Asheri fort

Asheri Fort
अशेरीगड
Palghar district, Maharashtra
Asheri fort from the highway
Asheri Fort
Coordinates	19°49′13.5″N 72°55′16″E
Typ	Hill fort
Height	1680 Ft.
Site information
Owner	Government of India
Open to the public	Yes
Condition	Ruins
Site history
Materials	Stone

Asheri Fort / Asheri is a fort located 102km from Mumbai and 88Km from Thane. It is in Palghar district, of Maharashtra. This fort is an important fort in Palghar district. The fort is located on the hills near Mendhavan Khind on Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway. The base village Khodkona is a very small tribal village. The Fort restoration is done by the local villagers.

History

This fort was built by the Bhojraja of Shilahara dynasty. This fort is about 800years old.It was ruled by Gujrat Sultanate. The Portuguese captain of Bassein, Antonio Moniz Barreto annexed the Asherigad in 1556, after bribing the Abyssinian captain who commanded the fort .The Manor Fort was captured later. This fort was the northern boundary of Portuguese territory. In 1737 this fort was conquered by the Maratha forces led by Chimaji Appa against Provincia do Norte, but it was reconquered in the counter-offensive by Antonio Cardim de Frois, the new General of the North. In February 1739 it fell definitely into the Maratha hands. In 1817 this fort went into the hands of British.

How to reach

The nearest town is Manor which is 80km from Thane. The Fort lies between mastan naka and Charoti naka. There are local rickshaws available from either nakas to reach the base village Khodkona खडकोना. There are good hotels at Mastan Naka and Charoti Naka. Now tea and snacks are also available in small hotels on the Highway. The trekking path starts from the hillock north of the Khodkona. The route is very safe and wide. There is a dense forest on the trekking route. It takes about an hour to reach the col below the fort hill. The narrow path climbing up on the eastern side of the hill leads to the entrance of the fort.The night stay on the fort can be made in the cave on the fort. The local villagers make night stay and food arrangements at a reasonable cost.

Places to see

There are nothing much structures to be seen on the fort,except for the rock cut pond , which is full of lotus flowers and a cave inhabited by a sadhu.

Gallery

• 
  Portuguese post of arms engraved in rock on the Fort
• 
  Rock cut stps on the fort
• 
  Vaghya dev tribal god
• 
  Forest below the fort

See also

• List of forts in Maharashtra
• List of forts in India
• Chimaji Appa
• Marathi People
• Battles involving the Maratha Empire
• Military history of India
• List of people involved in the Maratha Empire
• Military history of Bassein