Navigation

Vashi2Panvel.Com: Navi Mumbai: September 15: “A tale of endless wars, a mystery that remains unsolved, an epic to remember, startling scenic beauty and much more is to explore at…Murud Janjira. It is a fort in the sea 2 kms inside of Murud village, which is just a 4 hours drive from Panvel. This is “the place” to visit now as after the monsoons the blanket of greenery has covered the entire place. The sight of sunset refreshes one to the core with the placid atmosphere that it brings along. Hereby, Vashi2Panvel.com tries to bring nature closer to you by revealing some uncharted details about this lovely place.

The fort was built by Burhankhan - a minister of Nizmashah in 15th century. Many times, Marathas tried to capture the fort, even Shivaji Maharaj, Sambhaji and Peshwas tried - but all those attempts were in vain. Therefore, it is one of the rare forts in Maharashtra, which did not fall under the dominion of Marathas. The place is almost 90 kms from Panvel. It comes after Alibag, which is famous for its clean beach and Pratapgarh fort. The way to the place is such that it reminds one of the most beautiful natural scenes filmed in some bollywood movie. Though the way seems like you are going to reach a mountain peak, it’s exciting to find a seaport. The curves and turns in the roads send a chill down your spine. After, this thrilling journey, the 10 minutes ride on small boats to the fort is an adventurous experience.

Murud Janjira is one of the vital forts in Maharashtra, which is strong inspite of being amongst the oldest forts. Though, some monuments inside and the walls of the fort are getting damaged after so many years now, but the toughness of the fort can still be felt. The architects of today are yet to discover the statistical details about the layout of the fort. The first thing which catches visitors attention is the entrance of the fort, which is build at a curve of the walls to deceive the enemies. The various small temples inside the fort still have the names of the eminent visitors, carved outside.

There are in all 19 Buruj (barrels to hold gun) in the fort. Every buruj has huge guns on it. There are mainly three big guns 'Kalal Bangadi’, 'Chavari' and 'Landa Kasam', which are prominently noticed by everyone. These guns inside the barrels are made up of specially melted five metals,“Panchdhatu”, which prevents it from being heated even under the scorching sun. There are two water tanks inside the fort along with some tombs. The most amazing fact about the lake inside the fort is that in spite of being in the middle of the sea, it has fresh water throughout the year. There is an undersea route to the fort, which was made by the Nizam to follow up the necessities at the times of crisis. The villagers used to stay in the fort till few years back but now due to some fault in the undersea route to the land, they have been shifted to the Murud village.

These were only a few details from an entire history left behind by this architectural creation of beauty and brilliance. There is a lot more to explore and discover about this castle. So, get set to plan a weekend trip and solve the mystery of this historical monument.

Smriti Mishra

Getting there: Murud is 125 km from Navi Mumbai by road, a journey of about 5 hours. ST buses operate from Mumbai Central to Murud's Durbar Road. Trains will get you as far as Roha and Panvel from where you can take a bus to Murud. Taking your private vehicle and enjoying the route to the fullest is another best option.

By Rail: Roha on the Konkan Railway is the nearest railhead. Mumbai is 165 kms by road. Another fun-filled route is by ferry from Mumbai to Rewas jetty, 90 minutes away and then by bus via Alibag and Chaul.

Accommodation: MTDC has simple cottages and rooms near the beach. You can also stay with residents who have rooms and shacks on rent. Food is available at the MTDC resort, stalls on the beach and at shacks in the village. For further information contact MTDC, Nariman Point Tel: 022 - 2024482.