The Murud-Janjira Fort is situated on an oval-shaped rocky isle inwards the Arabian Sea , nigh the coastal town of Murud , 165 km southward of Bombay , India. Once the stronghold of the Abyssinian Siddis , who played an of import purpose inwards the history of Bombay , later on inwards the 17th century , Janjira is considered i of the strongest marine forts inwards Bharat , too the alone unconquered i along India’s western coast. The fort was famous for its 3 gigantic cannons , weighing over 22 tons each , that were feared for their incredible shooting range.
The discussion Janjira is a corruption of the Standard Arabic discussion “Jazeera” , which agency an island. Murud is a MarÄthi discussion for the Siddis , an ethnic grouping originating from Abyssinia , a historical field inwards modern twenty-four hr menstruation Ethiopia. So Murud-Janjira essentially agency “island of the Siddis”.
Photo credit: srrindia.org
The fort was originally built non yesteryear the Siddis , only yesteryear a local Maratha-Fisherman Chieftain , Rajaram Patil , inwards the 15th century , albeit on a smaller scale. At that fourth dimension the fort was known every bit "Medhekot” too was built to protect his people from pirates too thieves. It was captured yesteryear a full general of Nizam Shah of Ahmednagar , too later on strengthened yesteryear Malik Ambar , the Abyssinian-origin Siddi regent of Ahmednagar kings. From too thus onward , the Siddis became independent too exceptionally powerful every bit autonomous reason , too the fort continued to move occupied yesteryear them.
Throughout history , numerous attempts were made yesteryear the Portuguese , the British too the Marathas to subdue the ability of the Siddis , only failed. Even the corking Maratha leader Chhatrapati Shivaji tried unsuccessfully to scale the fort’s 40-feet high granite walls.
Although inwards ruins instantly , Murud-Janjira was a full-fledged living fort inwards its heydays alongside all necessary facilities such every bit palaces , quarters for officers , mosque , fresh H2O tanks , etc. The outer walls too all the rounded bastions of the fort are nonetheless intact.
Photo credit: Ishan Manjrekar/Flickr
Photo credit: Dr. Raju Kasamba/Wikimedia
Photo credit: Himanshu Sarpotdar/Flickr
Photo credit: www.holidayrentals.co.in
Photo credit: Vikas Rana/Flickr
Photo credit: Vikas Rana/Flickr
Sources: Wikipedia / www.maharashtratourism.gov.in