Alibag - VMTravels.com

Alibag

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KHANDERI FORT Three to four kilometers into the sea from Thal Beach, which is 5 kms from Alibag, this fort was built in 1678 on a small island. Later, a light house was erected. This fort was for long under the Angres control.
UNDERI FORT Just 300 meter away from Khanderi, this is another island fort built by Siddi Qasam in 1680. Supremacy over this fort kept shifting between the Siddis, Peshwas, Angres and later the British. Local Thal fishing boats can be hired for a visit.
HIRAKOT FORT In the heart of Alibag town, this fort was built by the Angres in 1720. Its imposing black Bassalt high walls are indicative of the significance of this fort. Legend has it that the Angre treasure used to be housed in it. Today it is used as District jail.
AAGARKOT FORT Revdanda is 17 kms to the south of Alibag where remnants of huge outer walls of this fort, built by the Portuguese in 1558, can be seen. The thick outer walls are hollow from within and these clandestine routes are inter connected.
SAGARGADH FORT This hill fort, 7 kms from Alibag is an old fort of Shivaji’s times at 1357 ft. from sea level. Half way to the fort is Sidheswar temple and an Ashram, where you can rest a while. To the left just before the Ashram, the trek-route to Sagagad begins. The main gate is in completely desolate state while the two bastions are partially dilapidated. Another tank is known as Pandav kund. On the fort proper, one finds nine tombs of Satis. The place is called Sati plateau. Besides this plateau a thumb like erect land mass is known as Wanartok. The fort is totally uninhabited.
KOLABA FORT Its presence less than 1 km across Alibag beach is unmistakable. The great Maratha-warrior Shivaji was well aware of the naval prowess in state-building and started the construction of this sea fort in 1680A.D. The fort is 900ft long, 350ft wide and has 25ft high walls which have 17 bastions (burj) on all sides. The fort has braved fierce waves for the last 300 years and withstood them. Interestingly, a portion of land 15 ft from the main entrance remains un-engulfed even high tide waves surround the fort from all four sides! The huge front entrance arch has tigers, peacocks, elephants sculpted on it. Beyond that comes another small gate. Next to that gate are the shrines of Mahishasura and Padmavathi, Kanifnath, Sri Ganesh, and the fort-deity. Next to that comes the southern gate which is variously known as Darya/Yeshwant Darwaja. Raghoji Angre built a beautiful temple of Sri Ganesh in front of the sweet water tank in 1759. The right-inclined trunk deity is vehemently revered by the locals. The inner sanctorum includes images of Sri Ashtabhuja Devi, Shiv, Vishnu, Surya. The collection of the pantheon lends it the name Shri Ganesh Panchayatan. On the auspicious day of Maghi Chaturthi of Hindu Calender, a grand festival is organized. Within the premises, you will find a well and a tank of sweet water in the midst of sea!
Overview : Alibag History : Beaches : ALIBAG BEACH VARSOLI BEACH, KIHIM BEACH, SASAWANE BEACH, AAKSHI BEACH, NAGAON BEACH Ports : MANDWA PORT REWAS PORT, REVDANDA PORT Religious : SRI KANAKESWAR SHRINE SRI DATTA TEMPLE, SRI RAMAESHWAR TEMPLE(chaul), SHITALADEVI TEMPLE Heritage : TOMB OF KANHOJI ANGRE ANGRE WADA, CHATRIBAG, MAGNETIC OBSERVATORY, NIKITIN MEMORIAL REVDANDA, KARMARKAR SHILPALAYA(sasawane)