Kolaba Fort

Encircled by the clear blue waters of the Arabian sea and offering some of the most gorgeous views around, Kolaba fort is a historical building located in Alibaug. The fort is nearly 300 years old and it once acted as one of the major naval stations when Shivaji Maharaj ruled in Maharashtra. The spectacular fort was once an isolated military fortification in the middle of the Arabian Sea and had strategic geographical importance for the Marathas when it came to warfare.

The fort is located just two kilometers from Alibaug Beach, and if there is a low tide you can easily reach this place by walking here. However, if there is a high tide you will have to hire a boat to visit the fort. If you happen to take a walk to the fort, you will be delighted by the serene quality of the area, as this region is very thinly populated and only a few people go to the fort.

The fort itself is full of historical artifacts and various paraphernalia of its golden period. You will find huge cannons and sculptures of various birds and animals on the walls of the fort. You can also find various old temple buildings here. There is a Lord Ganesh temple that is present within the grounds and is still used as a place of worship by the local fishermen community. The fort is surrounded by sea waters on all its sides, and a significant hallmark worth noting is the presence of a freshwater well within the fort.

The fort held an important geographical advantage for the Marathas and was used as a Chief Naval Station for planning strategic attacks on the British army. Nowadays it is a popular tourist attraction and one of the most important destinations in the town. The Archaeological Survey of India has declared it a Nationally Protected Monument due to its historical significance.

History

For hundreds of years, the fort acted as a place of shelter for the Maratha Army as well as an important stronghold for the Shivaji Empire. Later on, it played quite a significant role for the Portuguese Invaders and the East India Company. Kolaba Fort is considered to be one of the many forts captured by the army of Shivaji Maharaj in the late 17th century and it is also believed that this was one of his last construction projects by him before his death.
Construction of the Fort as well as its reinforcement was completed by Sambhaji Maharaj, after his father, Shivaji passed away in 1680. After that, Darya Sagar and Manik Bhandari who were two sardars of Shivaji’s army were given control of the fort. The Fort remained under their command till 1713, when Kanhoji Angre, the admiral of the Navy of the Marathas, took it over. The fort remained under his command until 1729 when he passed away. During this time the Maratha navy wreaked havoc on the British ships by raiding them and looting their possessions.
One of the most renowned battles fought here was the battle of 1721 when the British and Portuguese armies made plans to attack the fort. However, they were unsuccessful in capturing the fort due to a variety of reasons. In its heyday, the Fort had plenty of gardens. treasuries, stables, and a wide variety of other buildings. However, most of these structures were destroyed during the many fires that engulfed the estate.

Architecture

The architecture of the Fort is a masterpiece and offers a unique glimpse into the style of that era. The fort is located in the middle of the Arabian Sea and it has two main gates through which you can enter. One of the gates opens right into the Arabian Sea and the other one is located on the sandy shores of the town.
The fort stands at a staggering height of 25 feet. One of the most interesting features of the fort is that despite being located in the middle of the sea and being surrounded by salty water, it has a well within the grounds that supplies fresh water. There are also several temples located within the grounds of the Fort. All the temples are dedicated to various Hindu deities and are used by the local fishermen community to worship the Gods. People also visit the temples to offer their prayers and celebrate festivals every year.
The Fort is dotted with a variety of historical artifacts ranging from military cannons to a wide range of other paraphernalia. You can also see various vestiges like drawings of many birds and animals on the walls of the fort.