Janjira Fort

A popular tourist destination, Janjira or Mururd-Janjira is one of the most impressive forts in India. The fort is situated on an oval-shaped-island off the coastal village of Murud in Maharashtra’s Raigad District. Surrounded by the sea from all sides, Janjira Fort is considered to be one of the strongest marine forts in India. It can be reached only through sailboats from Rajapuri Jetty. The fort’s main gate faces the shore of Rajapuri village and can be seen only when one is about 40 feet away from it.

Janjira Fort was built by the Siddis in the 17^th century. Many forces including the Portuguese, Mughals, British and Marathas tried to capture Janjira Fort, but it remained undefeated. The fort wall is about 40 feet high and has 19 rounded porches or arches, some of which still have cannons mounted on them, including the famous cannon Kalak Bangadi, which is the 3^rd largest cannon in India. During its heydays the fort boasted of about 572 cannons, but only a few remain today.  These cannons were largely responsible for repelling oncoming enemies from the sea.

The fort has 26 rounded bastions that are still intact. Now in ruins, the fort was once a full-fledged living fort with all necessary facilities like fresh water lakes, palaces, mosques, etc. Inside the fort, only a few of these ancient structures like the Palace of the Nawabs and some ponds are in a good-shape. The highest viewpoint of Janjira Fort is a small fort called Medhekot, originally built by chieftain Rajaram Patil in the 15^th century.