Vijaydurg Fort

2021-12-08T19:24:20Z

2409:4042:2D9B:37DB:0:0:5348:A313:

{{Short description|fort located in Vijaydurg}}{{About|the fort|the city|Vijaydurg (city)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2013}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2013}}
{{Infobox military installation
|name = Vijaydurg Fort
|native_name = विजयदूर्ग किल्ला
|partof =
|location = [[Sindhudurg District]], [[Maharashtra]]
|image = [[File:Bastions of vijaydurg.jpg|220px]]
|caption = Bastions of Vijaydurg fort
|map_type = India Maharashtra
|map_size = 300
|map_alt =
|map_caption = Vijaydurg Fort shown within Maharashtra
|type = [[Sea fort]]
|coordinates = {{coord|16.5607|73.3334|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline}}
|code =
|built = {{Start date|df=yes|1193}}
|builder = [[Bhoja II (Shilahara dynasty)|Bhoja II]]
|materials = Stone, Mortar
|height =
|used =
|demolished =
|condition =
|ownership =
|open_to_public = Yes
|controlled by =
|garrison =
|current_commander =
|commanders =
|occupants =
|battles =
|events =
|image2 =
|caption2 =
}}

'''Vijaydurg''' (sometimes written as Viziadurg), the oldest fort on the [[Sindhudurg]] coast, was constructed during the regime of Raja [[Bhoja II (Shilahara dynasty)|Bhoja II]] of the [[Shilahara|Shilahar dynasty]] (construction period 1193-1205) and restructured by [[Shivaji maharaj]].<ref>[http://konkanmotoexped.blogspot.in/2010/10/day-6-purnagad-vijaydurg-devgad-and.html Coastal Konkan - Forts, Temples, Exotic Beaches]</ref><ref name="sen2">{{Cite book |last=Sen |first=Sailendra |title=A Textbook of Medieval Indian History |publisher=Primus Books |year=2013 |isbn=978-9-38060-734-4 |pages=207}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title = Top 5 Forts in Maharashtra: Revisiting History This Monsoon|url = https://indiadestinationsblog.wordpress.com/2013/07/08/top-5-forts-in-maharashtra-revisiting-history-this-monsoon/|website = India Destinations|date = 8 July 2013|access-date = 2015-12-08}}</ref>

Earlier, the fort encompassed an area of 5 acres (1 acre = 4840 square yards or 4047 square metres) 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 and is surrounded by the [[Arabian Sea]] on three sides. Shivaji maharaja extended the area of the fort by constructing three walls on the eastern side, each 36 metres high. He also constructed 20 bastions.<ref name=":3"/>

According to legend, this is one of only two [[Maratha]] forts where Shivaji maharaj personally hoisted the saffron flag. The other fort is [[Torna Fort|Torna]].<ref name=":3"/>

Vijaydurg Fort was called the "Eastern Gibraltar", as it was virtually impregnable.<ref name=":2">[https://amitabhagupta.wordpress.com/2012/05/11/konkan-odyssey-part-iv/#more-625 Konkan Odyssey - Part 4]</ref> 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.<ref name=":2"/><ref>{{cite web|title=List of the protected monuments of Mumbai Circle district-wise|url=http://www.asimumbaicircle.com/images/list-of-protected-monuments-n-forts.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606093840/http://www.asimumbaicircle.com/images/list-of-protected-monuments-n-forts.pdf|url-status=usurped|archive-date=6 June 2013}}</ref>

==Etymology==
The name Vijaydurg comes from two words, "Vijay" meaning Victory and "Durg" meaning Fort. The fort was earlier known as "Gheria", as it is situated close to the village of "[[Girye]]". [[Shivaji]] captured this fort from [[Adil Shah]] of Bijapur in 1653 and renamed it as "Vijay Durg" as the then Hindu solar year's name was "Vijay" (Victory).<ref name=":2"/>

==Location==
Vijaydurg fort is located at the tip of the peninsular region of [[Vijaydurg (city)|Vijaydurg]] in [[Devgad, Maharashtra|Devgad Taluka]], of district [[Sindhudurg]]. It is one of the several coastal forts on the western coast of [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]. It is surrounded by water on all the four side but connected to the land through a narrow road. The port adjacent to the fort is a natural port and is still used by local fishermen.<ref name=":2"/>

==History==
In 1653 Shivaji Maharaj captured this fort from [[Adil Shahi dynasty|Adil Shah]] of [[Bijapur]] and renamed it as "Vijay Durg". The original name of the fort was "Gheria" and the first fortification appears to have been constructed in 1200 during the regime of [[Raja Bhoj|Raja Bhoj II]]. Shivaji developed Vijaydurg as an important base for [[Maratha Empire|Maratha]] warships.<ref name=":2"/>

