact, each fortified with heavy canon having 2 to 4 kilometers of destructive power range, but the inside structures have given way. The canons were located on almost all vantage points and so must have prevented any offending ship to approach the forts. There are two natural sweet water tanks that were used to quench the thirst of the fort inmates. The ruins within still bear evidence of the luxurious amenities that were provided for the princely inmates who often stayed within the fort premises. The fort reportedly has a tunnel that leads to a portion of Rajpuri.
Do not also miss the Murud beach. In fact, the ferry ride to the Janjira fort leaves from here. It is a big and clean beach that has become very popular among weekend visitors.
How to reach: You can take one of these two routes to visit Janjira – Murud. Take the Alibaug route and continue from there to reach Murud. You may also go through Roha. Distance is the same for both these routes. There are both private and government buses too. You may take the train as well. You have to take the ferry from Murud to reach the fort.
You cannot stay in the Janjira fort. The best option would be to stay at Murud beach. You can choose from plenty of hotels in Murud, resorts in Murud, and cottages in Murud.
