Maharashtra is well known for historical places and tranquil beauty around them. One of such places is Murud- Janjira which is situated at the coastal village of Murud in Raigad district of Maharashtra. It is a very big and beautiful fort situated on an oval shaped island surrounded by water. The name of this place has many stories and no one could tell exactly how it came up like that. It is not a Marathi name but it has resemblance to Konkani and Arabic language. Basically one can derive the meaning of Murud Janjira as a fort in the water or on island. Initially it was made up of wood but later on the wooden structure was demolished and a new stone fort was constructed in the year 1567 by the Siddis. They called it Mehroob. The princely state of Janjira came to an end in the year 1947 and became a part of Indian Union.This place was owned by the Siddis who can be understood as Sufi Muslims. This is the only fort on India’s western coast that never faced any defeat from any invader in spite of several attempts to conquer it and that is why it is well known as impregnable fort of India. The various invaders who tried to conquer Murud Janjira include Duchess, east India company (British) and the Marathas. Shivaji Maharaj attempted not one or two but six times to capture the fort but every time he got defeat only. Sambhaji and Peshwas also tried to conquer the fort but all in vain. Later on Sambhaji built a fort on an island just 9 kilometres from Murud Janjira known as Padmadurg.Murud Janjira is 172 kilometres from Pune situated in the Arabic sea shore. It has one main gate that is not visible from a distance and opens towards Rajapuri and the other gate which was an escape gate faces sea. It is now in ruins but still standing strong and inviting to explore the rich history of Nawabs. Inside the fort there are ruins of palaces, a mosque, clean water tank and residential quarters that tell us the history of glory time of the fort. The palace of Nawabs is still in shape and worth visiting. The surroundings are magnificent and needs no poet’s eyes to describe the beauty. The beaches here are as clear as crystal and the green cover by the uncountable coconut and betel trees make this place the perfect relaxation destination in the region. It has got more than everything you want from your holiday. The white sand beaches, clear sound of naughty waves, lush greenery, very photogenic sunset and sunrise with plenty of fresh tickling wind automatically makes you to be conscious of your picturesque surroundings. It is the perfect place to meditate and to connect with mother nature.What to see here?
- Beaches
- Janjira fort
- Dattatreya temple on the Murud Janjira hill
- Panchala fort (hill station)
- Temples
- Churches
- Splendid palm groves
In short, it is the best place to relax your senses and enjoy your time in its fullest. It offers the best spectacular views , marvellous monuments, inviting beaches, sky touching mountains and refreshing air and all these are rare in a city. Here you can also enjoy the special boat ride that is called Kattamaran (country boat), bullock cart ride and a tanga ride (horse cart). It is becoming the new hot holiday destination in Maharashtra because of its proximity to Mumbai and Pune and the finest resorts and luxury accommodations are making it more comfortable and worth staying for tourists.Where to stay?Here you find many budget and luxury hotels, lodges and luxury resorts to choose from and to make your stay comfortable.How to reach there?Nearest railway station is Roha from where Murud Janjira is just one hour journey by road. From Roha government buses, share taxies or cab services can be taken to reach Murud Janjira. Nearest airport is Mumbai airport. From there trains, buses, share taxies and cab services available. The travel time is approximately 4 hours from Pune to Murud. The road is smooth except some portion between Khopoli to Pen. The route from Pune is as under:Pune – Lonavala – Khopoli – Pen – Alibaug – Revdana – MurudRuchi Mahajan
Also Check out more Picnic Spots near Pune here.
| Murud Janjira Fort, Murud janjira fort History, Pune to Murud Janjira Distance |
जय महाराष्ट्र !!!
Jai Bharat !!!!!