Ganesh Dabholkar
Kille Sindhudurga
Sindhudurg (Sindhu = sea, Durg = fort) was built by the great Maratha warrior leader Shivaji Maharaj Maharaj in 1664. Shivaji Maharaj selected the strategic rocky island location, 'Kurte' for the fort himself, to counter foreign forces, and to keep the nearby Siddis of Murud-Janjira in check. The construction started on November 25, 1664 and after three years' round the clock efforts by over six thousand skilled hands of masons, blacksmiths and architects, the massive miraculous fort of Sindhudurga came into being. The work was executed under the superintendence of Govind Vishwanath Prabhu, with assistance from 100 Portuguese experts. Even Shivaji Maharaj in person is said to have worked here with his own hands.
The main gate of Sindhudurga covers an extensive area of 48 acres by almost 2 miles long rampart walls, 29 to 30 feet high and on an average 12 feet thick. The curtain wall is guarded by, apart from the observation towers, 52 enormous imposing semicircular bastions with fine embrasures for cannons. The entrance to the fort is by Dilli Darwaja to the north-east. Water was provided by three wells - Sakharbaun, Dudhbaun and Dahibaun and two tanks for storing rain water. There are two little domes near the tower at Dilli gate under which Shivaji Maharaj's palm and foot prints in dried lime slabs are preserved and of course held in reverence.
Kille Sindhudurga
Sindhudurg (Sindhu = sea, Durg = fort) was built by the great Maratha warrior leader Shivaji Maharaj Maharaj in 1664. Shivaji Maharaj selected the strategic rocky island location, 'Kurte' for the fort himself, to counter foreign forces, and to keep the nearby Siddis of Murud-Janjira in check. The construction started on November 25, 1664 and after three years' round the clock efforts by over six thousand skilled hands of masons, blacksmiths and architects, the massive miraculous fort of Sindhudurga came into being. The work was executed under the superintendence of Govind Vishwanath Prabhu, with assistance from 100 Portuguese experts. Even Shivaji Maharaj in person is said to have worked here with his own hands.
The main gate of Sindhudurga covers an extensive area of 48 acres by almost 2 miles long rampart walls, 29 to 30 feet high and on an average 12 feet thick. The curtain wall is guarded by, apart from the observation towers, 52 enormous imposing semicircular bastions with fine embrasures for cannons. The entrance to the fort is by Dilli Darwaja to the north-east. Water was provided by three wells - Sakharbaun, Dudhbaun and Dahibaun and two tanks for storing rain water. There are two little domes near the tower at Dilli gate under which Shivaji Maharaj's palm and foot prints in dried lime slabs are preserved and of course held in reverence.