Sindhudurg

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.