Mirjan Fort

The Mirjan Fort is located on the west coast of the Uttara Kannada district in the southern Indian
state of Karnataka. The fort known for its architectural elegance was the location of several
battles in the past. It is about 0.5 kilometres (0.31 mi) from the National Highway 66 and 21
kilometres (13 mi) from Gokarna, the famous Hindu pilgrimage centre on the west coast of
India.[1][2]
 Mirjan Fort

Part of Uttara Kannada

Karnataka, India

View of the western ghats from the Fort

Mirjan Fort

Coordinates 14.4888°N 74.4175°E (https://geohack.toolforge.

org/geohack.php?pagename=Mirjan_Fort&param
s=14.4888_N_74.4175_E_type:landmark)

Type Fusion of Deccan and Mughal Architecture

Site information

Controlled by Government of Karnataka

Open to Yes
 the public
Condition Ruins

Site history

Built Originally built 16th century and refurbished in

17th century

Materials Laterite Stones and mud

According to the first historical version, Queen Chennabhairadevi of Gersoppa (under the
Vijayanagara Empire) was initially credited with building the Mirjan Fort in the 16th century. She
ruled for 54 years and also lived in the fort.[3][4][5] During her reign, the port at Mirjan, which is 32
kilometres (20 mi) to the south east of Karwar, was used for shipping pepper, saltpetre and betel
nut to Surat. Gersoppa, a district annexed to Bednur, was famous for the pepper exported from
this region. Consequently, the Portuguese gave the epithet "Rani, the Pepper queen" ("Rainha de
Pimenta" in Portuguese) to the Queen of Gersoppa.[3][4][5][6]

History

There are many versions to the dating of this fort. The first historical vision the Mirjan Fort was
built initially by a Nawayath asper Ibn_Battuta book this fort was first built by Nawayath
Sultanates early 1200, then it came under the Vijayanagara Empire. Then the fort was
refurbished in 1608 (Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) refers to its building over a period of
1608–1640) on the south east coastal part of the Tadri Creek.[1][2][7]

Another version that is traced to the period 1552–1606 is that the Mirjan Fort was built initially
by Queen Chennabhairadevi. She was from the Tuluva-Saluva clan and ruled for a long period
(for 54 years) under the protection of the Vijayanagara Empire (the queen preferred to be
subordinate (mahamandaleshwara) of Vijayanagar rulers), as the queen of Gersoppa (a small
town on the northern banks of the Sharavati River). She was given the epithet "the Pepper Queen
or Raina da Pimenta'. She devoutly practiced Jainism and during her rule constructed many Jain
basadis. She ruled "in conformity with the doctrine of succession Aliyasantana or Matriarchal, a
tradition followed in coastal belt of Konkan and Kerala". Her domain covered North and South
Kanara districts and south Goa, which had important ports such as Malpe, Bidnoor, Mirjan,
Honnavar, Ankola and Karwar from where the pepper, the most important produce of the region,
was shipped to Europe. However, she suffered reverses after the Talikota war in which the
Vijayanagar Empire was routed. She then shifted from Mirjan Fort to a safe location in an island
in the middle of the Sharavathi River.[4][5]

According to another version, a Bijapur noble Sherif-ul Mulk built this fort as a first line of
defence to protect Kumta town and the Kumta fort located to its south. The fort was built or
refurbished in 1608 (Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) refers to its building over a period of
1608–1640) on the south east coastal part of the Tadri Creek.[1][2][7]

One more version is that the fort was under the rulers of the Vijayanagara Empire. After the fall
of this empire, Bijapur sultans are stated to have captured the fort and Sharief-ul-mulk, the then
governor of Goa, is credited to have either built or refurbished the fort.[2] Mirjan was the location
of their palace. In the 17th century, the Keladi dynasty, an independent principality then ruled the
territory of Kanara, south of Mirjan with their capital at Bednur. In 1676, Keladi queen
Chennamma had captured this territory up to Mirjan.[3]

In 1757, the Marathas had seized the Mirjan Fort. The event that led to the capture of the fort
was due to the death of Basappa Naik, the last ruler of Bednur, in 1755. His wife had taken
control, representing her 17-year-old adopted son, Chanbasaviah. Since her adopted son
opposed her taking a "paramour", she got him murdered. This had resulted in a revolt by the
agitated local people, and taking advantage of the situation the Marathas had captured the
fort.[8]

In the period between May 1783 and March 1784, the British, under the command of Major
Torriano had captured the fort before proceeding to Honnavar.[9]

Chroniclers of History like De Barros, Barbosa, Hamilton and Buchanan have recorded the
history of the fort under the rule of Vijayanagara kings, under the name of Mergan. In 1720,
Hamilton refers to its importance as a minor port that was used for export of pepper, cassia,
saltpetre, and wild nutmeg. In 1801, Buchanan called the place a "Midijoy".[2]

