Sindhudurg Fort: Difference between revisions

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}

{{Use Indian English|date=September 2017}}

{{More citations needed|date=October 2007}}

|name = Sindhudurg Fort

|native_name =  

|partof =[[States and Territories of India|Maharashtra]]

|location = [[Sindhudurg district]], [[Maharashtra]]

|image = [[File:Sindhudurg fort.JPG|300px]]

|caption = Sindhudurg fortress from the mainland.

|map_type = India Maharashtra

|map_size = 350

|map_alt =  

|map_caption= Shown within [[Maharashtra]]

|type = Island

|code =  

|coordinates = {{coord|16.043769|73.461416|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

|built = {{Start date|1664}}

|builder =Hirojee Indulkar (Chief Architect)  

|materials =  

|height =  

|used =  

|demolished =  

|condition =  

|ownership = [[Government of India]]

|open_to_public = Yes

|controlledby = [[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|border|33x30px]] [[Maratha Empire]]<br />{{flagicon|India}} [[Government of India]] (1947-)

|garrison =  

|current_commander =  

|commanders =  

|occupants =  

|battles =  

|events =  

|image2 =  

|caption2 =  

|website =

'''Sindhudurg Fort''' is a historical fort that occupies an island in the [[Arabian Sea]], just off the coast of [[Maharashtra]] in [[Western India]]. The fort was built by [[Shivaji]]. The [[sea fort|fortress]] lies on the shore of [[Malvan]] town of [[Sindhudurg District]] in the [[Konkan]] region of Maharashtra, {{convert|450|km}} south of [[Mumbai]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/MTDC/HTML/MaharashtraTourism/TouristDelight/Forts/Forts.aspx?strpage=SindhudurgFort.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805064333/http://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/MTDC/HTML/MaharashtraTourism/TouristDelight/Forts/Forts.aspx?strpage=SindhudurgFort.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-08-05|title=Sindhudurg Fort Location|access-date=2012-05-18}}</ref> It is a protected monument.<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>

Sindhudurg island-fort was built by [[Shivaji]], the 17th-century ruler of [[Maratha Empire]].<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> Its main objective was to counter the rising influence of foreign (English, Dutch, French and Portuguese) merchants and to curb the rise of [[Siddi]]s of [[Janjira State|Janjira]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tourdekokan.com/unconquerable-sea-fort-jinjira|title=Tour De Kokan : Explore Various Places & Information |website=Best Places to visit - Travel Information - Tour De Kokan}}</ref> Construction was supervised by Hiroji Indulkar in 1664. The fort was built on a small island known as the Khurte island.

[[Shivaji]] brought 200 [[Vaddera]] people for building this fort. Over 4,000 pounds of lead were used in the casting and foundation stones were firmly laid down. Construction started on 25 November 1664. Built over a period of three years (1664-1667), the sea fort is spread over 48 acres, with a two-mile (3&nbsp;km) long rampart, and walls that are {{convert|30|feet|m}} high and {{convert|12|feet|m}} thick. The massive walls were designed to serve as a deterrent to approaching enemies and to the waves and tides of the Arabian Sea. The main entrance is concealed in such a way that no one can pinpoint it from outside.