Mirjan Fort
| Mirjan Fort | |
|---|---|
| Part of Uttara Kannada | |
| Karnataka, India | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Fusion of Deccan and Mughal Architecture |
| Controlled by | Government of Karnataka |
| Open to the public | Yes |
| Condition | Ruins |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 14°29′20″N 74°25′03″E / 14.4888°N 74.4175°E |
| Site history | |
| Built | Built in 16th century by Rani Chennabhairadevi and refurbished in 17th century |
| Materials | Laterite Stones and mud |
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 has been 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.
According to the first historical version, Rani 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. During her reign, the port at Mirjan, which is 32 kilometres (20 mi) to the southeast 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 Chennabhairadevi the epithet "Rani, the Pepper queen" ("Rainha de Pimenta" in Portuguese).