Vijayadurg
Introduction And History : Vijayadurg, initially known as Gheria, is one of the strongest marine forts on the west coast of India. It was enlarged by the Bijapur rulers and then widened and resurrected in the mid-17th century by Sivaji, to whom it owes its triple line of fortifications, towers and also its new name, Vijayadurg – The Victory Fort. During the time of Kanhoji Angre (1667-1729 AD), the naval chief of the Marathas, the fort was so strong and firmly held that it successfully withstood assaults of the European maritime powers. However in 1756 AD, it could not resist the combined forces of Peshwas and the English forces. The victory fort had the mainstay of Peshwas till 1818 AD before it was surrendered to the English.
What To See : The great Maratha ruler Chatrapati Shivaji used Vijaydurg as naval base during his reign to fight against his enemies. So this place has lots of historical sites to see apart from the picturesque beaches and the temples dedicated to Hindu deities renowned in the Maratha pantheon. The must watch is the Vijayadurg fort, the victory fort, built by Shivaji in the 17th century. The best time to visit this grand Victory fort is from September to April.
Things to do : Vijayadurg, also known as, the Victory Fort is one of the coastal forts of Maharashtra. The speciality of this place is that its beach is hidden from view and not obvious to the casual visitor, so one has to explore a little more to locate it. The drive to Vijayadurg is extremely beautiful and the bucolic countryside with well-surfaced roads makes it a lovely journey that will live in your memory for a long-long time.
Accomodation : Accommodation available as you visit this grand fort is available at the Vijaydurg village. It is not the most luxurious ones but travellers will not be able to complain about the comfort.
Mode Of Transport : Nearest airport is of Goa. This fort can also be reached by road or train from Mumbai, Goa or Mangalore. Cabs are the primary mode for local transport.
Related links : Tourist information : www.geocities.com/trekforts/f_vijaydurg.html
See also (Nearby places):Sindhudurg fort, the ancient Rameshwar Temple, Kunkeshwar temple on the beach, a trek to Padagar waterfalls (highly recommended for the adventurous), beaches at Goa, mangalore, Pune and Mumbai.
