Sindhudurg

Sindhudurg Fort

          Sindhudurg (Marathi सिंधुदुर्ग) is a fortress which occupies an islet in the Arabian Sea, just off the coast of Maharashtra in western India. The fortress lies on the shore of Malvan town of Sindhudurg District in the Konkan region of Maharashtra, south of Mumbai.

          Sindhudurg (Sindhu = sea, Durg = fort) was built by the great Maratha warrior King Shivaji in 1664. Shivaji selected the strategic rocky island location, then known as 'Kurte' for the fort ,himself - to counter foreign forces, and to keep the nearby Siddis of Murud-Janjira in check. 

Wall of Fort

          One of the best preserved forts of the Marathas, the 48 acre Sindhudurg fort has a four kms long zigzag line of 9 metres high and 3 metres wide rampart with 42 bastions. Apart from the huge stones, the building material involved 2000 khandis (72,576 kgs)of iron erecting the massive curtain wall and bastions. A notable feature is that the foundation stones were laid down firmly with 5 Khandi (181.5 kgs) molten lead.

          Over 4000 mounds of iron were used in the casting and foundation stones were firmly laid down . The construction was started on November 25, 1664. Built over a period of three (1664-67) years, the sea fort is spread over 48 acres (190,000 m²) with a two-mile (3 km) long rampart, and walls that are 30 feet (9.1 m) high and 12 feet (3.7 m) 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 Samudra Gaman (travelling by sea) was banned by scriptures, this construction on an island represents the revolutionary mindset of its builder.

Shivaji Temple

          Since the fort was abandoned, the number of permanent residents staying in the fort has been in decline. There are sixteen houses in the fort. One of the families, the Sakpal Naik, who were the original 'killedars', still reside in the fort. However, Dr. Sarang Kulkarni's discoveries have led to the establishment of the Indian Sub-continent's only well established Scuba diving industry. Though most of the residents had moved out due to the absence of adequate employment opportunities, more than 15 families remain in the fort, though with very little other employment opportunities but the underwater treasure around the fort discovered by Dr. Sarang Kulkarni. These have enabled the local residents to earn more than $15 (Around Rs. 420). Today, Sindhudurg Fort is a popular destination amongst tourists, both from within India, and abroad. There is also a coral reef located on the outskirts of the island. Tourists throng the island in large numbers especially in the summer season to explore the island as well as to undertake activities like Scuba Diving, Snorkelling, etc.

          Sindhudurg town lies in the Sindudurg district to the north of Goa,about 400 k.m south of Mumbai (Bombay). Sindhudurg can be reached either by train or by bus from Bombay, Goa and Mangalore. The Konkan railway has a railway station at Sindudurg. Only few trains stop here. There are Maharashtra state government ( MSRTC ) buses running from Mumbai, Pune, Ratnagiri, Sangli, Kolhapur and Goa state government buses (Kadamba Transport Corporation) running from Panaji, Madgaon, Vasco and Pernem to Sindhudurg.

Entrance of Fort