Dongri Fort

Mira-Bhayandar, Maharashtra, India

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Dongri Fort, locally called Janjira Dhavari Fort or Dharavi Fort, is situated in the Dongri area of Mira-Bhayandar, Maharashtra, near Mumbai.

It was originally built by the Portuguese around 1701 as part of their coastal defense network after conquering Vasai Fort and the northern Konkan coast. The Marathas, led by Chimaji Appa, captured Dongri Fort in 1737 after a brief conflict and regained it permanently in 1739, ending Portuguese control in the region.

The fort occupies a strategic hilltop position offering 360-degree views of the Arabian Sea, Vasai Fort, Sanjay Gandhi National Park, and nearby amusement parks. Despite being in ruins today, Dongri Fort remains a historic landmark with local maintenance efforts and an annual feast celebration of Our Lady of Fatima in October, drawing pilgrims from nearby villages. It stands as a testament to the layered history of Maratha and Portuguese power struggles around Mumbai.