Fort Sindhudurg (किल्ले सिंधुदुर्ग)

Sindhudurg fort is glory of Maratha history. This is the fort built newly by Shivaji Maharaj in around 1650 to empower Maratha navy. The fort yet proudly tells the glory to the deep sea around.

Sindhudurg fort is situated in the sea surrounded by water of Arabian sea from all the sides. The fort bears wide fortification and the only Shivaji Maharaj Temple in Maharashtra. Sindhudurg fort is always compared with construction of Murud Janjira. Both stand still, strong and unique in their own way. 

1.      The fort can be reached only by the launch boats that take you to the fort entrance from Malvan jetty. (Rs. 30)

2.      No need to take a guide but buy a Sindhudurg fort information pamphlet for Rs. 10 at the ticket counter. It will tell every part of the fort. Or take a printout of this page and keep on referring.

3.      The boat waits at the entrance of the fort for one hour in which you have to hurry a bit to see the fort.

Hidden entrance of Sindhudurg fort


Branched coconut tree


शिवराजेश्वर मंदिर (Shivrajeshwar Mandir)


महादेव मंदिरातील भुयार
(Bhuyar / secret passageway in Mahadev Mandir)

12 feet wide fort wall of Sindhudurg


चोरदरवाजा (Chor Darwaja) (Secret exit)

1. History - Shivaji Maharaj built Sindhudurg fort in around 1650 to empower Maratha navy to compete against Portuguese of Goa and Siddi (सिद्दी) rulers of Murud Janjira. (मुरुड जंजिरा) The fort was built under supervision of Hiroji Indulkar (हिरोजी इंदुलकर) - architect of forts b during Shivaji’s rule. It took 3 years for 3000 workers to build this fort with 52 strong bastions each playing host to cannons. While looking at the fort, one can easily understand how much vision Shivaji must have to build a fort like this.
2. Attack and defense strategy – two more forts were built in front of Sindhudurg fort. These small forts form a small triangle with the main fort. The middle portion almost stands invincible where the entrance of the fort lies. Out of the two forts, Padmagad (पद्मगड) rock was used as a dockyard for ships. The second fort Rajkot (राजकोट) can also be seen from the boat while we reach Sindhudurg fort. Both these rocks now contain only remnants.
3. Construction – Fort walls are constructed in zigzag manner to increase the strength of the walls. They are almost 30 to 50 feet tall with 12 feet width and built in mixed types of stones like Local Jambha (जांभा दगड) stone,  black stone, molten lead (शिशाचा रस), and lime (चुना). The walls contain secret rooms for storage of weapons and rest rooms.
4. महादरवाजा (Main entrance) – After you reach the main entrance, you will find that it is beautifully hidden behind a 30 feet tall bastion. In front of the main entrance lies Jarimari Mandir (जरीमरी मंदिर). To the right of the Main entrance, foot and hand prints of Shivaji have been preserved in lime by a worker at that time named Rane (राणे). These prints can still be seen.
5. Branched coconut tree – Walk towards left and you see a very rare branched coconut tree. This is also one of the attractions of the fort. There are some houses on the fort that stay on the fort and produce coconut and vegetables.
6. शिवराजेश्वर मंदिर (Shivrajeshwar Mandir) - Temple of Shivaji Maharaj built by his son Rajaram Maharaj around 1695. This is the only temple of Shivaji Maharaj. The idol of Shivaji is in sailor’s form and Shivaji’s sword which is 3.5 feet long is also kept in the temple. The idol has moustaches but no beard.
7. महादेव मंदिरातील भुयार (Bhuyar or secret passageway in Mahadev Mandir) - Next to Shivrajeshwar Mandir is Mahadev Mandir which contains a squared shaped well. This is not conventional temple building tradition. The well contains a secret passageway towards Shiv-pindi side. This 5km long passage way takes you out to a village on sea shore. This secret escape strategy was used in case of failure in guarding the fort.
8. Drinking water wells in the middle of the sea – There are three drinking water wells on this island in the middle of the sea named as dudhbaav, dahibaav and sakharbaav (milk, curd and sugar wells.) These wells are the only drinking water source on the fort.
9. Fortification – from here climb on the fort walls from a staircase and keep on walking on the fort walls. The amazing fortification fighting with waves of water for constant 350 years make us speechless.
10. चोरदरवाजा (Chor Darwaja) (Secret exit) – Some bastions contain hidden exit ways that take you out of the fort. They are guarded by the bastion in front of the exit way.
11. The fort is really vast unlike Murud Janjira and 1 hour is not enough to see the complete fort but by the time you have seen all the above things, 1 hour is easily spent and you have seen major points of the fort, so you can move back towards main entrance.

महादरवाजा - Main entrance of the fort

Zigzag Fortification of the fort

Forts walls of Sindhudurg fort

The same boat takes you back to Malvan jetty. Remember you boat number.

Malvan is connected by bus route from all major cities of Sindhudurg district on quite high frequency. Malvan itself is also a large town.

Time to climb	1 hour to see the fort.
Food	Available in Hotels at Malvan
Drinkable Water	Available on the Sindhudurg fort. Kokum Sarbat or lemon sarbat is also available.
Shelter	Hotels at Malvan provide comfortable night stay

1. Dhamapur Lake (धामापूर धरण) – The Bhagvati Mandir of Dhamapur is situated at the shore of calm clean and extremely beautiful Dhamapur Lake, where boating facility is also available.
2. Vijaydurg Fort (किल्ले विजयदुर्ग) – The center of Maratha navy during Peshwa rule. The fort stands in good condition and surrounded by water from three sides. Vijaydurg beach is also a good and extremely clean spot.

More Pictures

http://sanketsan1.tripod.com/sindhudurg