Khanderi

Khanderi
खांदेरी
Part of Konkan Coast
Raigad District, Maharashtra
Octagonal Lighthouse, Khanderi Fort
Khanderi
Coordinates	18.7042°N 72.8131°E / 18.7042; 72.8131
Type	Sea fort
Site information
Owner	Indian Navy
Controlled by	Maratha Confederacy (1679-1818)  United Kingdom East India Company (1818-1857) British Raj (1857-1947)  India (1947-)
Open to the public	Yes
Site history
Built	1679 (1679)
Built by	Shivaji
Materials	Basalt stone

Khanderi (officially Kanhoji Angre island) is an island with a fort, located south of Mumbai, along the coast of Maharashtra, India.

Location

Khanderi is located 5 km off the coast of Maharashtra (off Thal, Kihim) and 20 km south of Mumbai. Khanderi, along with its sister fort Underi (Jaidurg) formed the major fortification along the Maharashtra coast, the former falling under Shivaji Maharaj's control and the latter under his opponents, the Siddis. The island consists of two high hills, one facing north and the other facing south. Initially, the islands of Underi and Khanderi were uninhabited. It contained two wells to supply water to the forces within, and a temple of Sri Betal.[1] The fort is a restricted area, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Indian Navy.

Additionally, the fort has a few old metal canons, the tomb of Daud Pir,[2] a local saint and a musical stone that emits metallic musical notes when struck.[3] There is a one secret way for going on the Kulaba fort of Alibag.

History

In 1679, Khanderi was occupied by the forces of Shivaji under the leadership of Maynak Bhandari, who oversaw the building of the fortifying walls.[4] Subsequently, Khanderi fort was built during the reign of the Maratha Emperor Shivaji Maharaj in 1679 CE[5] to keep a check on the Siddis at Murud-Janjira fort and was the site of many battles between Shivaji's forces and the navy of Siddi.[6] In 1813 Manaji Angre handed over the fort to Peshve in return of the support given against Baburao.[7] The fort was subsequently ceded in 1818 to the forces of the British East India company at Bombay as part of the Peshwa territory. Most of the fort is still intact, with the most prominent structure being a lighthouse built by the British in June 1867 and the two storey building upon which the lighthouse is located.[8][9] The lighthouse is 22 feet high and can be seen from up to 13 km away.

In 1998, Khanderi island was renamed Kanhoji Angre Island in honour of the Maratha Admiral[10] Kanhoji Angre.

In September 2013, The Indian Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Shipping drew up plans to develop Khanderi island and its octagonal light house as a tourist destination.[11]

References

1. Rau, Ratnakar (1997). Govind, Shivaji's warrior. Hyderabad: Orient Longman Limited. p. 104. ISBN 8125007741.
2. "Twin trek to Fort Khanderi". Trek Mates India. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
3. Rajendra, Mahajan. "Musical stone at Khanderi Fort". Video - You Tube. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
4. Khond, Vishal. "Trek to Khanderi". Trek Mates India. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
5. Maritime Heritage of India. Indian Navy. 2016. ISBN 978-8189884-97-0.
6. Sarkar, Jadunath (2010). Shivaji and his times. Mumbai: Orient Blackswan. p. 215. ISBN 978-8125040262.
7. PATHAK, ARUNCHANDRA S. "Khanderi". www.gazetteers.maharashtra.gov.in/cultural.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/KOLABA/places_Khanderi.html. Govt. of Maharashtra. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
8. Gazetteer. Govt. Central Press. 1883. pp. 324–327. Retrieved 19 March 2009.
9. Hoiberg, Dale; Indu Ramchandani (2000). Students' Britannica India. Popular Prakashan. pp. 401–2. ISBN 0-85229-762-9. Retrieved 17 March 2009.
10. LT GEN K. J., SINGH. "As NDA cadet, I was witness to Vice Admiral Awati's kindness". ThePrint.In. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
11. Sanganee, Hemant (28 September 2013). "Welcome to the Kanhoji Island Light House". Dumkhum. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2013.