Geography

The fort is located on the banks of the Aganashini River. The mouth of the river is 12 kilometres
(7.5 mi) from the Mirjan village. It is in a creek on a bend of the river, known as the Tadri Creek.
The fort is approached through a series of wide steps that lead to the interior of the fort.[2][7] Its
location in Kumta taluk is 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) to the north of the Kumta town.[3][10]
The fort is located in the precincts of the Mirjan village (area 653.92 hectares (1,615.9 acres)),
which is bounded between (14.4687°N 74.4191°E (https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?
pagename=Mirjan_Fort&params=14.4687_N_74.4191_E_) ) and (14.5052°N 74.4446°E (https://
geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Mirjan_Fort&params=14.5052_N_74.4446_E
_) ), near Kumta. The reported climatic conditions of the village reflect the conditions in the fort
precincts as well. The area experiences a high humid climate all through the year. The recorded
mean annual rainfall of 3,521.7 millimetres (138.65 in) is very high. The maximum temperature
reported is 32.4 °C (90.3 °F) in May and the minimum temperature recorded is 20.9 °C (69.6 °F)
during January. Laterite topography dominates the region.[11] Further, Mirjan has also been
identified by "Forbes, 1783 (or. Mem. IV. 109), and by Renel, 1788 (Map of Hindustan", as Muziris
of Ptolemy (150 A.D.) and Periplus (247 A.D.), then an important trading port on the west coast
of India.[12]

Mirjan, however, was spelt differently by the Portuguese chroniclers and in the maps of the 16th
century, and the river flowing nearby was also then called the Ganghwali River; Barbosa spelt it
as Mjrgeu, in Renel's map of c.1517 it is spelt as Mergueo and in c.1518 and subsequent maps
spelt as Mergeo.[13]

Structure

Main entrance to View of southern ramparts from Images of Hindu Goddess

the Mirjan Fort with inside the Mirjan Fort Mahishasuramardini and other
wide steps deities under a tree

The fort is built over an area of about 4.1 hectares (10 acres). It is built with laterite stones.[2] It
was built with high walls and bastions.[1] The fort has four entrances (one main and three
subsidiary entrances) and many wells, which are interlinked and with access channels leading to
the circular moat (used as a defence measure to protect the fort) that once fully surrounded the
fort, and leading to the canal works outside the fort's limits. At each entrance, there are wide
steps to enter the fort. The fort is double-walled and has high turrets on the bastions. It is now
seen mostly in ruins but is being restored by ASI to some extent. The ruins have been inferred as
remnants of a secret passage, entry doors, a darbar hall and a market place. Stone images of
Hindu gods and goddesses are also seen under a large tree.[2][14]

Restoration works

The fort was maintained by the British with grant funds till India got independence in August
1947. Thereafter, ASI has taken over its maintenance. Refurbishing of the ruins of the northern
bastion fortification of the fort has been done with stones found in the area. The wild forest
growth inside the fort and on the fort walls has been cleared. In the restoration works carried out
during 2000–2001, initially, the debris that had accumulated due to collapse of the bastions was
removed. The damaged portions of the fort walls were redone with dressed laterite stones. A
waterproof coating was provided to the excavated structures, along with pointing of the joints
with "combination mortor".[15][16]

Archaeological excavations

During the year 2000–01, ASI carried out excavations in the precincts of the fort. These
excavations have unearthed laterite structures of medieval period in the form of: a U shaped
structure with a "cloister all around" with a circular soakage pit adjoining it; and a water tank
connected with channels. Antiquarian findings also included a gold coin minted in 1652 with
inscriptions that attribute it to the Portuguese Viceroy Conde De Sarzedas during the reign of
Joao IV, cannonballs, Chinese Porcelain, clay tablets with Islamic inscriptions.[1] Further details
provided by an official of the ASI indicate that "seven dumb-bells, 50 iron bullets, coins and
designed earth pots belonging to Sarpamallika dynasty" were also found during the excavations
at the fort.[17]

Gallery
Watch tower cum flag hoisting tower of Mirjan Fort

West view of Mirjan Fort from inside the fort

The Mirjan fort bastion and watch tower

 Steps to a well in the Mirjan Fort

A deep well in Mirjan fort

A well and some ruins inside the Mirjan fort

 Prayer hall and the Mihrab at the Mirjan fort

Mirjan Fort in rainy season

References

1. "Excavations - 2000-2005 – Karnataka" (http://asi.nic.in/asi_exca_2005_karnataka.asp) . Fort,

Mirjan, dt. Uttar Kannada. Archaeological Survey of India and National Informatics Centre. Retrieved
24 May 2010.

