Sindhudurg Fort

About Sindhudurg Fort

• It is a historical fort that occupies an islet in the Arabian Sea, just off the coast of Maharashtra in western India.
• The fortress lies on Kurte Island, very near the coast of Malvan town in Sindhudurg District in the Konkan region of Maharashtra, 450 kilometres south of Mumbai.
• The fort was built by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj of the Maratha Empire.
• The construction of the fort began in 1664 and took three years to complete.
• The main objective was to counter the rising influence of foreign colonizers (English, Dutch, French, and Portuguese merchants) and to curb the rise of the Siddis of Janjira.
• Features:
  • It is spread over 48 acres with fortified walls that are 29 feet high and 12 feet thick and stretch for two miles.
  • As many as 52 bastions with embrasures for cannons guard its walls.
  • One can enter the fort through the Dilli Darwaja, the main gate. Because of its architectural design, the gate is visible only from close quarters and seems to be part of the walls. 
  • It is surrounded by several smaller forts, such as Padmagad, Rajkot, and Sarjekot Forts.
  • A handprint and footprint of the Maratha King are embedded on a slab within the fort.
  • A small temple dedicated to the Chhatrapati also finds a place within the bounds of the fort.

Q1) Who was Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj?

He was the founder of the Maratha Empire in western India. With his valor and great administrative skills, Shivaji carved out an enclave from the declining Adilshahi sultanate of Bijapur. It eventually became the genesis of the Maratha Empire. He was known as the Father of Indian Navy, Shivaji was the first to realise the importance of having a naval force, and therefore he strategically established a navy and forts at the coastline to defend the Konkan side of Maharashtra. He was a secular ruler who was very accommodating of all religions. He had numerous Muslim soldiers in his army.

Source: Navy to Show Its Might at Maratha Fort