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Coordinates: 18°17′59″N 72°57′51″E / 18.299773°N 72.964239°E / 18.299773; 72.964239

Murud Janjira
Raigad district, Maharashtra
Murud Janjiraa bastions
Shown within Maharashtra
Type	Island fort
Coordinates	18°17′59″N 72°57′51″E / 18.299773°N 72.964239°E / 18.299773; 72.964239
Built	1490
Construction materials	Stone
Current condition	Partially intact
Current owner	Government of India
Open to the public	Yes
Controlled by	Siddis

Murud-Janjira ( pronunciation (help·info)) is the local name for a fort situated on an island just off the coastal village of Murud, in the Raigad district of Maharashtra, India.^[1] It was occupied by the Siddis and is famous for being the only fort along India's Western coast that remained undefeated despite Dutch, Maratha and English East India Company attacks.^[2]

Origins of the name[link]

The word Janjira is not native to India, and may have originated after the Arabic word Jazeera, which means an island. Murud was once known in Marathi as Habsan ("of Habshi" or Abyssinian). The name of the fort is a concatenation of the Konkani and Arabic words for Island, "morod" and "jazeera". The word "morod" is peculiar to Konkani and is absent in Marathi.

Major features[link]

Murud-Janjira Fort is situated on an oval-shaped rock off the Arabian Sea coast near the port town of Murud, 165km south of Mumbai. Janjira is considered one of the strongest marine forts in India. The fort is approached by sailboats from Rajapuri jetty. The main gate of the fort faces Rajapuri on the shore and can be seen only when one is quite close to it. It has a small postern gate towards the open sea for escape.

The fort has 19 rounded bastions, still intact. There are many canons of native and European make rusting on the bastions. Now in ruins, the fort in its heyday was a full-fledged living fort with all the necessary facilities, e.g., palaces, quarters for officers, mosque, a big fresh water tank, etc. On the outer wall flanking the main gate, there is a sculpture depicting a tiger-like beast clasping elephants in its claws. There are prominent "ASHOK-CHAKRAS" on all major gates of the fort Janjira. There are images of playing elephants, lions etc.

The sculpture on the main gate.

The palace of the Nawabs of Janjira at Murud is still in good shape. The palace was self sufficient and must have support of the locals. It has secret gates to hide and escape. It's construction is unique and very strong.

Originally the fort was a small wooden structure built by a Koli chief in the late 15th century. It was captured by Pir Khan, a general of Nizamshah of Ahmednagar. Later the fort was strengthened by Malik Ambar, the Abyssinian-origin Siddi regent of Ahmednagar kings. From then onward Siddis became independent, owing allegiance to Adilshah and the Mughals as dictated by the times.

History[link]

Despite their repeated attempts, the Portuguese, the British and the Marathas failed to subdue the power of the Siddi's, who were themselves allied with the Mughal Empire. Major historical figures from Murud-Janjira include men such as Yahya Saleh and Sidi Yaqub. The fort has a tunnel which opens in Rajpuri. The fort was made by a mixture of lead, sand and gul.

The Marathas led by Shivaji attempted to scale the 12 meters high Granite walls but failed in all his attempts. His son Sambhaji even attempted to tunnel his way into the fort but was unsuccessful in all his attempts.^[3]

In the year 1736, Siddi's of Murud-Janjira set out to recapture Raigarh from the ravaging forces of Baji Rao, on 19th April 1736, Chimnaji attacked the gathering forces in the encampments of the Siddi's during the Battle of Riwas near Riwas, when the confrontation ended 1500 Siddi's including their leader Siddi Sat were killed. Peace was concluded in September 1736, but the Siddi's were confined to Janjira, Gowalkot and Anjanwel.

See also[link]

• Maharashtra - Murud Janjira Forts Official Govt. Page
• List of Indian Princely States
• List of forts in Maharashtra
• Khokari Tombs
• MurudJanjira.com

References[link]

