Asheri Fort

Asheri Fort, also known as Asherigad, is a historic hill fort situated in the Palghar district of Maharashtra, India. Standing at an elevation of 1,680 feet, the stone structure is located near Mendhavan Khind on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway, approximately 102 kilometers from Mumbai and 88 kilometers from Thane. Built roughly 800 years ago by Bhojraja of the Shilahara dynasty, the fort features a simple architectural style characteristic of regional military installations, with rock-cut steps and water cisterns carved directly into the landscape. Although currently in a state of ruins, the site remains owned by the Government of India and is open to the public, with ongoing restoration efforts supported by local villagers from the base village of Khodkona.

The fort holds significant historical value due to its strategic role as the northern boundary of Portuguese territory in India. In 1556, the Portuguese captain Antonio Moniz Barreto annexed the fort after bribing its Abyssinian commander, subsequently establishing it as the capital for 38 villages and six parishes. The site changed hands multiple times during colonial conflicts, including battles between the Maratha forces led by Chimaji Appa and Portuguese generals in the 1730s, before finally falling to the British East India Company in 1818 under Captain Dickinson. Today, visitors can explore remnants of this turbulent past, including a Portuguese coat of arms engraved in rock, a lotus-filled rock-cut pond, and a cave inhabited by a sadhu. Accessible via a safe trekking path through dense forests, the fort offers a glimpse into centuries of military and cultural history while serving as a popular destination for trekkers and history enthusiasts.