MURUD - JANJIRA

History How To Reach Janjira Fort Datta Temple Padamdurg Fort

Formerly the capital town of the Siddis of Janjira, Murud is today popular for its alluring beach, whispering casurina, coconut and betel palms and an ancient fort. On a hillock to the north is the shrine of Lord Dattatreya, the three heads representing Brahma, Vishnu and Sea Fort - Janjira Maheshwara.

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Murud- Janjira Page

Battered on all four sides by sea waves, its strong walls yet standing intact and 40 feet high even at full tide is the majestic island fortress of the Siddis -- Murud-Janjira. Never conquered by an enemy for over 350 years since its construction by the Ahmednagar rulers under the supervision of their regent Malik Ambar in the 15th century, Murud-Janjira is probably the only impregnable fort on the 720 km Maharashtra coastline.
Neither the Portuguese nor the British could subjugate the fort. And the Marathas, despite their repeated Sea Fort - Janjira attempts failed to subjugate the Siddi power.

The palace of the Nawab and the Janjira Caves are also a must for the tourist. And just a few kilometres away are two undiscovered beaches: Nandgaon and Kashid. Nandgaon is famous for its Ganapati temple and the annual fair held in honour of ths elephant-headed god every February.

Here you shall discover the charms of an island fortress. The beach is clear and spacious, fringed with palm trees. The fortress is 300 years old, an architectural marvel-in fact, once upon a time considered to be impregnable.


Mumbai 165km Away Serves As The Nearest Airport. Roha (68km From Murud) On The Konkan Railway Is The Closest Railway Station And Is Connected To All Important Cities In Maharashtra. Murud Is Well Linked By Road To Mumbai, Alibag(52km), Pune(230km) And Rewas(75km). Buses and Tourist Cabs Are Available To Ferry You To And Back From Murud. If You Aren't Sea-sick, Then You Can Take A Ferry From Mumbai To Rewas (About 90 Minutes) And Then Take The Road Via Alibag And Chaul.

Accommodation:- Murud Has A Surprisingly Large Number Of Hotels Considering Its Size. All Of Them Offer Much The Same Facilities.

Built By The Siddis of Janjira, The Fort Has The Reputation Of Having Never Been Conquered By An Enemy In Its 350 Year History. The Great Maratha Leader Shivaji Attacked The Fort In 1659, But Could Not Scale The 15m High Walls. His Son Sambhaji Tried To Dig A Tunnel But A Natural Moat, 90ft Deep, Surrounding The Fort, The Warted His Attempts. The Local Guides Will Tell You That Everytime The Fort Walls Were Raised, They Would Crumble Down Mysteriously. On The Advise Of A Priest, The Siddi Chieftain Buried His Son Alive To Appease The Gods And Remove The Curse. Placed Strategically All Along The Fort Are 275 Cannons, The Largest Of Which Has A Range Of 3km And Is The Third Largest Cannon In Maharashtra. Right In The Middle Of The Fort Is A Fresh Water Tank Fed By An Underwater Spring.

Kasa Kila:- Right In The Middle Of The Sea Stands This Half-Built Fort. It Is Said That When Sambhaji Failed To Win The Janjira Fort, He Ordered That A Similar One Be Built Right Next To It. But The Kasa Kila Never Got Completed.

Siddhi Nawab's Palace:- Built Atop A Cliff, This Palace Commands A Panoramic View Of The Sea And The Town Of Murud.

Dattatreya Temple:- North Of The Fort On A Hillock Stands A Temple Dedicated To Lord Dattatreya. The Three Heads Of The Idol Are Supposed To Represent The Hindu Trinity Of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

Standing on the beach of Murud about 70-km south of Mumbai and looking towards the sea, one can see the low silhouette of the famous Kansa, or Padmadurg, fort (also sometimes called Pradurg). It lies about 70 km south of Mumbai and was built by Shivaji. The fort is constructed on a low-lying rock, its walls following the rock edge. Its gate is strongly fortified and hidden from view till one suddenly comes upon it between two bastions. The fort, built with stone and mortar, still stands after more than 300 years. Built in the form of an open lotus with 22 bastions with guns and sculptured walls. Shivaji, evidently took some pains over the construction of this fort, as all its building materials had to be transported across the open sea.