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Visit Mirjan Fort, Kumta: The Fort Built By The Pepper Queen, Rani ChennaBhairaDevi In The 16th Century

Visit Mirjan Fort, Kumta: The Fort Built By The Pepper Queen, Rani ChennaBhairaDevi In The 16th Century (2024)

Spreading over a vast area of 4.1 hectares, Mirjan Fort in Kumta is a royal reminder of the glorious history of our country. This historical Mirjan fort is located on the banks of river Aghanashini, is believed to serve as a site for many past battles in the 16th and 17th century. Functional till the year 1785, later on the Mirjan fort was captured by the Britishers and they used it for their armoury. Embellished with a remarkable architecture of the bygone era, Mirjan fort is today considered as one of the top tourist places to visit in Karnataka. Visit Mirjan Fort in Kumta, KarnatakaImage Source

The architectural brilliance as well as historical significance of this time-tested Mirjan fort is such that it has even been declared as a protected monument by the Archaeological Survey of India. Recently, the Mirjan fort has also undergone several renovations in order to improve the quality. In this article, we have gathered all the important information about this historical fort which you would like to know about before actually visiting it.

Why Should You Visit The Mirjan Fort, Kumta?

The stunning Mirjan fort with its various secret passageways, canals, moats and many other considerations to fortify its grounds, gives the visitors a true mysterious vibe. Located at a distance of about just 11 km from the town of Kumta, Mirjan fort is listed as one of the top tourist places to visit in Kumta, Karnataka. Its mysterious vibe, stunning architecture and historical significance are more than enough to catch the eyes of a huge number of travellers. Many people come to visit this ancient fort. If you are still searching for more reasons to explore this awesome place, then we are more than happy to present you with them.

Why Should You Visit The Mirjan Fort, Kumta?
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  1. Architectural Marvel of Mirjan Fort: Built from locally available laterite stones, the Mirjan fort is constructed in an architectural manner similar to that of the typical Indian forts. However, it even shows off influences of Portuguese and Islamic architectural styles. With its firm construction, the Mirjan fort has been standing proudly witnessing even the harshest of battles.
    Beautiful Architectural Marvel of Mirjan Fort, Kumta, Karnataka
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  2. Things To See Inside The Mirjan Fort: One can find several wells, high walls, bastions and watchtowers inside the Mirjan fort which makes it one of the most secure and self – sufficient forts. The Mirjan fort sports 4 entrances out of which 1 is main and the other three are subsidiaries. There are several interlinked well access channels leading to the circular moat as well which is probably a means of defence. Visitors can also get to witness some escape gates which were constructed to provide a quick getaway in case of emergency situations. There is a temple in the fort premises also.
    Things To See Inside The Mirjan Fort, Kumta, Karnataka
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  3. Legend: It is believed that there was once a treasure hidden inside the Mirjan fort complex but it was later stolen by the Britishers. Even till today, many antiquarian findings have been made such as gold coins, cannon balls, clay tables with Islamic inscriptions and Chinese porcelain.
    Legend-Treasure Hidden Inside the Mirjan Fort Complex
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  4. Glorious History: The Mirjan Fort is known to boast of a glorious history. There are several legends circulating among the people when it comes to the origin of the Mirjan fort. According to the most famous tale, the fort was built by the Pepper Queen, Rani ChennaBhairaDevi in the 16th century. She was the queen of Gersoppa, a subordinate of Vijayanagar kings. Her reign is believed to be the longest by a female in the subcontinent.
    Mirjan Fort-Glorious HistoryImage Source

The Mirjan Fort Timings

Topping the list of popular tourist places to visit in Karnataka, this majestic historical fort in Kumta is open on all days of the week for the visitors. The specific visiting hours of the Mirjan fort are as follows:

  • Monday 9 AM till 5 PM
  • Tuesday 9 AM till 5 PM
  • Wednesday 9 AM till 5 PM
  • Thursday 9 AM till 5 PM
  • Friday 9 AM till 5 PM
  • Saturday 9 AM till 5 PM
  • Sunday 9 AM till 5 PM

What Is The Best Way To Reach The Mirjan Fort In Kumta?

Reaching this top tourist place in Kumta, Karnataka, is not at all a difficult task. Kumta is well – connected and hence is easily accessible by almost all means of transport. You can reach it by:

  1. By Air: The nearest airport to reach Mirjan Fort in Kumta is the Dabolim Airport which is at a distance of about 167 km from Kumta. The airport offers plenty of flights connecting the place to many major cities and towns of India. From the airport, you can hire a taxi or take a cab to reach the fort. The nearest international airport is the Goa international airport.
  2. By Rail: Since Kumta has its own railway station, it is not situated much far away. Kumta railway station is located about 4 km away from the centre of the city. It offers plenty of trains which connect Kumta to all the major cities across the country including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, etc.
  3. By Road: The road network is pretty well – connected. So, you can even travel by your personal vehicle from nearby cities. The road journey offers many scenic spots as well. Other than that, a regular bus service is also available from many nearby cities and states to reach Kumta such as Mangalore, Bangalore, Mysore, Belgaum, etc.

Best Time To Visit The Mirjan Fort In Kumta

If you want to make the most out of your trip, then it is recommended that you visit the Mirjan fort in winter or monsoon season. In other words, you can visit the place either between November and March or from August to October.

Best Time To Visit The Mirjan Fort In KumtaImage Source

Where To Stay Near The Mirjan Fort?

There are several good accommodation options available near Mirjan fort. Some of them that you can consider are- Blissful Beach House (about 6.28 km away) and DDR Beach Homestay (about 6.64 km away).

What Are The Different Places To See Near The Mirjan Fort In Kumta?

Some of the interesting attractions that are located nearby Mirjan fort which you can add to your itinerary to enhance your experience are:

  1. Yana: Located about 28 km away from Kumta, Yana is a beautiful palace packed with a variety of natural elements which further enhance its beauty. It even proves to be a great trekking trail.
  2. Om Beach: This is one beautiful beach that is in the shape of the spiritual Hindu symbol of ‘Om’. It is a perfect place to visit for spending some relaxing moments.

Surrounded with grass and overgrowth, some people even say that the Mirjan fort resembles a picturesque fairy tale castle.

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