Asava Fort

Maharashtra, India

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Asava Fort, also known as Asawa Fort, is a historic hill fort located near Boisar in Palghar district, Maharashtra.

Situated about 1,080 feet above sea level, it was originally built by the Bimba king of Mahikavati to protect trade routes connecting Dahanu and Tarapur ports to the hinterland. Over time, Asava Fort came under the control of the Gujarat Sultanate, then the Portuguese, who held it during Shivaji Maharaj's era.

Sambhaji Maharaj briefly recaptured the fort in 1683, but the Portuguese regained it until Chimaji Appa permanently took it over during the 1727 Vasai campaign. The British captured the fort in 1818. The fort features stone walls, bastions, cannons on wooden rails, and large water tanks carved from monolithic stones.

It is accessible via a medium-grade trek starting from nearby villages and offers scenic views of the Sahyadri mountain range. Asava Fort remains a lesser-known but historically significant site for history enthusiasts and trekkers.