Murud-Janjira

Murud is a small fishing hamlet lying in Raigad district, 165 km away from Mumbai on the lush green western coast of Maharashtra. Janjira is just 5 km south of Murud. Murud was at one time the capital of the former state of Janjira. Both these are worth visiting for a full day excursion. The trip to Murud is incomplete without a visit to the beautiful Murud beach, Janjira Fort on the sea and Palace of the Nawab.

Murud, with its picturesque greenish beauty is still a remote and tranquil area. Janjira is the Marathi corruption of the Arabic word of Zizera, which means island. Murud and it's areas was once called Janjira, the name truly referred to the mighty island fortress in the sea.

What to see:

Janjira fort
Built by Koli Fishermen community, it was originally a small wooden structure to defense against the pirates. Later in the 17th century, Sidi Sirul Khan an Abyssinian Siddi of Ahmednagar kings, strengthened this fort. There is a sad story behind its construction, during it's construction, the structure collapsed thrice. Sidi realised that a sacrifice is needed, so he offered his 22 years old son to God. 

Spread over 22 acres, the fort attacked many times by the Portuguese, British and the Marathas but it was successful in resisting attempts to capture. An architectural marvel, the fort can only be reached by boat from Rajpuri. The boats depart every 10 to 15 minutes towards the fort. Charge : Rs.30/-. Located just 2 kms. from sea shore, the fort is surrounded by the majestic Arabian sea from all the sides.

The main entrance has a stone carving, depicting six elephants trapped by a single tiger, a symbol of the bravery of the Siddis. The fort has 23 huge bastions about 30-40 ft high, still intact. Amongst them are the three major cannons, ‘Kalal Bangadi', ‘Landa Kasam' and 'Chavi' built from five metals.The main gate of the fort faces Rajapuri on the shore is disguising, hidden and very huge. There is a small gate towards the open sea for to escape from the enemies. The 5-storied old palace is now in a ruined condition. There are hidden passageways for emergencies. 

From the fort, one can enjoy the mesmerizing beauty of the surrounding areas. A guide may be hired for 30 Rs. per hour. Entrance Fee: Free, Opens - Sunset to Sunrise. There is lot more to see in and around Murud. Nearby, on north west of Janjira is Padmadurg a fort built by Shivaji Maharaj.

The Murud beach
The famous Murud is a long stretch of beach. Edged with coconut and palm groves inclined towards sea, this beautiful beach offers its visitors a most relaxing holiday. It is a beautiful beach with clean and clear water. Not so crowded, the sand here is golden and white. The beach offers a view of the stunning sunset over the Arabian Sea, sunbathing, swimming and water sports.

Carambi Dharan (Dam)
Situated 4 km Murud, is Carambi Dharan a major water source of Murud. It is a beatiful place to see.

Sidhi Vinayak Temple
It is just 8 km from Murud. It is dedicated to Lord Ganapati.