The Mirjan Fort is located on the west coast of the Uttara Kannada district in the southern Indian state of Karnataka.

[1][2] 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.

[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.

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.

She ruled "in conformity with the doctrine of succession Aliyasantana or Matriarchal, a tradition followed in coastal belt of Konkan and Kerala".

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.

In the 17th century, the Keladi dynasty, an independent principality then ruled the territory of Kanara, south of Mirjan with their capital at Bednur.

This had resulted in a revolt by the agitated local people, and taking advantage of the situation the Marathas had captured the fort.

In 1720, Hamilton refers to its importance as a minor port that was used for export of pepper, cassia, saltpetre, and wild nutmeg.

[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°28′07″N 74°25′09″E / 14.4687°N 74.4191°E / 14.4687; 74.4191) and (14°30′19″N 74°26′41″E / 14.5052°N 74.4446°E / 14.5052; 74.4446), near Kumta.

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.

The ruins have been inferred as remnants of a secret passage, entry doors, a darbar hall and a market place.

In the restoration works carried out during 2000–2001, initially, the debris that had accumulated due to collapse of the bastions was removed.

[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.