Explore Weekends: Sindhudurg Fort

The fort lies on the shore of Malvan town of Sindhudurg District in the Konkan region of Maharashtra, south of Mumbai. This fort is constructed by The Great Maratha Raja Shivaji, Today also we can See His foot & Palm print in fort. Over 4000 mounds of iron were used in the casting and foundation stones were firmly laid down. Construction started on 25 November 1664. Built over a period of three years (1664–67), the sea fort is spread over 48 acres (190,000 m2) with a two-mile (3 km) long rampart, and walls that are 30 feet (9.1 m) high and 12 feet (3.7 m) thick. The massive walls were designed to serve as a deterrent to approaching enemies and to the waves and tides of the Arabian Sea. The main entrance is concealed in such a way that no one can pinpoint it from outside.

Best time to Visit:

September to April

What to see?

Bastian, Fortification, Water cisterns.

1)There are three sweet water reservoirs in ramparts of the fort , and even if the water in the nearby villages dries in summer, these wells do not dry; they always contain water in them.

(2)There is a coconut tree which has a branch, if you see a coconut tree it will never have a branch but this tree not only has a branch but also gives fruit. This tree was struck by lightning a couple of years ago.

(3)There is a passage which is hidden in a temple which looks like a water reservoir, this passage goes under the fort for 3 kilometers, and 12 kilometers beneath the sea, and from there 12 kilometers in a nearby village which was used as a rescue door if the enemy entered the fort; this way was for the women to move out. However, this passage has been partially closed to public view, ever since it was abandoned, by the British rulers.

(4)The entrance gate is hardly visible from anywhere, and unless you are not a regular visitor, and if you are not and you are trying to enter through a boat which is the only possible option apart from air, you would bang at the rocks around the fort which can't be seen to naked eyes, hence you have to be very familiar with the fort ,to enter.

(5) A handprint and a footprint of Shivaji Maharaj is also embedded in one section of the fort. There is also Atmeshwar Mandir, a famous Shivling, and is beautiful place for Adhyatmik Sadhana (Spiritual Activities).

(6)There is a Temple of Shivaji Maharaj, built by his son Rajaram: The only temple of Shivaji in the world. In this temple, festivities like Shivaji Jayanti (birthday of Shivaji), Ram Navami, Janmashtami, Mahashivrathri, Ganesh Chaturthi, etc also take place.

(7) Daily Pooja (worship)and maintenance is done by mainly two families-that were assigned this job since the fort was built, one of them is Shriram Sakpal

Water and Food

Water & food is available on the Fort.

Stay / Accommodation

No place to stay on the Fort. Once can stay in Malvan.

Places around

Malvan, Trakarli Beach, Devgad

For more photos see link below

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