Maratha Empire looked to be in a decline after the death of Shivaji In 1680, when his son and successor [[Sambhaji]] was captured by Mughal Emperor [[Aurangzeb]] and brutally tortured to death on 21 March 1689. Later in that year, the fort of [[Raigad Fort|Raigad]] fell in the hand of Mughals. Wife of Shambhaji and his infant son Shahu along with many others were captured and were treated as state prisoners.<ref name=":2"/>

Shivaji's second wife's son [[Rajaram Chhatrapati|Raja Ram]] then took in charge of the [[Maratha Empire]]. Inspired by the valiant death of Shambhaji, they fought back against the Mughals. It was during his reign [[Kanhoji Angre]] alias Conajee Angria became [[Koli People|Koli]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theprint.in/opinion/as-nda-cadet-i-was-witness-to-vice-admiral-awatis-kindness/145378/|title=As NDA cadet, I was witness to Vice Admiral Awati's kindness|last=LT GEN K. J.|first=SINGH|website=ThePrint.In|access-date=7 November 2018}}</ref> admiral of naval army of the Marathas. In 1698, Kanhoji made Vijaydurg the capital of his territory along the coast.<ref name=":2"/>

In 1700 Raja Ram died. Tara Bai, the brave widow of Raja Ram took over the control of the Maratha Empire. Putting her infant son on the Maratha throne styled as "Shivaji II", Tara Bai led successful operations against the Mughal from 1700 to 1707. Taking advantage of the discomfiture of Shivaji's ruling house Kanhoji Angre became the most "Powerful and independent Naval Chief of West coast of India". [[Tarabai]] gave Kanhoji title of Sarkhel (Admiral). At one time Kanhoji Angre was master of the whole coast from [[Mumbai|Bombay]] (Now [[Mumbai]]) to [[Vengurla]].<ref name=":2"/>

<gallery caption="The successors of Maratha Empire" class=center widths=200 heights=200 style="line-height:130%">
File:Tarabai.jpg|Maharani Tarabai lead the Marathas in the 27-year war with Mughals after death of her husband Rajaram
File:Sarkhel Kanhoji Angre I.jpg|Sarkhel Kanhoji Angre. Admiral of Maratha Navy 1698 - 1729
</gallery>

Aurangzeb died in 1707 and Shahu was released from the clutches of Mughals. He challenged Tarabai and her son's legitimacy to the Maratha throne. The Marathas were divided but ultimately Shahu won the right to the throne as Chhatrapati and Tarabai was retreated to rule a small area of Kolhapur under the name of his son Shivaji II in 1713. She was later overthrown and imprisoned till her death by her husband's second wife Rajas Bai.<ref name=":2"/>

In the same year, Shahuji sent his Peshwa (Prime Minister), [[Balaji Vishwanath|Balaji Vishvanath]] from his headquarters at [[Satara (city)|Satara]] to negotiate with Kanhoji Angre. Kanhoji agreed to acknowledge allegiance to Satara and shift his loyalty from Tarabai. In return Kanhoji was confirmed command of the Maratha fleet, and granted twenty-six forts and fortified places with their dependent villages.<ref name=":2"/>

Vijaydurg is said to be the oldest fort in [[Sindhudurg district|Sindhudurg]] coast. In the Pre-Independence era it was also known as "Eastern Gibraltar". This is because the fort was almost unconquerable. Under the leadership of Kanhoji Angre, it withstood many naval attacks by the British and the Dutch. Kanhoji Angre died on 4 July 1729 and the Angres control of the fort ended in 1756 after the Peshwa-British Alliance defeated the Angres clan. In 1818 Vijaydurg was completely in the hand of the [[British Raj|British Empire]].<ref name=":2"/>

==Battle of Vijaydurg==

{{Infobox military conflict
|conflict=[[Battle of Vijaydurg]]
|image=The_Capture_of_Geriah,_February_1756_RMG_BHC0377.jpg
|image2=
|caption=The Capture of Gheria
|caption2=
|partof=
|date=Jan-Feb 1756
|place=Vijaydurg Fort, [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]
|result=[[Kingdom of Great Britain|British]] & Peshwa victory
|combatant1={{flagicon image|Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg}} [[Maratha Empire]]
|combatant2=[[File:Flag of the British East India Company (1707).svg|23px]] [[East India Company]] 
{{flagicon image|Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg}} [[Nanasaheb Peshwa]]
|commander1={{flagicon image|Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg}} Tulaji Angre
|commander2=[[File:Flag of the British East India Company (1707).svg|23px]] Admiral Watson 
{{flagicon image|Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg}} [[Nanasaheb Peshwa]]
|strength1= 2000 men 
250 cannons 
200 ships
|strength2= 500 British marines 
20 British ships 
1000 Marathas under Peshwa
|casualties1= 500+ men 
Tulaji Angre arrested
Fort captured by British Marines
|casualties2= Nil
}}

