Shivrajeshwar Temple (Sindhudurg)

Shivrajeshwar Temple:

Chhatrapati Shivaji’s younger son Chhatrapati Rajaram in his remembrance built this temple. Chhatrapati Shivaji’s idol stands in a boatman’s attire inside the temple and probably only one of it's kind in the country – where the image of Chhatrapati Shivaji is without a beard. Outside the southern wall there is a small beach, called Ranichi Vela (Queen’s private beach). The fort also houses some twenty Hindu-Muslim families, who have been living there for generations. Inside the fort there are three wells of portable water, which is a nature’s marvel as sea surrounds the fort on all four sides. On a rocky island between Sindhudurg and the coast stood the small fort of Padmagad, now in ruins. It acted as a shield for Sindhudurg and was also used for shipbuilding.

Sindhudurg fort has 3 kms. long outer wall. Average height of wall is 10 meters and breadth is 2 to 4 meters. The design of main door is an enigma. It has been a hallmark of Maratha Architecture of fort building. It defies detection of its location to the attacker. The technique was so deceptive for the enemy that they could not even realize where the entrance was due to blind curves. Zigzag pattern of outer wall was so built that the enemy would be visible from any point inside the fort and the troops inside could fire their guns and cannons effectively and humble the enemy.

How to get inside the fort:

The fort is approachable from the Malvan pier by a boat through a narrow navigable channel between two smaller islands of Dhontara and Padmagad. Fort is completely cut off during the monsoons.

What to see:

Chhatrapati Shivaji’s palmprint and footprint are preserved here on dried lime slabs in a tower. Inside the Fort, temples of Bhavanimata, Shambhu Mahadev, Jarimari, Mahapurush are worth seeing, all of which are in good condition.