Have you ever visited a coastal fort? It’s a fort that can only be reached via a boat ride. Now, that sounds intriguing already. If you have never visited any such location, you must visit the Murud Janjira Fort in Maharashtra. This Fort is one of the finest examples of extraordinary planning and architecture. Even after so many years of its construction, the structures and formations of this Fort will leave you in awe. This is one of the forts nobody could capture even after repeated attempts. Presently, this is one of the most popular tourist spots in Maharashtra. Keep on reading this article to learn all the information about Murud Janjira Fort. After reading this article, I think you would like to visit the Murud Janjira Fort Maharashtra.
Murud Janjira Fort
Location of Murud Janjira Fort: Murud, Raigad district, Maharashtra
Murud Janjira Fort timings: 7 am to 6 pm
Murud Janjira Fort’s entry fee is Rs. 30. There is no entry fee. However, there is a fee for vehicle parking.
How to reach Murud Janjira Fort
This Fort is an offshore sea fort, and the only way to access it is via a boat. However, distance-wise, It is 5 km away from Murud. Also, it is 21 km away from Divegar, 53 km away from Alibaug, and 162 km away from Pune. From Mumbai, this Fort is about 170 km away, and you can either take a bus or travel in your own vehicle to reach here.
To reach the Fort, you first have to reach the Rajapuri Jetty on Murud Beach. From there, boat services are available. The boat ride takes around an hour or two.
The cost of the boat rides varies according to the number of people and the size of the boat. It takes around Rs. 25 – Rs. 50 per person and up to Rs. 100 to Rs. 300 for bigger boats. Moreover, the prices also vary depending on the time and season. A good bargain can fetch a reasonable price for people travelling in a big group. Also, after bargaining with the boatmen, you can bring the whole boat to yourself. Also, if you can book an entire boat for your group or family, it will be economically convenient for you, too. So keep that in mind.
These boatmen also act as guides inside the Fort if you need them. However, once you are on the boat, you may also ask them questions about the Fort, and you might gather much information from them.
The best time to visit Murud Janjira Fort
The ideal time to visit here would be from October to March. This is by far the perfect time according to the weather. The weather will be pleasant during this time, and you can explore the whole area well. And if we talk about the time you can avoid visiting here, it is during summer. The area gets quite hot during the summer and can be a bit uncomfortable for boat rides in the scorching afternoon sun. So if you want, you can avoid that.
However, the monsoon season is the one time you should not visit here. Maharashtra is known for its heavy rains and thunderstorm activities. This location involves a boat ride as well. The boat rides may be suspended in case of heavy rain or storms. There are better ideas than visiting here during monsoon for safety reasons. So plan your visit accordingly.
Overview of Murud Janjira Fort
The Murud Janjira Fort is located on an island in Maharashtra. It is a magnificent structure that has witnessed multiple attacks. This Fort has a long history and is, therefore, one of the popular locations that you need to visit. It is located in a coastal village 55 km away from Alibag in Maharashtra.
On the coast of the Arabian Sea, this mighty structure stands tall like a rock. The Fort shows how it has passed the test of time. Along with that, this Fort also reflects the glorious past as well. This is an offshore sea fort; therefore, the backdrop looks even more alluring. A small boat ride is also required to reach this Fort. With the Arabian Sea all around, the Fort is a picture-perfect location, and you would want even more of it. The glimpses from the past and the reminisces of past events are something you need to explore here. So make sure that you are visiting here.
History of Murud Janjira Fort
Who built Murud Janjira Fort?
The history of this ancient Fort goes back to the 15th century. There was a time when the local fishermen of Rajapuri built a small fort of wood. This wooden Fort was called Medhekot, and the purpose of building it was to save them and their families from the attacks of the pirates. However, the Nizam Shahi Sultan of Ahmednagar liked this idea, and he wanted to make this a stronger base. He also liked the strategic location and the massive area; according to the wishes of the Sultan, Piram Khan, a general, captured this Fort. Later, the Abyssinia regent of Siddi origin, Malik Ambar, ordered the construction of this Fort. He ordered that a solid rock fort be built in the same location as the wooden Fort.
Later, this Fort was renovated during the rule of Piram Khan’s successor, Burhan Khan. It was then that the Fort got its name, Jazeere Mehroob Jazeera. At present, the name Fort Janjira has been reduced. The Arabic word Jazeera means island, and Murud refers to Shahi of Ahmednagar. The mix of these words gave the Fort its present name.
One of the essential highlights of this Fort is that it was invincible for a very long time. Everyone, including the Marathas, the British and Portuguese, had tried their hands at capturing this Fort. But every time, they failed in their attempt to capture this Fort. The Siddi overlords were mighty and were typically well-equipped to handle attacks. No matter how they were attacked, they could resist these attacks. They became so powerful that they even formed their sovereign Sultanate of Janjira. Even after many attacks, this Fort remained unconquered until 1947, when it became a part of Indian Territory after India’s independence.
The architecture of Murud Janjira Fort
The construction of the Fort took a long time, but it has also seen its fair share of fortifications, and the 17th century witnessed a series of significant fortifications. Some of the Fort’s Portions were in ruins, though. Moreover, the Murud Janjira Fort is one of India’s strongest coastal forts, and you can reach it by sailboat.
One of the most significant structures of this Fort is the three massive colossal cannons. They are Landa Kasam, Kalal Bangadi and Chavri. At one point in time, the Fort housed 572 canons. All these canons were used for defence purposes; however, at present, only 3 of these are here. According to word of mouth, these canons were always very powerful. Because of these cannons, the Fort was defending them so well. People say these canons were so efficient that they could fire 12 km into the sea. Now, that is something to witness here. Also, 26 artillery towers are still intact here in the Fort.
At one point, this Fort was a full-fledged living fort. This Fort was well equipped with all facilities, from quarters to offices to barracks and mosques to freshwater ponds. One of its specialities is its oval shape, which differs from the usual square or rectangular forts. The walls of the Fort are 40 feet high. Now, there are ruins of mosques and palaces inside the Fort.
What’s more?
Other than these, the Murud Janjira Fort also has two significant doorways. There is one main entrance that faces the jetty here. It is the same jetty where the boats carrying the visitors go and come back to. It is a comparatively sizable gate with an arched shape. This gate also has animal motifs. On one side, there is a group of total 6 elephants that a tiger had trapped with its claws. Also, another one here shows two massive elephants locking their tusks in a fight while two lions are standing just next to it, being the spectators.
From the entrance, you can reach the Durbar Hall. The Durbar Hall was the courtroom of the Fort. Previously, this was a magnificent three-story structure, and many noteworthy activities occurred there. However, at present, the majority of it is in ruins. That was all about the first entrance. Now, there is a second entrance here as well. This other doorway is located on the west side, known as the Darya Darwaza. Darya means the sea, and the doorway was named the Darya Darwaza. This doorway opens up into the sea. The purpose of the construction of this entrance was to execute emergency exits. During times of emergency or sudden attack, the sultans could quickly escape through this doorway, which led to the sea.
Wrapping Up!
So now that you have all the Murud Janjira Fort information plan a visit to this location already. This is one such structure that you need to witness with your eyes to understand the massiveness. One of the famous tourist places in Maharashtra, this Fort is a brilliant example of skilful architecture. Undoubtedly, the Fort has exceeded the test of time, and you cannot afford to check out this massive fortress. So let me know when you are planning a trip there. Also, let me know if this article will help you plan a visit to the Murud Janjira Fort.