After the death of [[Kanhoji Angre]], there were two short reigns by Sarfoji and Sambhaji. The two brothers Manaji and Tulaji started fighting for the Angre throne. [[Balaji Baji Rao|Nanasaheb Peshwe]] had intervened in the disputes between Manaji and Tulaji. This created two spheres of influence, Manaji in the north at Kulaba and Tulaji in the south at Vijaydurg. Tulaji Angre was favored by Shahu and was appointed as Sarkhel (Admiral) of the [[Maratha]] Navy. This was against the will of Nanasaheb Peshwa.<ref name=":0">Naravane, M. S.; Battles of the Honorary East India Company: Making of the Raj, op cit page 103, New Delhi, 2006</ref>

===Sarkhel Tulaji===
Tulaji was brave and a much more skillful seaman than Manaji. This had gained him the favor of Shahu. In a brief span, he had surpassed the record of his predecessors in the number of English ships captured: ''Charlotte'' of Madras, ''William'' of Bombay, ''Svern'' of Bengal and, ''Darby'', ''Restoration'', ''Pilot'', ''Augusta'' and ''Dadabhoi'' of Surat. He had also captured [[Anjanvel]] from the [[Siddis]] of [[Janjira State|Janjira]]. Another reason for the Peshwa to go against Tulaji was that, Tulaji refused to admit the Peshwa as his superior, maintaining that both were equal servants of the Chhatrapati. He refused to pay revenue contribution and even annoyed the Peshwa by raiding his territory. Nanasaheb could do nothing as long as Shahu was alive, but after his death in 1749, Peshwa was free to wreck his vengeance on Tulaji.<ref name=":0" />

===Death of Chhatrapati and rise of Peshwa===
After the death of Chhatrapati Shahu, Peshwa was the next most influential ruler among the ones with huge armies and numerous land forts under his command or at his disposal under ownership of his vassals. Nanasaheb sought assistance of the English at Bombay to end Tulaji's reign. A treaty was signed according to which a ground force under command of the Peshwa and a naval force under command of the Company would attack and destroy Tulaji. Among other articles, the treaty provided that Fort Vijaydurg, when captured, would be given to the Peshwa.<ref name=":0" />

===Fall of Suvarnadurg===
In 1755, Commodore James of Bombay attacked the fort [[Suvarnadurg]] while the Peshwa's army started capturing land and other coastal forts of Angre. This isolated Suvarnadurg from landward. Commodore James first bombarded the fort from the west. 800 shots and shells were expended at a range of 100 yards, but the walls did not collapse.<ref>Keay, I., op cit page 267</ref> He then entered the channel between the fort and the coast and fired on the eastern face as well as the main gate. Both gave way. Some of the garrison tried to escape from the fort by a tunnel running into the sea, but were discovered and killed.<ref>Keay, I., op cit page 268</ref> Considerable damage had been caused inside the fort by the bombardment and the garrison, finding no hope of relief or reinforcements, surrendered. Commodore James returned to Bombay for the monsoons.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

===Attack on Vijaydurg===
After the fall of Suvarnadurg and all other forts of the Angre, Vijaydurg was the only fort left under the command of Tulaji. In 1756, a large force under [[Charles Watson (Royal Navy officer)|Admiral Watson]] converged on Vijaydurg. Watson had arrived at Bombay from eastern waters and had with him [[Robert Clive|Colonel Clive]] with 500 marines. The English ships took station with Watson flying his flag on the Protector. Two bomb vessels were in the extreme east. The Maratha ships were anchored at the mouth of the creek, close to the fort. They all were bunched up, almost hull to hull. Amongst these was the Company's ship ''Restoration'', which caught fire. The fire spread rapidly till the entire Angre fleet was destroyed, The bombardment of the fort had caused considerable damage inside the fort and magazine had been blown up.<ref name=":0" />

