Sindhudurg is an important historical place in
Maharashtra. Sindhudurg was once a strong naval base of the Maratha
rulers. The Sindhudurg fort bears testimony to the Maratha supremacy and
power, especially during the reign of Shivaji. The Vijaydurg Fort or the
Victor fort, located at Sindhudurg, was an impregnable fort with triple
line of walls, numerous towers and the massive interior buildings. The
great Maratha ruler, Chhatrapati Shivaji, added most of these features
to the Vijayadurg fort in the seventeenth century.
Sindhudurg or the ocean fort is Shivaji's cenotaph. The fort itself is
very extensive, a little less than 2 miles round the ramparts. The walls
of the fort are low, ranging from 29 to 30 feet. The towers of the fort
are generally outstanding semi circles with fine embrasures for canons.
The Sindhudurg fort is spread over an area of about 48 acres. The fort
is in ruins, except a few temples, dedicated to Mahadeo, Jarimai,
Mahapursh, Bhavani and Shivaji. In 1765 the British captured the fort
and they gave it the name of Fort Augustus. As the fort was very hard to
dismantle and unprofitable, the British returned it back to the
Marathas. The sunlight plays visual treats on the limestone walls of the
fort and the sunset view from its peak is breathtaking.


