Sindhudurg Fort

Detail information about Sindhudurg Fort
The National Highway-17 passes through Sindhudurg, One has to take small safety boats to go to this old fort from the Malvan through a narrow navigable channel between two smaller islands of Dhontara and Padmagad. It takes about 15 minutes to reach the Sindhudurg Fort jetty. Nearest railheads are Kudal and Sawantawdi, which are at a distance of over 25 kilometers and 35 kilometers respectively.

1. www.maharastrianforts.com Located on an island along the Malvan coast, Sindhudurg fort is one of the most ancient fortresses in India. Dating back to as early as 1664 AD, this marvelous fort was built under the command of Chhatrapati Shivaji to protect the Maratha Empire from English, Portuguese, Dutch and French merchants. It also played a vital role in controlling the rise of Siddhis. It continued to be under the rule of Marathas up until 1765. However, in the year 1792, the British took over the fort as a part of a treaty signed by the Marathas and re-named it as, “Port Augustus'.”  

2. www.maharastrianforts.com Some Interesting Facts Spread over 48 acres of land and surrounded by waters on all its sides, Sindhudurg Fort is one the naturally protected forts in India. It is further protected by a massive compound wall which is 30 ft high and 12 ft thick. The majority of this construction is built with sand brought from Gujarat The main strength of this unshakeable island fort lies in its seamless engineering. The foundation of the fort was laid solidly by using over 4000 mounds of iron and lead. Yet another intriguing architectural aspect of this fort is the zig-zag design of its walls This extraordinary construct also boasts of as many as 42 bastions It also houses many Hindu temples including a one of a kind temple dedicated to Chhatrapati Shivaji, which was built by his son Rajaram Another interesting fact of this fort is its main entrance. It is built in such a way that it is almost impossible for anyone to identify from the outside. Apart from its astounding architectural excellence, which draws a lot of tourists every year, this fort is also renowned its stellar scenic beauty. Standing tall amidst the Arabian Ocean, Sindhudurg Fort is one visual treat worth visiting at least once.

3. www.maharastrianforts.com Places to see inside Sindhudurg Fort: Bastions: Lakdi Bastion, Aiming Bastion with a pond and Chilkhathi Bastion Gates: Secret escape gates for the Queen and The Grand entrance gates, Temples: Bhavani Temple, Mahadev Temple, Shivrajeshwar Temple, Mahapurush Temple with a pond and Jarimariche Temple Other prominent spots: Ruins of gunpowder mixing stations, Ruins of broken walls and statues, Ruins of palaces, Ponds, Hand and footprints of Chhatrapati Shivaji, Entertainment mandaps (porches) and Canon stations.

4. www.maharastrianforts.com How to get there? The National Highway-17 passes through Sindhudurg, One has to take small safety boats to go to this old fort from the Malvan through a narrow navigable channel between two smaller islands of Dontari and Padma gad. It takes about 15 minutes to reach the Sindhudurg Fort jetty. Nearest railheads are Kudal and Sawantawdi, which are at a distance of over 25 kilometers and 35 kilometers respectively.