Viyajdurg Sindhudurg was an ancient naval base during the time of the mighty Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and today it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Maharashtra. This historically important place is a favourite among many tourists who come here to enjoy the mesmerizing beauty of the beaches and a host of ancient tourist attractions. Along with the beach, the other important attraction out here is the 17th century Vijaydurg fort which was won by Shivaji. In Sindhudurg you will find a lot of ancient temples dedicated to many gods like Bhavani, Mahadeo, Jarimai, Mahapurush and Shivaji. These temples together spread across an area of 48 acres. The natural beauty of this place is further enhanced by the Sahyadri mountain range which lies to the east of it and the Arabian Sea which lies in the west. Nestled between these two marvels, this small yet beautiful district has been under the care of the state government’s tourism department to fully uncover its potential as a popular tourist destination. The dense forest covered with lush green vegetation and trees of different types like coconut and arica nut provides it with clean and fresh air making your holiday trip more healthy.Some of the important places you can visit out here are the palatial house of Dhulap which has some beautiful painting painted in natural colours built in Maratha style, the Rameshwar Temple which also has many beautiful wall paintings, the nearby wind mills, Devgad fort which is about 30 kms away, Kunkeshwar Temple, Vyaghreshwar Waterfall etc. But the most important one is the Vijaydurg fort. This fort was formerly known as Gheria until Shivaji won it in 1653 and renamed it as ‘Vijaydurg”, where ‘Vijay’ means victory. Currently this fort is spread over an area of 17 acres and is surrounded by the Arabian Sea on three sides. This fort is also important because it was one of the only two forts where Shivaji hoisted the saffron flag. Another important feature of this fort is the underground sea tunnel which connects the fort to Dhulap’s palatial house. The district of Sindhudurg is also famous for its folk art forms like Dashavtar, Chitrakathi, Pangul, Keertan, Dhangiri dance etc. the beautiful beaches, historical forts, ancient temples and the serene environment makes this district difficult to resist for people who want a good and memorable holiday. The picturesque stretch of land is no match to any other beauty.
There are a whole lot of things to do out here to make your trip a memorable one. From sightseeing to chilling out along the beach, relish the local flavour and, meet the locals and get a taste of their culture and many more.
How to Reach:
This place is located quite close to Goa and thus the nearest airport is a Panaji. The nearest railway station is at Kudal or Rajapur. From these main points you can either hire a cab or take the bus to reach here. Once here there are plenty of decent place for comfortable accommodation.
Best time to visit – November to February