Padmadurg Travel Guide

Getting There

To reach Padmadurg from Murud, you need to hire a special boat. Unlike Janjira, there's no regular ferry service. The initial quoted price for a private boat might be around ₹2000-₹2500, but can increase to ₹3000 depending on weather conditions (waves). Negotiate the price beforehand. The speaker mentioned settling at ₹2500 for their trip.

Important Considerations Before Visiting

• Tide Timings: Pay close attention to high and low tide times, as these will affect your visit and accessibility of the fort.
• Negotiate Boat Fare: Confirm the boat fare and other arrangements in advance.

About Padmadurg Fort

Padmadurg is a magnificent sea fort with rich historical significance, especially within the Maratha navy under Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj built several sea forts including Padmadurg, Khanderi, Kulaba, and Sindhudurg.

Fort Structure and Key Locations

• Entrance Doors: The fort has two main entrances, the west and east doors. The west door is encountered first when arriving by boat.
• Padkot: The fort is divided into two main parts: the main section and the "Padkot," a separate section. The main section contains most of the fort's important structures.
• Pakali Buruj: A bastion with a petal-like shape.
• Koteshwari Devi Temple: There is a temple dedicated to Koteshwari Devi within the Padkot.

Historical Insights

During his childhood, the speaker's acquaintance used to fish near the fort and would receive chapatis with sugar as a reward from the fort's inhabitants.

Soldiers were housed in dedicated rooms within the fort.

A temporary mosque was built for Muslim personnel.

Hindus used to worship at a place called Koteshri within the fort.

High-ranking officials ("Sahib-like") had well-furnished accommodations inside the fort, including areas for bathing and washing hands.

Interesting Facts

• The speaker mentioned that during a cleaning effort in 2013, approximately 250 iron cannonballs were discovered and handed over to the archeological department in Murud.
• There's a natural spring ("zhara") within the fort that never dries up, even in the peak of summer (May).

Current Conditions

As of the time of recording, the fort was remarkably clean. The sea water enters inside the fort.

Departure

The speaker expresses reluctance to leave the fort, highlighting its unique charm. As water levels rise, boatmen assist visitors in boarding boats for departure.

Additional Notes

The transcript emphasizes the fort's beauty and the effort required to reach it. The speaker aims to provide detailed information about Padmadurg, given the scarcity of available resources.