Located on the west coast of the Uttara Kannada district in the southern Indian state of Karnataka, the architecturally elegant Mirjan Fort is spread over an area of about 10 acres, about half a kilometre from the National Highway 66, 9 kilometres from the centre of Kumta, and 21 kilometres from Gokarna.
Fringed with the Agnanishi River, Mirjan Fort is located amidst natural surroundings. The fort with high ceilings and bastions has four main entrances along with moats, secret passageways, canals, and several watchtowers that offer a birds-eye view of the surrounding areas. It has been declared as a protected monument by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and has gone through some recent renovations to improves its quality.
Once a busy port, this tranquil and elegant fort is worth a visit. The Fort of Mirjan built in locally available laterite has four entrances and each entrance has wide laterite
stone steps. Inside the fort, there are nine wells, one secret outlet and one main entrance besides two other entrances. There are remains of a big darbar hall and a market place. It is open all seven days from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Archaeological excavations were conducted in the year 2001 that unearthed laterite structures belonging to the medieval period. Other findings such as gold coins possibly of Portuguese Viceroy Conde De Sarzedas have been found along with cannon balls, Chinese porcelain, etc.
Ambiguous as it may be, the origin of the fort has not one, but multiple accounts. Per one version, it was built by the Nawayath Sultanates during the early 1200 which was later occupied by the Vijayanagara Empire and re-built in 1608. Per another, Mirjan Fort was constructed by Chennabhaira Devi, the Queen of Gersoppa belonging to the Tuluva Saluva dynasty and who reigned over over South Goa, South Kanara (Dakshina Kannada) district and North Kanara (Uttara Kannada) district for a period of 54 years, under the Vijayanagara Empire. The territory included various ports like Karwar, Honnavar, Mirjan, Bidnoor and Malpe. Cloves, pepper, saltpetre, betel nut etc were exported to Europe from these ports. And hence Queen Chennabhaira Devi was popularly known as and came to be known by a name coined by the Portugese as “Rani. the spice queen” (“Rainha de Pimenta” in Portuguese). Later she resided in the safety of Mirjan Fort on an island in the Sharavati River after the Battle of Talikota. Another version is that slightly after the beginning of the 17th century, soon after the fall of Gersoppa, Bijapur conquered the place and Sharif–ul–mulk, the governor of Ponda either built or renovated the fort here, and Mirjan became the area headquarters. During the 17th century, the Keladi dynasty reigned over the region of Kanara, located towards the out of Mirjan. Their capital was established at Bednur. After the death of Basappa Naik who was the final ruler of Bednur, the Mirjan Fort was captured by the Maratha Empire in 1757. Later in March 1784 the fortress was seized by the forces of the British East India Company under the leadership of Major Torriano.
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