Mirjan Fort Gokarna

Located on the banks of River Aghanashini, Mirjan Fort is a royal reminder of our glorious history. It is situated about 11 km from the town of Kumta in Karnataka and is spread over an area of 4.1 hectares. The fort is also believed to be a site for many past battles in the 16th and 17th Century and was functional till 1785. Later, the British captured this fort and used it for their armoury. It is embellished with remarkable architecture of the bygone era, such as canals, moats, secret passageways and various other considerations to fortify its grounds. The splendid fort truly gives the impression of a fairytale castle all covered with grass and overgrowth.

This time-tested building is constructed from locally available laterite stone. Legend says that this was one of the most important places for the Foreign trades in Spices with Dutch, Portuguese and British. It has been declared as a protected monument by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and has gone through some recent renovations to improve its quality.

In the year 2001, several archaeological excavations were also conducted by the organisation that unearthed several laterite structures belonging to the medieval period. Other antiquarian findings such as gold coins attributed to Portuguese Viceroy Conde De Sarzedas have also been found along with cannon balls, Chinese porcelain, and clay tablets with Islamic inscriptions. It is believed that there was a hidden treasure in the fort complex that was later stolen by the Britishers. Nestled amidst the idyllic surrounding this historical monument is a lost gem in the tourism landscape of the country. Every year on independence day, Indian flag is hoisted on the fort.

 

HOW TO REACH MIRJAN FORT, GOKARNA

Mirjan Fort is located at a distance of 11 km from the city center, and the time required to cover this distance is 35 minutes on average. Being a small town, Gokarna does not have many options for commuting. Online Taxicab services do not operate here, which narrows the options to reach the fort to two:

Via Buses: Several buses drop you at the bus stand which is only at a distance of 5-minute walk to the fort. They get to the city bus station in periodic intervals and take about 45 minutes to reach the bus stand. This is the cheapest mode of commutation in Gokarna.

Via bike rentals: Another mode of commutation is via hiring bikes, cars, or cabs from the city. This is a better and more convenient option as you can roam about wherever you please after visiting the fort.

 

BEST TIME TO VISIT MIRJAN FORT, GOKARNA

The best time to visit Mirjan Fort is from September to February. You may encounter unpredictable showers till mid-September, but after that, the surrounding area is blooming with flowers and a lush green atmosphere. Even within the fort, there are several open-spaced grasslands with new vegetation budding across. 

You can also visit the fort in summers, but the heat of the sun may tear you down, so carry umbrellas, hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen for protection. Monsoon is usually accompanied by thunderous rainfall, which makes it difficult to sightsee the open spaces of the fort.

 

HISTORY OF MIRJAN FORT, GOKARNA

Mirjan Fort has a glorious history, and there are several versions of its origins. According to the most famous one, the fort was built in the 16th century by the Pepper Queen, Chennai Bhairav Dev from the Tuluva-Saliva clan. She was the Queen of Gersoppa, a subordinate of Vijayanagar kings and her reign is one of the longest (54 years) by a female in the subcontinent. Her stronghold was centred on North and South Kanara districts and south Goa.

After the battle of Talikota in 1565, when the territory was attacked by Bijapur Sultans, she shifted her power base from Mirjan to a safe location on an island in the middle of the Sharavathi River. She later converted to Jainism and constructed several Jain basadis. In 1757, the Marathas got control over the fort, and in 1784 it was seized by the British.

A different version narrates that the fort was built by Nawayath Sultanates in early 1200 A.D. and after that, it came under the Vijayanagara Empire.

According to another version of the fort's origin, it was built by a Bijapur noble Sherif-ul Mulk to serve as the first line of defence to protect the town of Kumta and the Kumta fort located to its south.

One more version narrates that Mirjan fort was under the control of the Vijayanagara Empire. Later, when the empire fell, Bijapur Sultans captured it and Sharief-ul-mulk, the erstwhile governor of Goa, refurbished it to his liking. In 1676, queen Chennamma of the Kela dynasty occupied this territory. In 1757, taking advantage of a local revolt and uproar, the marathas captured the fort and then in 1784, British government Major Torriano had captured it.

 

WHY SHOULD ONE VISIT MIRJAN FORT, GOKARNA?

Mirjan Fort attracts visitors with its majestic look. As one enters the fort through the broad steps leading to the interiors, they get to know of the architectural skills that the builders possessed at a time when modern technology was unheard of. The wells, secret doors, tunnels, kitchen, dwellings, watchtower and other such ruins make visitors ponder over the lost historical significance of the place.