Murud Janjira - A Tale of the Invincible

Murud Janjira

No obvious entry point is visible

Murud-Janjira Fort is situated on an oval-shaped rock off the Arabian Sea coast near the port town of Murud, 165 km south of Mumbai in Raigad district of Maharastra. Janjira is considered one of the strongest marine forts in India. It remained impregnable, unconquered,  by the rulers of that time Portugese, British and the Marathas remained unsuccessful in their attempts to conquer this fort. This fort was originally a wooden structure build on the rock by local fisherman of Rajpuri, It was captured by Pir Khan, a general of Nizamshah of Ahmednagar. Later, the fort was strengthened by Malik Ambar, the Abyssinian-origin Siddi regent of Ahmednagar kings. From then onward, Siddis became independent, owing allegiance to Adilshah and the Mughals.

Only approach through water

The fort is approached by sailboats from Rajapuri jetty. The main gate of the fort faces Rajapuri on the shore and can be seen only when one is quite close to it. It has a small postern gate towards the open sea for escape. The Arabian Sea crashes relentlessly all around the fort, which lies 2 km into the ocean at Murud. The Walls of the the Murud Janjira fort stand tall at 40ft even in high tide. Remains of a once affluent city inside the fort, are a mute witness to the grandeur and the eminent ruin. Access and watch towers are an integral part of any fort and this one is no less, however because it is surrounded by water, the approach of any enemy was clearly visible and this was the added advantage.

Cannon

 The Huge cannons installed atop the fort walls are aimed at intruders. This fort also houses one of the three biggest cannons in the history of India all these put together added to the reason why they were secure from the enemies. Considered to be the only impregnable fort, the entrance and exits to this fort were always well guarded and camouflaged, restricting any enemy advances. The Fort is said to be well equipped in case of a hold up, it is also believed that there was a tunnel under water to the village, which could be used if the sea route could not be accessed. Since the fort is surrounded by the sea, fresh water was arranged for in two separate ponds. The remains of this structure speak of the bygone era beauty of the fort is unparalleled in spite of it being in a state of ruin now.

View from the Watch towers

The Ruined fresh water pools

The ruined city inside

Access to the watch towers

The ruins lie a silent witness to a glorious past, time brings to dust the glory of the fort. All that is created must be destroyed. What remains as memories of a glorious time and ruins that remind us of a time that was. However affluent, however secure, and however self sufficient with time everything changes, so did the inhabitants of this fort, who were believed to be of Abyssinian origin. 

Symbol of the power of Siddis

 With the advent of the 19^th century and the declaration of independence the Siddis are believed to have used parts of the fort until 1972 and then as the fort began to crumble moved to another fort in Murud. The Murud Janjira Fort today is in ruins, expressing the silent testimony of a grandeur lost to time.