Murud – Janjira

Few forts in Maharashtra have a history as exciting as Murud-Janjira, the legendary sea-fort. Murud in Konkani means a place, where water does get clogged with water (following floods) and Janjira is corrupted Arabic for Jazeera, which means an island.

The fort belonged to a dynasty of Siddhis who are believed to have their origins in Abyssinia, in far North Africa. The Siddhi lifestyle thrived on piracy along the busy maritime traffic along the Arabian Sea. This fort also hold the distinction of never been captured by force, be it the Marathas, British or the Dutch armies.

Orientation

One of the reasons why people look at the fort with awe is because the fort is located right in the middle of the sea, a rare change from other forts located along mountainous heights. It lies off the coast in Raigad district and is part of the few other forts including Padmadurg, Sindhudurg which controlled the sea routes of the time. Today Murud-Janjira serves as an ideal weekend getaway for city dwellers from Pune and Mumbai.

Weather/Best time to visit

You can visit this fort all year round. Although during the monsoons the water surges can get a touch risky.

Getting there / Route Information

Distances from nearest major cities:

• Mumbai: 150 km
• Pune: 185 km

Connectivity

By Bus:	Buses for Murud are available from various departure points in Mumbai including major suburbs like Borivli, Thane and even from Dadar, Mumbai Central. Buses for Murud-Janjira also leave from Pune at regular intervals.
By Catamarans:	A regular catamaran service for Alibaug — located near the fort, is also an excellent option.
By Train:	Doesn’t make sense traveling up to Panvel by train and then shifting mode of transport. Bus or sea appears to be the best possible route.
By Air:	The nearest airport is Mumbai.

Pictures of Murud – Janjira

 

Major attractions

The fort, despite its age is still in relatively good shape. A high priority in the ‘to do’ list on this fort is the cannons which held the fort together for such a long time, fending off enemy attacks. These are called the Kala Bangadi. These are three major cannons made of special alloys mounted on ramparts that were crucial in matters of defence. The fort has more than a dozen ‘burjs’, ramparts, each of which is mounted with cannon.

Then there are the carvings on the wall of the fort, which includes the fascinating Siddhi symbol of six elephants battling a tiger. Other than the remnants, it is really fascinating to see the waves crash against the foundations of this fort in the way they have for the last 5 centuries. But, if you are still interested in ‘sites to see’, try the Carambi dam, which has developed as a nice picnic spot. The beaches too have a sort of sereneness to them.

Nightlife

Not much you may find around here. But Alibag in the recent times has been in the news for hosting a lot of rave parties on the sly.

Cuisine

Travelling along the coast has a lot of allied benefits, so gear yourself to gorge on a lot of seafood.

Vital Tourist Information

Things to carry

The glare of the sun off the water could get to you if you are not too careful. Wear sun protection both on the skin and on your eyes. Carry lots of water, you are going to need it. Food is absolutely no issue, with a lot of fare available on the coast.

Hotel/Resort availability

The coast has a variety of accommodation available to suit the shoestring and the thick walleted. MTDC also has a cozy resort near the beach.

Local transport

Since the region is favored by tourists and terrain is relatively level unlike the forts located on mountains in the Pune and nearby regions, transport is not an issue at all, be it cabs, very large autos or buses.

Contacts in case of Contigency

Hospitals:	Dr. Athawale Nishigandh. Mobile: 9422095518 Dr. Gharat Ramesh. Mobile: 9372210095
Police station:	Murud Police Station. Tel: 02141-274033 Superintendent of Police. Tel: 02141-222093