Information on Jaigad Fort (Ratanagiri, Maharashtra) - History & Architecture

Jaigad Fort is a wonderful coastline fortress on the Arabian Sea. It was built around the 14th century by Bijapur Sultan. This fort acts as a natural barrier to protect the creeks formed at this bay. This fort was an important fort for the colonialist and the Bijapur clans. It is located near the estuary of Shasthri River in Ratanagiri District of Maharashtra in India.

Jaigad Fort Ratanagiri Architecture

Jaigad Fort is well placed in a river bay joining the Arabian Sea. It is a creek area, and this fort is built at a 200 meters high from the main lands. The entire fortification covers four acres of land terrain in this estuary. This fortress is made of granite blocks, laterite stones, lime stones, woods and Irons. The most of the foundation parts are found with sea rock debris, which are naturally found here. The stones were mined from the nearby Western Ghats hill ranges. It has a very high and thick walls well built with many bastions. Its entrance is a big gateway protected with two large curved bastions on the front side. The fort is built in a rectangular shape. A strong foundation is laid with granite stone and sea rocks to with stand the flow of river water and sea water in this creek area were this fort is built. It can be seen like an Island fort in the high tide occurrence of the sea. There are very good open space left inside the fort area. There are many structures built in the passage of times. There is also new built lime stone plastered structure found here which may be built in the 20th century by the colonialist who stayed here. There are up to three stories of complexes built here. The highest structure is the watch towers built along with its ramparts. The main courtyard has two storied complexes. One can find traditional forms of hoses built here with clay tiles roof. These looks like the modern house with fine wooden doors and grilled windows. A stone bridge is built here from the wicket gat to some extent of the bay so as to enroot to this fort by boats.

Jaigad Fort Ratanagiri History

Jaigad Fort was named after the good will life sacrifice named Jayba Mahar. There are many beliefs, that human sacrifice or burring live humans in the fortification areas while on construction will keep away from bad omens. As such this fortification work as getting very much delayed that a mason named Jayba Mahar voluntarily agreed for a human sacrifice. Hence this fort was named after this sacrifices and named it Jaigad Fort. This fort was held with the sultans for few years only. It was captured by the local Sangameshwar Naiks. They took hold from foreign and internal aggression. The Portuguese and the Bijapur sultans were defeated many times here. But it's lost the war with Marathas and this region again came into the Maratha Empire. In the year 1818 AD the British fought with the Marathas and gained control over this water areas and the sea fort here. After independence it was taken over by the archeological survey of India and is well maintained by them.

Jaigad Fort Ratanagiri Tourism Importance

Jaigad Fort is a unique creek fort to see. In the time of high tides it will look like an Island fort. It has got a very good view of the Arabian Sea and the Jaigad surroundings. In the monsoon time the fort looks most beautiful with green patches of tiny vegetation on its wall making it a fluorescent green fort in the along with the monsoon showers. This is a heritage site in Maharashtra, which is worth seeing in peaceful natural environment.