2. "Miscellany" (http://www.deccanherald.com/content/51493/miscellany.html) . Deccan Herald. 24

May 2010. Retrieved 24 May 2010.

3. Sarkar, Jadunath (1992). Shivaji and his times (https://books.google.com/books?id=WYFrgILWbIgC&

dq=Mirjan+fort&pg=PA172) . Orient Blackswan. pp. 172–173. ISBN 81-250-1347-4. Retrieved 25 May
2010.
 4. "Tribute to Pepper Queen Mirjan Fort" (http://www.oktatabyebye.com/travelogues/805-Karnatakaslas
hTribute_to_Pepper_Queen_Mirjan_Fort.html) . Travalogues : oktatabyebye. 11 June 2009. Retrieved
25 May 2010.

5. Jyotsna Kamat (7 May 2010). "Queen of Gersoppa: Chennabhairadevi, Brave Ruler of Gersoppa (1552-
1606 C.E)" (http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/itihas/gersoppa_queen.htm) . Kamatpotporri.
Retrieved 25 May 2010.

6. Ramaswamy, Chitra (15 April 2014). "Where the pepper queen ruled" (http://www.deccanherald.com/c
ontent/399154/where-pepper-queen-ruled.html) . No. Bangalore. Deccan Herald. Retrieved
19 January 2015.

7. Naravane, M. S (1998). The maritime and coastal forts of India (https://books.google.com/books?id=

k59aVCIlFB8C&dq=Suvarnadurg+Fort&pg=PP21) . Mirjan. APH Publishing. p. 91. ISBN 81-7024-910-
4. Retrieved 24 May 2010.

8. Buff, James Grant (1971). History of the Mahrattas (https://books.google.com/books?id=9AyPSHqAG

a4C&dq=Mirjan+fort&pg=RA1-PR12) . Conquest of Bednur. Genesis Publishing Pvt Ltd. p. xii.
ISBN 81-7020-958-7. Retrieved 25 May 2010.

9. Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Ka'nara (2 pts.) (https://books.google.com/books?id=ug8IAQAA

IAAJ&q=Mirjan+Fort) . Govt. Central Press. 1883. p. 313. Retrieved 25 May 2010.

10. Bhat, L.S.; Chandrashekhar Dhundiraj Deshpande (1988). Strategy for integrated area development:
case study of North Kanara… (https://books.google.com/books?id=WBsOcB0wtkIC&dq=Topography+
of+Mirjan&pg=PA28) . Note 8. Concept Publishing Company. p. 28. ISBN 81-7022-198-6. Retrieved
25 May 2010.

11. "A Remote Sensing Approach for Establishing the Soil Physiographic Relationship in the Coastal Agro
Eco system of North Karnataka" (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259493107) . Retrieved
1 February 2018.

12. "Masure" (http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/RATNAGIRI/places_Masure.html) .

Maharashtra Government. Retrieved 26 May 2010.

13. Pires, Tomé; Armando Cortesão; Francisco Rodrigues (1990). The Suma oriental of Tome Pires: an
account of the East, from the Red Sea to ... (https://books.google.com/books?id=h82D-Y0E3TwC&dq=
Mirjan+Fort+layout&pg=PA60) Asian Educational Services. p. 60. ISBN 81-206-0535-7. Retrieved
26 May 2010.

14. Karnataka State gazetteer, Volume 16 (https://books.google.com/books?id=sIwBAAAAMAAJ&q=Mirj

an+fort) . The Director of Print, Stationery and Publications at the Govt. Press. 1965. p. 947.
Retrieved 25 May 2010.
15. "Indian archaeology: a review" (http://www.google.co.in/search?hl=en&q=Mir%20Jan%20Fort&um=1&
ie=UTF-8&tbo=u&tbs=bks:1&source=og&sa=N&tab=wp) . Archaeological Survey of India. 1998.
Retrieved 25 May 2010.

16. "Indian Archaeology: A review" (http://asi.nic.in/nmma_reviews/Indian%20Archaeology%202000-200

1%20A%20Review.pdf) (PDF). 194. Fort Mirjan, Uttarakannada. Archaeological Survey of India. 2001.
p. 260. Retrieved 25 May 2010.

17. "Iron bullets excavated in Karnataka" (http://www.expressindia.com/news/ie/daily/20000205/ina050

64.html) . Express India. Retrieved 26 May 2010.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mirjan Fort.

Coordinates of Mirjan Fort (http://wikimapia.org/483974/Mirjan-Fort)

Mirjan Fort on Google Maps (http://maps.google.co.in/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocod

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