| Vijaydurg Fort | |
|---|---|
| Sindhudurg District, Maharashtra, India | |
 Bastions of Vijaydurg fort | |
  Vijaydurg Fort | |
| Coordinates | 16°33′39″N 73°20′00″E / 16.5607°N 73.3334°E |
| Type | Sea fort |
| Site information | |
| Open to the public | Yes |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1193 |
| Built by | Bhoja II |
| Materials | Stone, Mortar |
Vijaydurg (sometimes written as Viziadurg), the oldest fort on the Sindhudurg coast, was constructed during the regime of Raja Bhoja II of the Shilahar dynasty (construction period 1193-1205) and restructured by Shivaji.[1][2][3]
Earlier, the fort encompassed an area of 5 acres (20,000 m2) and was surrounded by sea on all four sides. Over the years the eastern trench was reclaimed and a road constructed thereon. Presently the area of fort is about 17 acres (69,000 m2) and is surrounded by the Arabian Sea on three sides. Shivaji extended the area of the fort by constructing three walls on the eastern side, each 36 metres high. He also constructed 20 bastions.[3]
Vijaydurg Fort was called the "Eastern Gibraltar", as it was virtually impregnable.[4] Its locational advantages include the 40 km long Waghotan/Kharepatan creek. Large vessels cannot enter the shallow water of this creek. Also, Maratha warships could be anchored in this creek and yet remain invisible from the sea. It is a protected monument.[4][5]
- ^ Coastal Konkan - Forts, Temples, Exotic Beaches
- ^ Sen, Sailendra (2013). A Textbook of Medieval Indian History. Primus Books. p. 207. ISBN 978-9-38060-734-4.
- ^ a b "Top 5 Forts in Maharashtra: Revisiting History This Monsoon". India Destinations. 8 July 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
- ^ a b Konkan Odyssey - Part 4
- ^ "List of the protected monuments of Mumbai Circle district-wise" (PDF). Archived from the original on 6 June 2013.
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