Janjira fort was originally constructed in the 12th
century by Siddis, businessmen turned rulers from Abyssinia, near Africa. While
that puts the age of the fort as 950 years old, most records say that the
fort in its current form was built over 350 years back by Siddi Johar.
This is the only fort in 700+ km coastline of Maharashtra which
remained unconquered. With a height of over 90ft above sea and 20 ft
strong foundation, it took 22 years to build the fort. Attacked by
the Portuguese, the British, Shivaji, Knhoji Angre and Sambhaji, the fort
remained unconquered. Sambhaji went ahead and constructed a fort in a nearby
island (Padamdurg Fort, now known as Kasa) . Kasa fort is not accessible for public
and requires special permission from Port Trust / Navy.
Getting to the fort is an easy affair.
I traveled to Murud from Mumbai over the weekend. The
easiest and the quickest way to get there is to take a ferry from Gateway
to Mandwa ( an hour of happiness and relaxation to sail in the beautiful
Arabian sea). From Mandwa, there are buses and tempos that drop you
to Alibaug ( 30 minutes ride). From Alibaug bus stop, there are local
buses to Murud ( around an hour and a half drive).
Janjira fort is accessble from Rajpuri (the old port),One
can take a 20 minute sail-boat ride across the waters, which will reach you to
the entrance of the Janjira fort, which is when one notices the
innovative construction techniques used while building this medieval building.
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.
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
The fort can be
approached only by sailboats from Rajapuri jetty.
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.
Sunset at
Murud-Janjira Fort
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.
This cannon is called Kadakbangdi .The Big Cannon weighing
about 12 tons as was told to us by our guide
They have boat service which takes you to the Fort. The boat
would charge you Rs.15 and Rs. 20 for the guide more 20 bucks.
The view from the top of the fort was amazing. From there
you can see lush paddy fields, rolling hills and sparkling rivulets. The
journey took me to the old days of India. I felt this place as a tranquilizer
that eases the anxiety and tension. The silence lends to it an air of serenity
that brings joy and peace to every weary soul.
It is beautifully constructed in the sea (not beautiful now
as most of the area is converted to ruins), but still it is worth to watch. The
name may have derived from the Arabic word Jazeera (meaning 'an island'). Some
people also named it as "JAL JEERA" (Fort in the water). You have to
go through sail-boats to reach this fort. I wouldn't be inking more about the
history of this fort.
Sunset at Murud
Janjira Fort
Return journey from
Murud-Janjira Fort
The main reason for travelers coming here is the day visit
to the
Janjira fort. Standing tall in the middle of the
Arabian Sea, it is visible from the
Janjira village (also from
the road which leads to the village). The fort is a brilliant sight during the
evenings of January and February as the sun sets just beside the exterior
walls.
Every sunset brings
the promise of a new dawn
“A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a
single step.” – Lao Tzu
Murud has a bearable climate round the year. Summers are hot
(March to May) while the winter season (November to February) experiences
moderate temperature. Rainfall is heavy from June to September and usually the
catamaran/speed services are closed during this time. The best time to visit
Murud is during the winter season (Nov-Feb) when the temperature is moderate
and there is hardly any rain.
How to Reach
By Air
The nearest airport to Murud is Mumbai which is
around 165 kilometers away. Mumbai has a big international airport and is
well connected by both domestic as well as international flights.
By Train
The nearest railhead is at Roha on the Konkan railway route,
which in turn is connected to other towns of India. Indian
Railways operates the rail network in India.
By Bus
State Transport buses link Murud to Mumbai and the other
nearby towns of Maharashtra like Pune, Satara, etc.
By Boat
The most convenient and fun filled way to reach Murud from
Mumbai is via the sea route. Speed boats and catamarans are available from the
Gateway of India in Mumbai to the Mandwa jetty and from
there bus service is available to Murud. PNP catamarans, Maladar Catamarans and
Ajantha launches are the three major companies operating catamarans/launches on
this route. The fare including the catamaran and bus service is around U$2-3
one way and tickets are available at the respective company’s booking office at
Gateway of India and Mandwa.
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