One of the strongest marine forts of India, the citadel of Janjira was the capital of Siddis who ruled the princely state of Murud-Janjira. Situated on an oval rock near the port town of Murud, it is about 165 km south of Mumbai in Raigad district of Maharashtra.
A small fishing village, Murud is famous for its beaches too. Glittering sandy coastline and the village with beaches hemmed with coconut groves attracts large crowds especially on weekends.
The fort can be approached only by sailboats from Rajapuri jetty. The fort remained unconquered despite the best efforts by the Portuguese, the British and the Marathas.
Murud-Janjira Fort
Spread over 22 acres, the fort has 19 bastions which, despite the ravages of time, still stand intact. The fort’s main gate faces Rajapuri and can be seen only when one is quite close to it. It has a small gate which opens to the sea and was used for escape.
There are two water tanks inside the fort and a deep well. The well is a marvel of nature as it contains sweet water. The fort was defended by several cannons. In its heyday, the fort had palaces, mosque, fresh water tanks, markets and quarters for officers.
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