Jaigad Fort, Coastal fort in Ratnagiri district, India
Jaigad is a fort situated on a peninsula where the Shastri River meets the Arabian Sea, featuring thick stone walls and fortified ramparts. The site includes multiple bastions, storage chambers, and various structures that visitors can explore throughout the grounds.
Kings from Bijapur built the fort in the 16th century as a coastal defense structure. Control shifted in 1713 when Balaji Vishwanath Peshwa handed it to Kanhoji Angre, marking a significant change in the region's power structure.
The fort contains several temples built across different periods, including a shrine dedicated to Ganpati that shows the spiritual traditions of the coastal region. These sacred spaces reveal how communities have worshipped here over the centuries.
The site is open to visitors and offers plenty to explore with sturdy outer walls and well-maintained structures throughout. Plan your visit on days with clear weather, as the peninsula location means the fort is quite exposed to wind and sea conditions.
A deep moat surrounds the fort on all sides except where the structure meets the cliff edge, creating an effective defensive barrier. This combination of natural and constructed protection made the fort remarkably difficult to assault.
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