Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh are prominent states hosting most of forts of India. You will find one in almost every ancient district. Here are some personal favorites
Murud- Janjira fort
Maharashtra is a land of forts, thanks to Marathas and other different rulers who ruled the state. Murud Janjira fort was built in the 16th century on an island in Raigad district. This fort is said to be unbeaten despite multiple invasions
Jazeera means “island” in Arabic. The main gate is quite hidden from most angles, visible only as you approach it from 50 metres away. There are more than 25 towers that hold artillery, still well preserved. It used to be self sufficient with enough water sources, staff quarters, mosque, warehouses. The fort boasted of more than 500 cannons in its erstwhile years. Today you can see about 100 of them, with 3 huge ones that stand out. The two fresh water lakes in the middle of the sea seem to be a wonder. The extreme end has Darya Darwaza, another entry point
The fort takes 1-2 hours to see important highlights. There is no place to stay, so you need to ensure you get out before the last boat. It is recommended to take 45 minutes to see the place and return by the same boat you came in from.
How to reach Janjira fort
Janjira fort is a 3.5 hour drive from Mumbai. Rajpura jetty has sailboat options, while Khora Jetty has speedboats. Boats run from 10 AM- 4:30 PM, costing around INR 100-130. If you hire a taxi, you can combine Alibag beaches along with this fort
Manjarabad fort
This is an eight pointed star shaped fort with a Frensh design in Sakleshpura- Hassan, built by Tipu Sultan in the 17th century. On the banks of river Hemavati, this fort gets a green life in monsoons from June- September. If you are lucky with weather, people say you can spot the sea 100+ kilometers away, although we have never been able to see it
Many more forts here, linking to how to reach them separately