Shivaji extended the area of the fort by constructing three walls on the eastern side, each 36 metres high.

[4] In 1653, Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj captured this fort from Adil Shah of Bijapur and renamed it as "Vijay Durg".

The original name of the fort was "Gheria" and the first fortification appears to have been constructed in 1200 during the regime of Raja Bhoj II.

It was during his reign Kanhoji Angre alias Conajee Angria became admiral of naval army of the Marathas.

Putting her infant son on the Maratha throne styled as "Shivaji II", Tara Bai led successful operations against the Mughal from 1700 to 1707.

Taking advantage of the discomfiture of Shivaji's ruling house Kanhoji Angre became the most "Powerful and independent Naval Chief of West coast of India".

The Marathas were divided but ultimately Shahu won the right to the throne as Chhatrapati and Tarabai was retreated to rule a small area of Kolhapur under the name of his son Shivaji II in 1713.

[4] In the same year, Shahuji sent his Peshwa (Prime Minister), Balaji Vishwanath from his headquarters at Satara to negotiate with Kanhoji Angre.

In return Kanhoji was confirmed command of the Maratha fleet, and granted twenty-six forts and fortified places with their dependent villages.

[4] East India Company Admiral Watson 2000 men 250 cannons 500 British marines 20 British ships 500+ men Tulaji Angre arrested After the death of Kanhoji Angre, there were two short reigns by Sarfoji and Sambhaji.

In a brief span, he had surpassed the record of his predecessors in the number of English ships captured: Charlotte of Madras, William of Bombay, Svern of Bengal and, Darby, Restoration, Pilot, Augusta and Dadabhoi of Surat.

Nanasaheb could do nothing as long as Shahu was alive, but after his death in 1749, Peshwa was free to wreck his vengeance on Tulaji.

[6] After the death of Shahu, Peshwa was the next most influential ruler among the ones with huge armies and numerous land forts under his command or at his disposal under ownership of his vassals.

[7] He then entered the channel between the fort and the coast and fired on the eastern face as well as the main gate.

[8] Considerable damage had been caused inside the fort by the bombardment and the garrison, finding no hope of relief or reinforcements, surrendered.

The garrison was asked to surrender and in the absence of any response Clive landed his marines on 11 February 1756, entered and captured the fort.

250 pieces of cannons, stores and ammunition, 100,000 Rupees and 30,000 in valuable items fell into English hands.

[16][17] The cycle race between Chinmay (the lead character) and his friends to the fort lends the movie its title.

Some of the locals claim that Sir Joseph Norman Lockyer, a British scientist was observing a solar eclipse from this fort on 18 August 1868.

[20] On 20 October of the same year, English astronomer Norman Lockyer observed a yellow line in the solar spectrum.

[21] Norman Lockyer set up an observation post at the Vijaydurg Fort for the Solar eclipse of January 22, 1898.