Malegaon fort

Malegaon Fort is a historic land fort situated in the town of Malegaon within the Nashik district of Maharashtra, India. Perched on the north bank of the Mausam River, a tributary of the Girna, the structure stands at an elevation of 1,437 feet. Constructed primarily from stone, the fort was commissioned in 1740 by Naro Shankar Raje Bahadur, a prominent general of the Peshwa during the Maratha Empire. The ambitious project required twenty-five years to complete, utilizing skilled craftsmen brought from Surat and northern India. These artisans eventually settled in the town, contributing to the local cultural fabric. The fort is also locally known as Raje Bahadur Wada and is located near the Ramsetu bridge along the Mumbai-Agra National Highway.

The site holds significant historical value due to its strategic role during the transition of power in India. After serving as a Maratha stronghold, it was besieged by the East India Company in May 1818, shortly before the fall of Trymbakgad. It subsequently came under British control, remaining so through the British Raj until Indian independence in 1947. Architecturally, the fort features massive walls approximately six feet thick and lofty entrance doors guarded by two cannons. The inner walls rise to a height of 60 feet, and the complex includes a distinctive hexagonal well. Today, the fort is in good condition and remains open to the public daily between 10 am and 5 pm. Uniquely, part of the premises currently houses a Marathi high school, blending educational use with historical preservation. Visitors typically require about an hour to explore the grounds and view its robust gates and bastions.