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Underi Fort, also known as Jaidurg? It’s a fortified island located in the heart of Mumbai Harbour, and it’s full of history, interesting carvings, and a hilarious tale of mistaken ownership!

This island was founded in 1680 CE by Kahim of Siddhis and is comparatively smaller than its sister island, Khanderi. But don’t let its size fool you, both islands were landmarks for shipping vessels and played a pivotal role in defending against the British and the Siddi in the 17th century. The walls of the forts still stand proud in the Arabian Sea, and we can see the iron canons with cart wheels on Khanderi, which are rarely found in Maharashtra.

As we step from the boat in the front of the main entrance, we can notice how the fort has been in ruins due to lack of care-taking. But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth visiting! If we start the trail from the left, we come across three ponds for harvesting rainwater. One of them is big enough to have stairs to climb down. Ahead, there are remnants of a palace with a Tulsi Vrindawan in front, and we can see canons scattered along some bastions.

As we reach the southern bastion, we can see a secret passage door through the bastion. Who knows what kind of mischief you could get up to with that! There is another door in the western walls, which are in dilapidated state now. There are a total of 12 bastions on the fort, with the four of them being strong and each placed in one of the four directions. These four bastions have a circular platform in the center, which is perfect for striking a pose and pretending you’re the king or queen of the fort.

Now, here’s where the story gets funny. Underi became a news sensation when it was sold on May 16, 2006, by the State government to Ramesh Kundanmal of Dolphin Stone Crest Estate Pvt Ltd for Rs 2 crore. But hold on to your hats, folks! Due to media pressure and consistent protest from the trekking community, the deed was cancelled.

But let’s not dwell on that, let’s talk about how to get to this incredible island. Thal town is located about 8 km north of Alibaug, and the diversion to Thal is 4 km away from Alibaug on Alibaug Revas road. ST buses ply regularly between Alibaug and Thal, or you can hire small boats from Thal beach owned by local fishermen who take us to the fort. Just be aware that the fishermen might sometimes demand doubled costs, and we need to bargain with them. Also, most of the fishermen leave for fishing early morning, by 6 am. Hence, we need to inquire locally about the timings.

One more thing to keep in mind is that the only way to reach the island is through a jetty that functions only during low tide. So, make sure you check the tide timings. High tide timings can be taken from the Hindu Panchang by multiplying the date by ¾. For example, if it is the 4th day of the month (Chaturthi), then (¾ x 4) gives 3. This indicates that the high tide will be at 3 am and 3 pm. Low tide will occur 6 hours after high tide, hence the low tide timings would be 9 am and 9 pm

Popularity Rating

Parking Difficulty : High
Walking Needed : For 100 meters
Time Needed : 2-3 Hours
Open Timings : 9.00 AM to 3:00 PM
Still Photography : Allowed
Video Photography : Allowed
Cooler Climate for most part of the year.
Carry Umbrella
Wear Comfortable Shoes
Wear Cotton Dress with pullovers
Carry Binoculars
Nearest Railway Station : Kodai Road Railway Station
Nearest Airport : Madurai Airport
Nearest National Highway : NH32
Nearest Landmark : Kodai Market

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Khanderi Fort

Khanderi Fort

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Khanderi is an island with a fort, located south of Mumbai, along the coast of Maharashtra, India. If you’re looking…

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