===Fall of Vijaydurg===
Tulaji, meanwhile had left the fort and gone to the Peshwa's camp seeking a negotiation but was promptly arrested and sent to one of the inland forts as a prisoner. The garrison was asked to surrender and in the absence of any response Clive landed his marines on 11 February 1756, entered and captured the fort. A huge amount of booty was captured. 250 pieces of cannons, stores and ammunition, 100,000 Rupees and 30,000 in valuable items fell into English hands.<ref name=":0" /> Vijaydurg was not handed over immediately to the Peshwa as per the terms of the treaty. It was eventually given up but only after the [[East India Company|Company]] obtained [[Bankot]] in exchange.<ref name=":1">Naravane, M. S.; Battles of the Honorary East India Company: Making of the Raj, op cit page 104, New Delhi, 2006</ref>

===End of Maratha Naval Supremacy===
The [[battle of Vijaydurg]] marks the end of the Maratha Navy as a potent force.<ref name=":1" /> The Maratha Admiral Dhulap captured some ships later. The Sawants of [[Sawantwadi State|Sawantwadi]], the Chhatrapati of [[Kolhapur State|Kolhapur]] and the [[Gaekwad dynasty|Gaikwads of Baroda]], all had a few ships. But the command of the seas, for all practical purposes had passed to the Company permanently. they achieved this in 1756 only because of the alliance with the Peshwa.<ref name=":1" />

==Features of Architectural Interest==
* According to unconfirmed reports, there is a 200 meter long, undersea tunnel from the fort to the palatial Dhulap house in the village.<ref>[https://bestpicnicspots.wordpress.com/tag/history/ Vijaydurg Marvels]</ref> Supposedly, the roof of the tunnel has been pinched to protect it from landslides and it is also well ventilated. Now the tunnel is partially blocked. If the presence of the tunnel can be confirmed, and the tunnel cleared, it could serve as a tourist attraction of historical and architectural interest.
* Recent oceanographic evidence supports the existence of an undersea wall, constructed out at sea at a depth of 8–10 meter depth undersea.<ref>[http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getFiles.asp?Style=OliveXLib:LowLevelEntityToPrint_TOINEW&Type=text/html&Locale=english-skin-custom&Path=TOIM/2010/06/26&ID=Ar03800 TOI EPaper - Underwater Secrets!]</ref> Made of laterite, the wall is estimated to be 122 meter long, 3 meter high & 7 meter broad. Attacking ships often met a watery grave after colliding against this wall. When the Siddhi of [[Janjira State|Janjira]] was going to attack [[Vijaydurg (city)|Vijaydurg]], he got a message from Portuguese telling him that they had lost 2 of their ships while they were nearing the fort.
* 1.5 km from the fort up the Waghotan Creek, exist the remains of a naval dock carved from rock.<ref>[http://www.naturecubsholidays.com/sea-forts.html Nature Club Holidays - One Day Forts]</ref> This is where [[Maratha]] warships were built and repaired. The ships built here were of the 400-500 tonnage capacity. This 109 meter long and 70 meter wide dock faces the north side and is an achievement of [[Maratha]] naval architecture. Most of the smaller ships used to be docked near this small inner port.<ref>[http://www.konkanonline.com/sindhudurg/vijaydurg-fort.html konkanonline.com - Vijaydurg Fort]</ref> The southern and eastern side is cut out of a natural rock and rest is dry masonry. In addition to this a number of grapnel and triangular stone anchors were noticed in the adjoining area of dockyard.<ref>[http://www.indiantravelportal.com/maharashtra/forts/vijay-durg-fort.html India Travel Guide - Forts - Maharashtra - Vijaydurg]</ref>
* On the other hill in front of the fort a wall was built to deceive the enemy. When the enemy attacked the wall, he had already wasted his ammunition and before he could understand, he would be attacked by [[Maratha]]s from the rear side.
* The [[Archaeological Survey of India]] had undertaken restoration and repair works for Maratha forts in Maharashtra which included '''Vijaydurg Fort''' along with [[Shivneri]] and [[Sindhudurg Fort]].<ref>[http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/shivaji Maharaj-citadels-are-crumbling-with-neglect/1/372686.html India Today - Shivaji Maharaj's citadels are crumbling with neglect]</ref>
* The fort has many monuments, now in ruins which show the characteristics of [[Maratha]] architecture. The food storage and court are such classic examples.
* This fort also has a Khalbatkhana, where important meetings were held. There are only 3 forts that had a Khalbatkhana. They are [[Rajgad]], [[Raigad Fort|Raigad]] and '''Vijaydurg'''.

