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Standing as silent sentinels to history are the 350 odd hill, land and sea forts in Maharashtra, some date back more than 2000 years. All of these symbolise a glorious past and represent various dynasties- the Rashtrakutas, Satvahanas, Chalukyas, Shihars, Yadavas, Marathas etc.These forts were treated as mini-cities, such as Panhala, which is now a hill station. The concept of the fort-city was, however, not peculiar to Shivaji alone. The Portuguese who came to India as traders and missionaries, built within a century of their coming, Bassein, a garden city to rival many a European capital.

Today, these forts numbed by sun and sleet, have not only been witness to changing times, but have also shaped them and within their walls throb the heart-beat of history.

Located just 55 kms. (a 90 min. journey) away from Bombay, is Bassein, one of the most important sea forts of Maharashtra. The last bastion of the first sea-faring foreign power in India, the Portuguese. Built by Bahadur Shah -Sultan of Gujarat from 1526-1537, it was initially one of a chain of forts intended to guard the coasts against the Portuguese and pirates. The Portuguese however captured it and remodelled the fort, building a citadel inside.

Lavish builders, they created within its walls a garden city: 13 churches sprang up, 5 convents, a town hall, a customs house, governor's palace, stately abodes for the Fidalgos and their ladies...

At the beginning of the 17th c. Bassein became a flourishing ship-building centre and the famous Bassein stone was very much in demand. Its prosperity reached great heights and it was called the `Court of the North'. Bassein however fell into many hands.

The Marathas under Chimaji Appa -whose statue can be espied at Vasai today -laid siege to the fort. For three years the Portuguese held out. Over half the garrison died in defence. Commander Pereira made a desperate bid to escape. But on 12th May 

Devgiri, this fort served as the head quarters of the powerful Yadava rulers. The Yadavas built it in the 10th-11th c. A.D. They called it Deogiri (the hill of the gods). In the 13th century, Mohammed bin Tughlak, the Sultan of Delhi, made it his capital and renamed it Daulatabad, or City of Fortune.

One of the world's best preserved forts of medieval times, surviving virtually unaltered, Daulatabad still displays many of the internal contrivances that made it invincible. A series of secret, quizzical subterranean passages lie amidst the fort. Its defense systems comprised fortifications of double and even triple rows of massive walls. A fortress conquered only by treachery!

Relics of the past dot the place. A large gun -17 ft. long - with a ram's head designed at one end, lies atop a bastion. Nearby is another cannon equally mighty in its range, poetically referred to as the `Creator of Storms'. Ambarkot, the former township between the outer and inner walls holds the ruins of palaces, temples and mosques.

Daulatabad's majesty still lives. In little architectural marvels. The most notable structures at Daulatabad are the Chand Minar, Jami Masjid and royal palaces. The tapering 30-metre high tower of the Chand Minar is divided into four storeys, and was faced with glazed tiles and carved motifs. The Minar probably served as a prayer hall or a victory monument in its time. The Jami Masjid was a mosque built by the Khilji ruler of Delhi, Qutubuddin Mubarak. The palaces consist of spacious halls, pavilions and courtyards. The fort is open till 6 pm.

Weather: The tourist season extends almost through out the year in the Aurangabad region. April to July are the summer months which are fairly warm. The rainy season, from August to October is very pleasant, and the winter months, from November to March are the coolest.

Getting there: Aurangabad is the gateway to the region, and is generally where you would arrive or depart from. Aurangabad airport is conveniently located, around 10 kms east of the town, and is directly air-linked to Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur and Udaipur. By rail, Aurangabad is well connected to Mumbai and other cities. There are two trains that depart daily from Mumbai. 

At an altitude of 1,181 m. the tribal fort of Gavilgad stands, wreathed in mist and myths. Watching over the verdant mountainous countryside as it did right through the reign of the Gonds, Mughals and the Marathas. It was here as narrated in the Mahabharata that the mighty Bheema slayed the demon Kichaka and threw his body down the valley Kichaka Dara, now known as Chikhaldara.

Built by Gavlis or rulers from the shepherd community in the 12th/13th c., the fort was occupied by the mighty Gonds, the last of the sub-continental powers to fall to the Mughals. It was later fortified by Ahmad Shah I in 1425 A.D. The Duke of Wellington (then Col. Arthur Wellesley) wrested the fort for the British from the defending Maratha garrison here.

Today, the fort is under the Melghat Tiger Project. No trace of the dramatic battles remain. The fort walls and ramparts still stand, battered by ravages of war and weather. But there is no trace of the tunnel, reputedly linking it to the not-too-distant Gond fort at Narnala -well - preserved and definitely worth a visit. The gates, the Jama Masjid, smaller mosques and temples have defied time and are in a fairly good condition. A combination of fort tracks, paved roads, ramps and steps lead you from monument to monument. Also, several sources of water abound which are a blessing to the adventurous trekker.

Development plans for Gavilgad have been drawn up. These involve the repair of ramparts and some other construction, and the building of a road to the inner gate to improve access to the fort.

Getting There: Chikhaldara is conveniently connected by S.T. buses to Nagpur -also the nearest airport, 230 kms. away and Amravati the nearest railhead, 100 kms. away.

The famous pilgrimage place belong to the Maratha period, the capital town of the Siddis of Janjira, Murud is today popular for its alluring beach, whispering casurina, coconut and betel palms and an ancient fort. On a hillock to the north is the shrine of Lord Dattatreya, the three heads representing Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara. 

Battered on all four sides by sea waves, its strong walls yet standing intact and 40 feet high even at full tide is the majestic island fortress of the Siddis -- Murud-Janjira. Never conquered by an enemy for over 350 years since its construction by the Ahmednagar rulers under the supervision of their regent Malik Ambar in the 15th century, Murud-Janjira is probably the only impregnable fort on the 720 km Maharashtra coastline.

Neither the Portuguese nor the British could subjugate the fort. And the Marathas, despite their repeated attempts failed to subjugate the Siddi power. 

The palace of the Nawab and the Janjira Caves are also a must for the tourist. And just a few kilometres away are two undiscovered beaches: Nandgaon and Kashid. Nandgaon is famous for its Ganapati temple and the annual fair held in honour of ths elephant-headed god every February.

Getting There: Roha on the Konkan Railway is the nearest railhead. Mumbai is 165 kms by road. Another fun-filled route is by ferry from Mumbai to Rewas jetty, 90 minutes away and then by bus via Alibag and Chaul.

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