Forts in Mumbai are some of the significant monument of city Mumbai. Mumbai is famous for its forts. Today, the remnants of old forts stands testament to the valour of warriors of Maratha Empire who put up a defiant and resolute opposition to often superior armies. The forts have stood witness to the tide of time. Its walls and gates still bear the scars of battles that were fought. The influence of foreign powers on these forts too can hardly be denied. Even to this day, the forts reverberate with the valour of the Maratha warriors.
Popular Forts in Mumbai
There are some popular forts in Mumbai and these are as follows:
Bandra Fort: Previously the fort is called "Castella de Aguada" located adjoining to Taj Lands End. Today there are small remains of 1640"s iconic stronghold which was built by Britishers at Bandra beach, not very far from the above listed worli fort.
Bassein (Vasai) Fort: The Bassein Fort is a fort near Vasai which is located just north of Mumbai on the mainland just north of the Mumbai. It was established by the Portuguese as the headquarters of their Indian operations in 1534 and centre of their operations until 1739.
Jivdani Fort: This is an old fort construction which is not much explored and visible from anywhere inside Virar location. Since stone mining is done at this place there is a half remained of mountain with this Old Fort remains. It is notably known as "Kala Ghar" by locals.
Dongri Fort: The Dongri Fort, like other forts in Mumbai, is in a decaying condition. It was built by the East India Company in the 17th century after evicting the original Koli tribe from the island. The Mumbadevi Temple of the Dongri Kolis has eventually given the city its name. The fort is very important in need of restoration and has been classified as endangered by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Korigad Fort: This fort dates back to 1500 years and is well-known in history as one of the many forts that were captured by Chhatrapati Shivaji. The fort is currently the site of the Mulshi Dam, which has led to the configuration of a beautiful lake at its base. It is situated on a hillock about 20 km away from Lonavla.
Madh Fort: Madh Fort (also called Versorva Fort) was probably built by the Portuguese as a watch tower. After it became obsolete, it became a training place for military cadets. It is located in Madh Island. Some Bollywood movies were shot at this location.
Mahim Fort: Mahim Fort was built by the first governor of Bombay, Gerald Aungier (1669-1677). It was part of the big Bombay Castle. It overlooks the Mahim Bay and Bandra to the north.
Karnala Fort: This wonderful construction that is now in ruins, used to overlook the Bor Pass, which used to be the main trade route between the Konkan coast and the centre of Maharashtra.
Mazagon Fort: Mazagaon Fort is a fort in Mumbai, in the Mazagaon area. Not much is known about this fort, though it was built by the British and was captured by Yadi Sakat of Janjira in 1689.
Riwa Fort: Riwa Fort (also Rewah Fort), locally known as Kala Qilla or Black Fort, is a fort in central Mumbai, on the banks of the Mithi River. The fort is currently in a dilapidated condition amidst the Dharavi slums. It was built by the first governor of Mumbai, Gerald Aungier (1669-1677). It was part of the larger Bombay Castle and marked the northern portion of British-held Bombay in the 17th century. The castle was also used as a watchtower, guarding the territory against the Portuguese-held (and later Maratha-held) Salsette Island.
Gawilgarh Fort: Gawilgarh Fort is pompously boasts of a mosque, which is decorated in Pathan architecture and stands tall at the highest point of the hill. This fort lies close to the Melghat Tiger Reserve in the Amaravati District.
Murud-Janjira Fort: Murud-Janjira fort as it appears up on the distance, while on the way from Mumbai. It graces the pages of history as the only fort that resisted all attacks by the British East India Company, the Dutch, and the Marathi. This fort is believed one of the strongest aquatic forts of India.
Rajmachi Fort: Located at a central to both Lonavla and Khandala, it is often a popular trekking purpose in the state. This protected monument is being promoted as a typical tourist purpose because of its simple hike route, beautiful beauty and historical significance.
Daulatabad Fort: Devagiri in Maharashtra that is also known as the Daulatabad Fort is a place of extraordinary strength. This was the mark where the king shifted the capital of the whole Tughlaq Dynasty from Delhi just for a space of two years.
Pratapgarh Fort: The Satara district of Maharashtra pompously houses the Pratapgarh Fort, which is also recognized as the Valour Fort. It draws in masses of visitors because of being the location of the Battle of Pratapgarh.
Sewri Fort: The Sewri Fort is a fort built by the British in Sewri in Mumbai (Bombay) in 1680 as a check post. Its ruins stand on a quarried hill, near the railway station. The fort was subsequently used to house prisoners and later became a Bombay Port Trust store. In 1769, Yadi Sakat of Janjira had conquered the Sewri and Mazagon Forts.
Sion Hillock Fort: The Sion Hillock Fort is a fort in Mumbai. The British Governor of Bombay Gerard Aungier atop a conical hillock built it. The hillock is situated a few metres from the Sion railway station. Sion was the boundary between British-held Parel Island and Portuguese held Salsette Island and the castle marked the northeast boundary of their possession. The fort was built between 1669 and 1677.
Worli Fort: The Worli Fort is an ancient British fort in Worli area in Mumbai. The fort, often mistakenly referred to as being built by the Portuguese, was actually built by the British around 1675. The fort, built on the Worli hill, overlooked the Mahim Bay at a time the city was made up of just seven islands.
Panhala Fort: Also recognized as the Panhalgad Fort, this place is well-known for being a home for a profusion of snakes. It was the home of the queen regent of Kohlapur state - Queen Tarabai.
Chakan Fort: This fort is also called Sangram Durg which is situated at Chakan newar Pune. The fort is home to the well-known temple of Shri Chakreswar, which pays a tribute to Lord Vishnu during the carvings that worship its walls.
Raigad Fort: The Raigad Fort is one more wonderful crown on the Sahyadri Range.
Kolaba Fort: It also is home to a Siddhivinayak Temple, built by Raghoji Angre. It is also known as the Alibag Fort.
