Konkan Connect › Places to visit
Vijaydurg Fort
Fort · Devgad, Sindhudurg
One of the oldest and strongest sea forts of the Konkan, at the mouth of the Vaghotan creek, once a base of the Maratha navy.
Vijaydurg stands where the Vaghotan creek meets the sea, at the northern edge of Devgad taluka. The fort is much older than the Maratha period: it was first built centuries earlier, and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj took it in the 17th century, strengthened it and gave it the name Vijaydurg, the 'fort of victory'.
In the 18th century Vijaydurg became one of the main bases of the Maratha navy under Kanhoji Angre and his successors, who controlled much of the Konkan coast from here. Its triple line of walls, many bastions and the deep creek behind it made it very hard to attack from the sea.
Today the walls and bastions are among the best preserved on the coast. A walk along the ramparts gives views of the creek, the sea and Vijaydurg village, and you can see the old gateways, stores and wells inside. Allow two to three hours.
Parts of the fort have steep drops without railings; keep children close and avoid the ramparts in heavy rain.
Best time to visit
October to May.
How to reach
At Vijaydurg village, north of Devgad. Nearest railway stations: Kankavli and Rajapur Road.
Places nearby
Facts: Wikidata (CC0) and OpenStreetMap; map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.