Vijaydurg Fort

Maharashtra, India

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Vijaydurg Fort in Maharashtra, India, is a historic sea fort built in the 12th century by Raja Bhoja II of the Shilahara dynasty and later expanded by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the 17th century. Known as the "Eastern Gibraltar," it is located on the Sindhudurg coast and covers about 17 acres, surrounded by the Arabian Sea on three sides.

The fort is famous for its triple-layered fortifications, high laterite stone walls, and numerous bastions, making it nearly impregnable. It also features a hidden 200-meter-long undersea tunnel for emergency escape, granaries, freshwater reservoirs, and storerooms, reflecting its self-sustaining defense design.

Vijaydurg served as a key naval base for the Maratha Navy under Admiral Kanhoji Angre, who used its strategic location on the Waghotan Creek to dominate maritime trade and defense along the Arabian Sea. The fort exhibits a blend of indigenous Maratha and European architectural styles and remains an important historical monument preserved today.