Grade: Simple
Location: Safale – Kelwe – Palghar region
Mode of Transport: Tumtum
Kelwe (Sea Fort): This fort is rectangular in shape (75ft long and 40ft in breadth) & from a distance the fort looks like a ship. At the western end of the fort we see a wall that separates a small part of the fort. The door used to exist but now in place one finds only a broken arch. On the left we can find a fresh water tank. The broken arch leads us into the balekilla which is like a huge watch tower 2 storeyed, but completely open and ruined.
Kelwe Fort : This fort was initially surrounded by sea, but is now on the coast due to reduced sea level. In 1739, The Marathas conquered this fort on 10th January in the “Campaign of Vasai”. The fort walls and entrances were buried under sand, until in 2008-09, a group of people under the group “Kille Vasai Mohim” cleaned up the sand and the entrances. Today, we have to enter crawling through the partially blocked entrance to the first level. Entering the second door we reach the backside of the fort. There are 4 amazing bastions on 4 sides, shaped triangular. These have windows and holes for guns. It takes less than an hour to see the fort.
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SHIRGAON FORT: Entrance thru the main darwaja at the north-eastern part of the fort. This fort resembles Muslim architecture with its dome shaped bastions. Just at the entrance on the right-side are inscriptions dating the origin of this fort to 1714 A.D. As we enter the fort, we find that most of the area is now in ruins. There are 5 bastions on the fort. Climb the dome-shaped, north-eastern bastion which is in good condition and overlooks the road. Walking on the ramparts we head to the bigger bastion which is on the north side. This bastion is also dome-shaped with 5 pillars and is in excellent condition. Both these bastions have small doors to enter and have about 5 pillars running in a semi-circular pattern. The bastion at the north-western end is broken. Check out the south eastern bastion which is open and does not have a dome. We then move towards the south-western bastion which is also in a broken condition. The area inside the fort between the north-west and south-west bastions houses 5 rooms which are open and in complete ruin condition. There are plenty of cells and tunnels inside the fort and most of them are secret ones and yet to be found. Some of the cells/rooms were used as godowns. Another important thing that we noticed was that there were no water tanks or wells in the fort. Quite strange! The sea water touches the fort on the western side.
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MAHIM FORT: In 1739, Chimaji Appa started his occupation on the fort and the area around. At that time there were just 60 soilders and 15 cannons on the fort.While on Medekot (small fortification/bastion made of wood), next to the fort, there was a Portuguese captian and 30 soilders. The Mahim fort entrance was supported by 2 pentagonal shaped bastions and the cannons were well placed on these bastions. These bastions are now completely broken and in ruins. Inspite of all this, the fort fell in the hands of the Marathas.
In 1818, the British won this fort, and they have described this fort with 10mtrs high fort walls and an approx area of 75 sq. mtrs. Till 1862, this fort was kept in extremely good condition. Even the collector of Thane district used to live in the fort premises. The Mahim fort used to be of strategic importance & in the olden days this fort used to be a major hub for all land and sea trade.
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SHIRGAON FORT: Entrance thru the main darwaja at the north-eastern part of the fort. This fort resembles Muslim architecture with its dome shaped bastions. Just at the entrance on the right-side are inscriptions dating the origin of this fort to 1714 A.D. As we enter the fort, we find that most of the area is now in ruins. There are 5 bastions on the fort. Climb the dome-shaped, north-eastern bastion which is in good condition and overlooks the road. Walking on the ramparts we head to the bigger bastion which is on the north side. This bastion is also dome-shaped with 5 pillars and is in excellent condition. Both these bastions have small doors to enter and have about 5 pillars running in a semi-circular pattern. The bastion at the north-western end is broken. Check out the south eastern bastion which is open and does not have a dome. We then move towards the south-western bastion which is also in a broken condition. The area inside the fort between the north-west and south-west bastions houses 5 rooms which are open and in complete ruin condition. There are plenty of cells and tunnels inside the fort and most of them are secret ones and yet to be found. Some of the cells/rooms were used as godowns. Another important thing that we noticed was that there were no water tanks or wells in the fort. Quite strange! The sea water touches the fort on the western side.
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MAHIM FORT: In 1739, Chimaji Appa started his occupation on the fort and the area around. At that time there were just 60 soilders and 15 cannons on the fort.While on Medekot (small fortification/bastion made of wood), next to the fort, there was a Portuguese captian and 30 soilders. The Mahim fort entrance was supported by 2 pentagonal shaped bastions and the cannons were well placed on these bastions. These bastions are now completely broken and in ruins. Inspite of all this, the fort fell in the hands of the Marathas.
In 1818, the British won this fort, and they have described this fort with 10mtrs high fort walls and an approx area of 75 sq. mtrs. Till 1862, this fort was kept in extremely good condition. Even the collector of Thane district used to live in the fort premises. The Mahim fort used to be of strategic importance & in the olden days this fort used to be a major hub for all land and sea trade.
Bhavangad Fort:The Bhawangad fort is located in Palghar taluka in Thane district. It is blessed by a unique combination of history, geography and nature. It was built by Chimaji Appa, the great Maratha warrior in the 4th decade of the 18 th century. The local people call this fort as BHONGAD. Today the fort is in a very bad state. After 1818, nobody took care of the fort. During the British regime, inspite of taking care, they ransacked and destroyed the entire fort.
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Itinerary Details: -
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Itinerary Details: -
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SUNDAY 11 MAY 2014
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Meeting point : Safale Railway Station
The CHURCHGATE – DAHANU local train timings are given as below: – Its a FAST local
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Meeting point : Safale Railway Station
The CHURCHGATE – DAHANU local train timings are given as below: – Its a FAST local
Churchgate : 05:24 Hrs
Dadar : 05:41 Hrs
Andheri : 05:55 Hrs
Borivali : 06:09 Hrs
Borivali : 06:09 Hrs
Vasai : 06:34 Hrs
Virar : 06:46 Hrs
Safale : 07:03 Hrs
People coming from Thane-Dombivali-Kalyan can catch Dombivali-Boisar shuttle:-
Dombivali : 05:43 Hrs
Vasai : 06:35 Hrs
Virar : 07:04 Hrs
Safale : 07:24 Hrs
Our tour will go on visiting Dativare - Bhawangad-Danda fort- Kelve Custom Fort Part-1 –Portuguese warehouse – Church – Kelve Custom Part-2 – Kelve Sea fort – Shitla Devi temple- Kelve land fort – Mahim Fort – Shirgao – If time permits we will visit Manor Fort also located at Manor Tekdi.
(Above schedule is only for informative purpose. Leader of the trek may change the above schedule.)
We will wind up our tour by 06.00 PM as we have to Catch 06.10 Fast Local at Palghar to Churchgate. We will return Mumbai by 08.00 PM (Time is subjective).
The Estimated expenditure is about Rs. 500 / – per head
This includes Full day Local Transportation from Safale & Back 2 Palghar/Safale ; Morning Breakfast + Tea, LUNCH & Evening Tea.
Things To Carry: -
Pls do carry A Water Bottle (~2 liters a must)
Return ticket up to Palghar
Return ticket up to Palghar
Camera, Cell Phone (Optional)
Pls avoid wearing Gold and other ornaments
Some ready to eat food. Plum cakes, Biscuits etc.
Medicine those if u require usually (Optional)
Pls avoid wearing Gold and other ornaments
Some ready to eat food. Plum cakes, Biscuits etc.
Medicine those if u require usually (Optional)
A haversack to put all these things
For any Clarification and further information call on
Kumar Gaudse : 9870577761 / 9930252241.
