VIJAYDURG FORT

FORT VIJAYDURGA

Gaced by the presence of his highness Chh.Shivaji Maharaj - Fort Vijaydurga has completed it's 800 glorious years. Located on the western coast of Maharashtra, this fort has witnessed inimitable bravery of Daryasarang Daulat Khan, C.V. Mesty & Maynak Bhandari. Fort Vijaydurga will always remain as a precious pearl of Maratha territory.

People living with this historical monument i.e. villagers of surrounding places decided to celebrate this historical event of the Fort in a grand manner. During 27 December 2005 to 2 January 2006, Vijaydurga Mahotsav was celebrated at fort Vijaydurga.

THE EASTERN GIBRALTER

Rule over Maharashtra would not be possible until Fort Gheria (as it was called then) is conquered. Well aware of this fact Britishers used all their tactics to conquer this Fort but could never succeed. The records & references confirm that though this Fort was attacked time to time, it remained unconquered and so finally Britishers named the Fort as “The Eastern Gibralter”.

Amongst the 16 Forts built in Maharashtra by Raja Bhoj, Vijaydurga is one of the most ancient and has witnessed the extra-ordinary bravery of Maratha soldiers. This Fort was built under the personal guidance & supervision of Mirza Valli Begh, Secretary to Raja Bhoj, as per the historical records.

CONQUEROR OF FORTS

Chh. Shivaji believed that the one who conquers the fort.. will conquer the kingdom. As per his belief; if Marathas had to rule the western coast of Maharashtra i.e. Konkan then they must have had this Fort under Maratha Infantry. With this ambition Chh. Shivaji included this fort under his reign without a major war in 1653 A. D.

FORT GHERIA RENAMED VIJAYDURG

The year in which this Fort was conquered in 1653 AD was Vijaysanvatsar (According to Hindu Mythology). Chh. Shivaji himself hoisted the flag on this Fort. Focusing this coincidence and in the memory of this great victory in the year of Vijaysanvatsar, Chh. Shivaji named this fort as Vijaydurga - meaning the fort of victory..

SECULAR IDOL

Chh. Shivaji and the frontiers of Maratha Army, Senapati Ibrahim Daulat khan and his two warrior colleagues Maynak Bhandari and CV. Mesti showed extra ordinary bravery to conquer this Fort. Chh. Shivaji handed over it to them with great trust and faith. This shows the secular attitude of Chh. Shivaji. As per the historical records Vijaydurga is the first coastal Fort conquered by Maratha army in 1653 A.D., later this Fort and Port both became an integral part for Maratha fleet and trade.

1653 TO 1756 MARATHA RULE

For very long period of 1653 and 1756 Vijaydurg was one of the prime asset of Maratha Forces. This Fort is blessed by the glorious bravery of late Serkhel Kanhoji Angre and late Anandrao Dhulap. When the tenure of Peshwa came to an end in 1818 the Fort was merged in British Empire. Later the Peshwas had to pay high prices for this

Besides hill and land forts some very prominent sea forts were built in the Maratha period. Vijaydurga or Victory Fort is one of the great forts of the Konkan. Vijaydurg Fort was strengthened around the 17th century by Shivaji, to whom it owes its finest features - the triple line of walls, the numerous towers and the massive interior buildings.

The Fort

The earlier name of this fort was Girye or Gheriya because it is surrounded by sea from three sides. The fort has an area of six hectares; there are twenty-seven Buruj inside the fort. Some of them have three floors. "Kothi Pirachi Sadar", "Kitta Sadar", Jails, 'Jakhinis' Canon, huge stones used for construction purpose, the platform built in the deep sea for guarding, etc all these things must be seen and are still puzzling to a viewer.

The underwater explorations on the western side of the fort, about 100m seaward revealed a stone structure at a water depth of 8 to 10m. It measures 122m in length, 7m in width and 3m in height. Besides it a tidal dockyard was also located around 3-km from Vijaydurg fort on the left bank of Vaghotan River.

The dockyard is 110m long and width is 75m. It was hollowed out of a rock. The southern and eastern side is cut out of a natural rock and rest is dry masonry. In addition to this a number of grapnel and triangular stone anchors were noticed in the adjoining area of dockyard.

History Of The Fort

It existed as a dilapidated fortification of the Shilahar period before it was taken over by the Bijapur kings, and then by Shivaji who made it a major naval base. When Shivaji failed to capture Murud-Janjira, he decided to create a similar stronghold and built Vijaydurg Fort, on a rocky projection south of Ratnagiri.

He had a triple line of walls built, as well as numerous towers. In 1698 AD, the Maratha naval commander Angre, who was the terror of all traders, made it his capital. This fort has a hollowed-out entrance to take vessels of 500 tons.

HOW TO GET THERE

Rail: Rajapur and Kudal are the nearest railway stations on Konkan railway.