Sindhudurg Fort, located on an island off the Malvan coast, was built in 1664 under Chhatrapati Shivaji to protect the Maratha Empire and is significant for its strategic role during various colonial encounters. The fort features a 30 ft high wall, intricate architecture with a zig-zag design, and houses several temples, including one dedicated to Shivaji. Accessible via boats from Malvan, its scenic beauty and historical importance make it a must-visit site.

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Located on an island along the Malvan coast, Sindhudurg fort is one of the most ancient fortresses in
India. Dating back to as early as 1664 AD, this marvelous fort was built under the command of Chhatrapati
Shivaji to protect the Maratha Empire from English, Portuguese, Dutch and French merchants. It also
played a vital role in controlling the rise of Siddhis.
It continued to be under the rule of Marathas up until 1765. However, in the year 1792, the British took
over the fort as a part of a treaty signed by the Marathas and re-named it as, “Port Augustus'.”

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Some Interesting Facts
Spread over 48 acres of land and surrounded by waters on all its sides,
Sindhudurg Fort is one the naturally protected forts in India. It is further
protected by a massive compound wall which is 30 ft high and 12 ft thick.
The majority of this construction is built with sand brought from Gujarat
The main strength of this unshakeable island fort lies in its seamless engineering.
The foundation of the fort was laid solidly by using over 4000 mounds of iron
and lead.
Yet another intriguing architectural aspect of this fort is the zig-zag design of its
walls
This extraordinary construct also boasts of as many as 42 bastions
It also houses many Hindu temples including a one of a kind temple dedicated to
Chhatrapati Shivaji, which was built by his son Rajaram
Another interesting fact of this fort is its main entrance. It is built in such a way
that it is almost impossible for anyone to identify from the outside.
Apart from its astounding architectural excellence, which draws a lot of tourists
every year, this fort is also renowned its stellar scenic beauty. Standing tall
amidst the Arabian Ocean, Sindhudurg Fort is one visual treat worth visiting at
least once.

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Places to see inside Sindhudurg Fort:
Bastions: Lakdi Bastion, Aiming Bastion with a pond and Chilkhathi Bastion
Gates: Secret escape gates for the Queen and The Grand entrance gates,
Temples: Bhavani Temple, Mahadev Temple, Shivrajeshwar Temple, Mahapurush
Temple with a pond and Jarimariche Temple
Other prominent spots: Ruins of gunpowder mixing stations, Ruins of broken
walls and statues, Ruins of palaces, Ponds, Hand and footprints of Chhatrapati
Shivaji, Entertainment mandaps (porches) and Canon stations.

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How to get there?
The National Highway-17 passes through Sindhudurg, One has to
take small safety boats to go to this old fort from the Malvan through
a narrow navigable channel between two smaller islands of Dontari
and Padma gad. It takes about 15 minutes to reach the Sindhudurg
Fort jetty. Nearest railheads are Kudal and Sawantawdi, which are at
a distance of over 25 kilometers and 35 kilometers respectively.