v t e Forts in India Vijayanagara Gingee Fort Bangalore Fort Udayagiri Fort Vellore Fort Deccan sultanates Ahmednagar Fort Gawilghur Narnala Panhala Fort Gujarat Sultanate Mahim Fort Delhi Sultanate Aligarh Fort Bandhavgarh Fort Qila Mubarak Siri Fort Tughlaqabad Salimgarh Fort Daulatabad Various Nayaks Chitradurga Fort Bekal Fort Dindigul Fort Gingee Fort Tiruchirapalli Rock Fort Chandragiri fort Hosdurg Fort Malwa Sultanate Mandsaur Fort Faruqi dynasty Asirgarh Laling Thalner Rajput Achalgarh Amber Fort Chittorgarh Fort Jaigarh Fort Jaisalmer Fort Jalore Fort Junagarh Fort Kankwadi Kumbhalgarh Nagaur Fort Nahargarh Fort Taragarh Fort Lal Kot Gwalior Fort Kalinjar Hinglajgarh Mehrangarh Fort Narwar Fort Senapati fortress Bahu Fort Kangra Fort Ranthambore Fort Maratha Dongri Fort Harishchandragad Kolaba Fort Lohagad Sudhagad Sinhagad Tikona Panhala Fort Pratapgad Vishalgad Rajgad Sindhudurg Vijaydurg Shivneri Raigad Gajendragarh Gingee Fort Shaniwar Wada Jhansi Fort Hinglajgarh Manora Visapur Fort Sadashivgad Mughal Empire Old Fort, Delhi Qila Rai Pithora Chanderi fort Agra Fort Allahabad Fort Fatehpur Sikri Red Fort Akola Fort Jat Gohad Fort Lohagarh Fort Nahar Singh Mahal Mysore kingdom Devanahalli Fort Palakkad Fort Bekal Fort Sankagiri Fort Siddi Murud-Janjira Belapur Fort Underi Travancore Vattakottai Fort Udayagiri Fort East Fort Portuguese Bassein Fort Bombay Castle Fort Arnala Castella de Aguada Korlai Fort Madh Fort St. Angelo Fort Pallipuram Fort Fort Aguada Fort Anjediva Cranganore Fort Ghodbunder fort Diu Fort Terekhol Fort British Raj Fort St. George Fort William Bombay Fort Riwa Fort Worli Fort Mazagon Fort Sion Hillock Fort Sewri Fort Mahim Fort Thalassery Fort Fort St. David Durrani Empire Hari Parbat Sur Empire Rohtasgarh Munger Fort Ahom Dynasty Talatal Ghar Garchuk Lachit Garh

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Samart Payakaroon สามารถ พยัคฆ์อรุณ
Born	Samart Tiptarmai (สามารถ ทิพย์ท่าไม้) (1962-12-05) 5 December 1962 (age 49) Chacherngsao, Thailand
Other names	Payaknayok (พยัคฆ์หน้าหยก)
Nationality	Thai
Style	Muay Thai, Boxing
Fighting out of	Bangkok, Thailand
Team	Songchai Rattanasuban Sahasompop Srisomwong Suchart Kerdmek
Trainer	Yodtong Senanan (Muaythai) Sukjai Sappalek (Boxing) Ismael Salas (Boxing)
Professional boxing record
Total	23
Wins	21
By knockout	12
Losses	2
By knockout	2
Draws	0

Samart Payakaroon, real name Samart Tiptarmai (born 5 December 1962, Chachoengsao Province) is a Muaythai boxer.

Thai Boxing career[link]

Samart has an older brother, Kongtoranee Payakaroon, who induced Samart to start training in Muay Thai. Samart started Muaythai training when he was 11. The First Muaythai teacher of Samart was Yodthong Senanan (Kru Tui) who taught both Samart and Kongtoranee. His first fight name was Samart Lookklongket. After he fought around a dozen fights (orthodox stance), he came to Bangkok to fight at Lumpinee Stadium in 1978.

Muay Thai Honors[link]

• 105 lb Champion of Lumpinee Stadium in 1980
• 108 lb Champion of Lumpinee Stadium in 1980
• 115 lb Champion of Lumpinee Stadium in 1981
• 126 lb Champion of Lumpinee Stadium in 1981

Boxing[link]

In 1982 he turned to boxing where he fought from a southpaw stance. In 1986 he won a WBC junior featherweight title with a surprise KO over rock-chinned Lupe Pintor in the fifth round and defended against the respected Juan Meza before being stopped by undefeated Australian Jeff Fenech. He made a comeback in the 90s and challenged unsuccessfully for another world title.

Payakaroon was named The Ring's Progress of the Year fighter for 1986. He now teaches Muay Thai in Thailand.

Music[link]

Between his two stints as boxing champion, Samart signed with a Grammy winning label and released three albums. They are pop music but with his upcountry accent ('"Ner" เหน่อ) as opposed to central Thailand accent. His first album, Peedongmembur. (ร็อคเหน่อๆ) in 1989, contains a famous song On Som (อ่อนซ้อม - not enough practice) talking about him being very proficient in boxing but lacking the same aptitude at getting love from women. His second and third album, Arom Dee (อารมณ์ดี) and Kun Mai Kun Mike (คันไม้คันไมค์) followed in 1990 and 1992 with famous songs Nam Plik Pla Too (น้ำพริกปลาทู) and Kao Ao Eng (เกาเอาเอง) respectively.^[1] After the three albums, he went back to boxing.

Acting[link]

Samart had a role in the 2001 Thai film, The Legend of Suriyothai. He had a major role in the French drama film, Fureur, and was in the 2004 film, The Bodyguard. In 2006, he co-starred in the Thai martial arts film, Dynamite Warrior. He appeared in Muay Thai Chaiya in 2007.

References[link]

1. ^ Artist Name: Samart Payakaroon, iKey (GMM online music store), accessed December 27, 2007.

External links[link]

• Professional boxing record for Samart Payakaroon from BoxRec
• Samart Payakaroon at the Internet Movie Database