Alibaug is known as the capital of Sarkhel Kanhoji Angre, the chief of the Maratha Navy. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj laid the foundation during the formation of Hindu Swaraj, while Sarkhel Kanhoji Angre marked the climax of the Navy of the Marathas. Kanhoji Angre repelled many attacks by the British and Portuguese and protected the Marathi kingdom built by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Chatribag is a monument that preserves the last memory of the great warrior Sarkhel Kanhoji Angre. Alibaug is at a distance of just 110 km from Mumbai by road. Alibaug can be reached in one and a half hours by boat from the Gateway of India, while Panvel-Pen-Alibaug is about three hours by road. Alibaug can also be reached by Panvel-Pen railway. On reaching Alibaug city, 5 minutes away from Alibaug ST stand there is Sarkhel Kanhoji Angre's Samadhi in Chatribag at Thukrali Naka, on the road leading to the market. ... The interior of the memorial is octagonal and the carvings on the pillars are amazing. Adjacent to the memorial is a newly erected magnificent statue of Kanhoji Angre. This garden belongs to the Angre period and in this garden there are twenty-two stone memorials and Vrindavan built in the memory of men and women of the Angre dynasty. But the carvings on the stones are amazing. Near the main memorial of Sarkhel Kanhoji Angre is the memorial of Mathura Bai Angre, eldest wife of Kanhoji Angre and mother of Sarkhel Sekhoji Angre and Sambhaji Angre. Apart from this, Manaji Angre's memorial is also said to be here, but as there is no such plaque here, it is difficult to tell whose memorial belongs to whom. After these three memorials, you can see the memorials of 19 more members of his family here. There is a well in Chatribag and the entire ancient structure has been renovated. The Archeology Department has completed the work on some memorials of the Angre family in this area while the work on some of it has been left incomplete. A wall has been fenced around the memorial site on three sides but the rear side has not been fenced. Alibaug is the birthplace of Sarkhel Kanhoji Angre. Kanhoji Angre was the son of Tukoji. Kanhoji had three wives Mathura Bai, Lakshmi Bai and Gahinabai. Kanhoji and Mathura Bai had two sons Sekhoji and Sambhaji, two sons Manaji and Tukoji from Lakshmi Bai and two sons Yesaji and Dhodji from Gahinabai. He also finds mention of having a daughter named Laibai. Sekhoji Angre had three sons Tukoji, Rayaji, and Mawji. An inscription mentions that Kanhoji Angre's wife Lakshmi Bai built a Deepmal at Srikshetra Alandi. He died on 4th July 1729 AD. This day of his death anniversary is celebrated as Daryawardi Day. If you come to Alibaug, don't forget to come to Chatribag and pay your respects to this hero who guarded the sea of Marathas and is known as “Samudravaril Shivaji”(Shivaji of the sea)
© Suresh Nimbalkar