Janjira (जंजीरा) |
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Difficulty Level
(very easy, easy, medium, slightly tough, tough)
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Very easy |
Duration of the trek
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0.5 day
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When to visit
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Anytime |
Nearest City / Location
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Alibaug (अलीबाग),
Murud (मुरुड) |
Base Village
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Danda Rajpuri (दंडा राजपुरी) |
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The fort is an excellent sea fort. You need to go by boat to
the fort from Danda Rajpuri village next to Murud village near alibaug. |
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Sea shore of Janjira is 1 and ½ hours away
from alibaug by bus. You can reach here by ST bus or
6-seater or private vehicle. There are lots of resources
available for transportation since the fort internationally
popular. The boats are available at the seashore. The
boatman themselves serve as guides if you ask them (Rs.
150). |
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Huge Hidden entrance of Janjira
Kalal-bangdi (कलालबांगडी) |
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The fort is most important sea fort in the Arabian sea and
was build by Islamic ruler Siddi (सीद्दी). Hence popularly
called as Siddi of Janjira. This Siddi dynasty ruled this
fort as their capital for about 500 years. Shivaji tried
to conquer this fort but didn’t get much time to
concentrate on. None of the rulers later could conquer the
fort.
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King Shivaji built other sea forts to keep check on
janjita rule and Arabian Sea. (1670s) His son Sambhaji (संभाजी)
tried to build a neighbor fort called as padmadurg (पद्मदुर्ग)
to conquer Janjira. (1690s)
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The fort Janjira has 23 exceptionally huge bastions (बुरुज)
and 23 windows per bastions. The fort was built after
sacrifice of Siddi’s 23 years old son to God. Hence he
used the number 23 for construction.
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The top view of the fort shows the excellent architecture
of the fort, which is in place even after waves of water
are striking its base for 500 years. The 5-storied old
palace of Siddi is in broken state bit denotes glory of
his kingdom. The entrance of the fort is disguising,
hidden and very huge. There are any hidden passageways for
emergencies.
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It is better to take a guide with you for more
information. The fort is small to see in ½ an hour. But
the guide tells better of the places there.
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The fort bears one of the largest canons of India called
as kalal-bangdi (कलालबांगडी). The cannon was used to
destroy the fort padmadurg being built Sambhaji. By
looking at the distance between the two forts, you can
guess the area under control of Janjira.
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You can visit many other locations near alibaug also.
Murud beach is also famous. Hotels and resorts available
at Murud and Alibaug.
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By boat. There is only return
ticket, which you have taken while coming. |
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ST and private Buses are frequently available
from Panvel, Borivli, Mumbai Central and Kalyan to Alibaug.
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Or you can reach Mandwa harbor by boat from
Gateway of India (Mumbai). 6-seaters and buses are available
from there to alibaug and Murud.
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You can reach Murud from Alibaug by 6-seater
or ST bus which are easily available.
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Time to climb |
2 and ½ hours
to the fort from
Kheereshwar and 1 and 1/2
hours to the temple on the fort |
Food |
Hotels and resorts
available at Murud and Alibaug. |
Drinkable Water |
At Murud and Alibaug. |
Shelter |
At Murud and Alibaug. |
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