== Movies ==
The Vijaydurg Fort features in the movie [[Killa (film)|Killa (The Fort)]], an Indian Marathi drama film directed by Avinash Arun. Killa's locations include [[Guhagar]], the '''Vijaydurg Fort''' and [[Ganpatipule]].<ref>[http://scroll.in/article/736544/decorated-marathi-movie-killa-is-a-sensitive-portrayal-of-the-wonder-and-blunder-years Scroll.in - Decorated Marathi movie ‘Killa’ is a sensitive portrayal of the wonder and blunder years]</ref><ref>[http://www.priyaadivarekar.com/2014/10/film-review-killa-fort.html Diary of a Dancebee - Film Review | Killa (The Fort)]</ref> The cycle race between Chinmay (the lead character) and his friends to the fort lends the movie its title.

Some of the locals claim that [[Norman Lockyer|Sir Joseph Norman Lockyer]], a British scientist was observing a solar eclipse from this fort on 18 August 1868.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=DelhiAugust 18|first1=India Today Web Desk New|last2=August 18|first2=2017UPDATED|last3=Ist|first3=2018 16:37|title=Helium was discovered on this day in space instead of Earth!|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/facts-about-helium-1030247-2017-08-18|access-date=2021-08-18|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref> The y claim that during his observation that the Helium Gas was discovered on Sun in the form of a yellow flame.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Williams|first=Matt|date=2016-03-14|title=Who Discovered Helium?|url=https://www.universetoday.com/53563/who-discovered-helium/|access-date=2021-08-18|website=Universe Today|language=en-US}}</ref> 
The published reports on the discovery of [[helium]] report, that helium was discovered by two scientists independently in 1868. French astronomer [[Pierre Janssen|Jules Janssen]] observed helium emission lines on 18 August 1868 as a bright yellow line during a total [[Solar eclipse of August 18, 1868|solar eclipse]] in [[Guntur]], [[British Raj|India]].<ref name="frnch">{{Cite journal|title = French astronomers in India during the 17th – 19th centuries |journal = Journal of the British Astronomical Association|volume =101|issue = 2|pages = 95–100|bibcode = 1991JBAA..101...95K|last= Kochhar | first = R. K.|date=1991}}</ref> On 20 October of the same year, English astronomer [[Norman Lockyer]] observed a yellow line in the solar spectrum. He took the observation in [[West Hampstead]], [[United Kingdom]].<ref>{{cite journal | bibcode = 1921ApJ....53..233C| title= Sir Norman Lockyer, 1836-1920| last = Cortie | first = A. L.| journal = Astrophysical Journal| year= 1921| volume= 53 | pages=233–248 | doi=10.1086/142602}}</ref>
Norman Lockyer set up an observation post at the Vijaydurg Fort for the [[Solar eclipse of January 22, 1898]]. In his report he does not mention that he ever had been to the Fort before.<ref>{{cite journal | title = Total Eclipse of the Sun, January 22, 1898. Observations at ViziadrugAuthor| first1= Norman |last1=Lockyer| first2= R. N. |last2=Chisholm-Batten | first3 = A. |last3= Pedler | journal = Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London | volume= 197 | year= 1901| pages= 151–227 | jstor = 90835 | doi=10.1098/rsta.1901.0017|bibcode=1901RSPTA.197..151L| doi-access= free }}</ref> On that occasion a platform was built.

=== World Helium Day ===
Since 2009 World Helium Day is celebrated at the Vijaydurg Fort.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-08-25|title=Helium: a discovery you can't take 'lightly'|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/helium-discovery-you-cant-take-689270.html|access-date=2021-08-18|website=Deccan Herald|language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|India}}
* [[Shri Dev Rameshwar Temple]]
* [[Rameshwar Wadi]]
* [[Pujare (clan)|Pujare (Clan)]]
* [[Rameshwar Dockyard]]
* [[Vijaydurg Port]]
*[[List of forts in Maharashtra]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Vijaydurg}}
* [https://www.scribd.com/doc/55936933/Vijaydurg-Guide-eBook WanderIndia Vijaydurg - A visitor's guide]
* [http://www.konkanonline.com/Sindhudurg/Vijaydurg-Fort.html Vijaydurg Fort on konkan-online.com]
* [http://www.vijaydurg.com Vijaydurg Fort | Konkan weather information ]
* [http://www.sworld.co.uk:7080/02/5107/photoalbum/built-in-the-13thcentury-by-raja Vijaydurg Fort - Secret World]
{{Forts in Maharashtra}}
{{Forts in India}}
{{MarathaEmpire}}
{{Ethnic and social groups of Goa and the Konkan}}

[[Category:Buildings and structures of the Maratha Empire]]
[[Category:Forts in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Sea forts]]
[[Category:Sindhudurg district]]
[[Category:Maratha architecture]]

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