00:00Have you ever heard of a fort in the middle of the sea that was never conquered?
00:05Yes, such a fort exists in India, it's called Janjara Fort and it is full of history, mystery
00:12and strength.
00:13In today's video, we will take you to this majestic sea fort and explore its secrets.
00:19Janjara Fort is located near the coastal village of Merard in the Raigarh district of Maharashtra,
00:25India.
00:26It stands on a small island in the European Sea, just off the western coast of India.
00:32You can only reach it by boat.
00:34The word Janjara comes from the Arabic word Jazeera, which means island, that's why it
00:39is called Merard Janjara Fort.
00:41The fort was built in the 15th century by local fishermen, but later it was taken over and
00:48rebuilt by Siddhi rulers, people of African origin who served in the military of Muslim
00:53rulers in India.
00:55What makes Janjara Fort so special is that it was never conquered, even after many attacks
01:01by the Portuguese, British, Marathas and Mughals.
01:05All tried but none could capture it.
01:07This fort was like a floating fortress, protected from all sides by the sea, strong walls and
01:13skilled warriors, even though it's surrounded by water.
01:17The fort had freshwater wells, which surprised many enemies.
01:21It also had 19 huge cannons made of metal.
01:25Some of them still remains.
01:27Inside there were palaces, mosques, ponds and living quarters for soldiers.
01:32Today many parts are in ruined condition, but you can still see the strong structure and beautiful
01:38architecture.
01:39Moreover, among its most intriguing feature were the rumored secret passage underwater tunnel,
01:46believed to connect the fort to the nearby village.
01:49These hidden routes were set to provide critical escape and supply lines, adding to the fort's
01:54resilience against enemy forces.
01:57However, the true existence and extents of these passages remain shrouded in mystery, blending
02:02legend with historical facts.
02:04Janjara Fort's ingenious design, mysterious passages and the anomaly of its freshwater sources,
02:12collectively solidified its separations as an unconquerable stronghold.
02:17The fort wall is about 40 feet high and has 19 rounded parches or arches, some of which
02:23still have cannons mounted on them, including the famous cannon Kalal Bangadi.
02:29On the island's outer wall is a luxurious mansion, the Palace of the Nawab, built by the former
02:35Nawab of Janjara.
02:36It commands a panoramic view of the Arabian Sea and the Janjara Seaford.
02:41There is another fortress which is located on top of the hill, around 32 km east of
02:47Mirad Chanjara, named Ghosla Ghat, that was used as an outpost by the rulers of Chanjara.
02:54The main gate of the fort faces Rajapuri on the shore and can be seen only when one is
03:00about 40 feet away from it.
03:02It has a small posturing gate towards the open sea for escape.
03:07The fort has 26 artillery towers still intact.
03:11There are many cannons of native and European make rusting on the tower.
03:15Now in ruins, the fort in its heyday was a full-fledged living fort with all the necessary facilities.
03:22Tourists love visiting Janjara Fort to take photos, enjoy the sea view and feel the old
03:28world charm of history.
03:29To reach Janjara Fort you can go to the Mirad which is about 150 km from Mumbai.
03:36From the Mirad beach you can take a local sailboat to the fort.
03:40The boat ride is exciting especially during sunset.
03:43The best time to visit is from October to March when the weather is cool and pleasant.
03:49Janjara Fort is not just a tourist part, it's a symbol of courage, strength and history.
03:55It tells us the story of how a small fort in the sea stood strong against some of the biggest
04:00powers in the world.
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