Sindhudurg Fort


Sindhudurg Fort is a historical fort that occupies an island in the Arabian Sea, just off the coast of Maharashtra in Western India. The fort was built by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The fortress lies on the shore of Malvan town of Sindhudurg District in the Konkan region of Maharashtra, south of Mumbai. It is a protected monument.

History

Sindhudurg island-fort was built by Chhatrapati Shivaji, the 17th-century ruler of Maratha Empire. Its main objective was to counter the rising influence of foreign colonizers and to curb the rise of Siddis of Janjira
. Construction was supervised by Hiroji Indulkar in 1664. The fort was built on a small island known as the Khurte island.

Structural details

Chhatrapati Shivaji brought 200 Vaddera people for building this fort. Over 4,000 pounds of lead 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, the sea fort is spread over 48 acres, with a two-mile long rampart, and walls that are high and 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.
At a time when traveling by sea was banned by scriptures, this construction on an island represents the revolutionary mindset of its engineer. A remain of an iron mould can be seen.

Permanent residents

The number of permanent residents staying in the fort has been in decline since the fort's abandonment. Most of the residents moved out because of inadequate employment opportunities, but over 15 families remain in the fort. The fort is closed for tourists during rainy season due to the high tides in the sea.

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