Trek Fee: INR 3810 + 5% GST = INR 4000/-
(Nisargnaad membership benifits are not applicable for this trek series)
Age Group: 10-70 year old (Children of age 10-15 must be accompanied by a Adult Guardian for the trek.)
Eligibility: Average fitness level required
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About Sindhudurg & Vijaydurg Fort
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Sindhudurg Fort: The entire construction of the Sindhudurg Fort was carried out under the supervision of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. In 1657, with the aim of establishing dominance along the Konkan coast, Maharaj began building a naval force. At the time, the western coastline was heavily influenced by the fleets of the Siddis, the Dutch, the British, and the Portuguese. To counter them, it was essential to not only establish a navy but also create fortified sea forts. Sindhudurg was built as a part of this initiative. Shivaji Maharaj identified the Kurte Island, located off the Malvan coast, as a suitable site for constructing a strong fort. On November 25, 1664, the foundation stone was ceremoniously laid, and construction began. The stone used during this ceremony, known as Morya Dhond, can still be seen on the Malvan shore. The treasure brought from Surat in 1664 was instrumental in funding the construction. To prevent any interruptions from enemies during the building process, a force of 5,000 Mavlas (soldiers) was stationed in Malvan. During the construction phase, Maharaj tested the strength of his navy by launching a sea attack on the prosperous city of Basrur in Karnataka. In 1665, Shivaji Maharaj was placed under house arrest in Agra. Despite his absence, the construction of Sindhudurg continued under the supervision of Govind Vishwanath Prabhu. A workforce of 500 stone masons, 200 blacksmiths, 100 skilled Portuguese craftsmen from Goa, and 3,000 laborers worked tirelessly for three years to complete the fort in March 1667. An innovative technique was used to ensure the durability of the fort’s foundation stones against the saline sea water—lead was poured into the joints of the stones. The construction cost approximately one crore hons (an ancient currency). Once the fort was completed, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj personally inspected it. The historian Chitragupta Bakhar described Sindhudurg as: “This fort stands among 84 ports as the indomitable Janjira, a ‘Shiva Lanka’ on the chest of 18 enemy fleets, an invincible stronghold.” The construction of Sindhudurg remains a significant achievement in the history of medieval military architecture.
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Vijaydurg Fort: The construction of Vijaydurga Fort dates back to the Shilahara dynasty. Over time, the fort came under the control of the Bahmani and Adilshahi regimes. In 1661, Shivaji Maharaj captured Vijaydurga, expanded its fortifications, and strengthened it significantly. During the time of Kanhoji Angre, the fort gained immense importance in the Maratha navy. A highly secure dockyard was built about 3 to 3.5 kilometers away from Vijaydurga in the Waghotan Creek. This massive dockyard, measuring 355 x 247 feet, was used for repairing old ships and constructing new ones. After Kanhoji, Tulaji Angre became the chief admiral (Sarkhel). However, conflicts arose between him and the Peshwas. In 1756, with the assistance of the British, the Peshwas defeated Tulaji Angre. As compensation, the British retained Vijaydurga along with Bankot. Two years later, they handed the fort back to the Peshwas. However, due to the declining state of the Peshwa regime, they could not maintain control over it for long. During the interim period, the Dhulup family also held sway over the fort for some time. Eventually, in 1818, like most other forts, Vijaydurga fell under British control.