Shivaji Maharaj's Naval Legacy: 7 Must-Visit Sea Forts of Maharashtra

• Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj built and strengthened a network of sea forts to secure the Konkan coastline and establish Maratha naval dominance.
• Sindhudurg Fort, built in 1664, was Shivaji Maharaj’s ambitious maritime project, designed to counter threats from European powers and the Siddis.
• Vijaydurg Fort, known as the ‘Eastern Gibraltar,’ featured triple-layered fortifications and an underwater defensive wall, making it a powerful naval base.
• Suvarnadurg Fort guarded the northern entrance of Kanakadurga Creek, protecting coastal trade routes and monitoring ship movements.
• Padmadurg Fort was strategically built near Murud to challenge the naval dominance of the Siddis of Janjira, asserting Maratha presence.