Information on Madh Fort (Mumbai, Maharashtra) - History & Architecture

Madh Fort is a beautiful Island fortress found on the Madh Island area in Mumbai. This is a colonial built fort and has vast importance in the Mumbai City for the Portuguese traders. It has much historical and cultural significance from the day it was built. This fort is now 294 years old standing great in this island all alone. It is located at Madh Island, Malad Town, Maharashtra State in India.

Madh Fort Architecture

Madh Fort is well placed on the creeks surrounded by the sea and the bay. It is around 15 KM far from the main land and makes it a remote fortress and unable to access easily. This fort is built for the purpose of having a vigil over the sea and as a defensive fort. The Portuguese has built this fort in the European model. This fort has got very thick walls laid on a stronger foundation to with stand the tides and erosions. These walls are well placed with many bastions all around these walls. These walls have many turrets for firing purposes. There are also many gaps left for look out purposes. On the top it has got well structured watch towers to have a vigil of its surroundings. On the inner side of this fort, there are many small and big structures built here. The big structures were meant to warehousing purpose. There is a separate strong block meant for artilleries and magazine purpose. It has many open places and these are surrounded with green vegetations.

Madh Fort History

Madh Fort is also called the Versorva Fort. This fortress is built in the year 1720 AD by the portages as a Vigil tower towards the Arabian Sea. This fortification also built to safe guard their colonial interest in India. This fort was built in the period of colonial conflicts within the colonialists. This was the peak of territory occupation dealt with the colonialist. As such this fort had always threats from the Maratha Kingdom locally and their counterpart the British East India Company (BEIC). But the Marathan Empire fought with the portages and captured this fort in the year 1732 AD. Meanwhile the BEIC requested the Maratha King to provide this fort as a base to Mumbai. A mutual understanding came between them with the agreement of Versova. In the year 1774 AD the Portuguese fought with the BEIC and took over this fort in their control. In those days to access this fort was very difficult due to its remoteness. All major conflicts took place in the night time since it was accessed in water. The well placed cannon also made it difficult for the intruders here. Very soon the freedom struggle of India started. The portages lost its importance in the India territory and were called off first by their empire country. The BEIC was the only colonialist to hold in India till the announcement of India's independence. This fort was very important for the development of these suburbs. Basically there were wisher man class lived here. This place became an important trade centre connecting the main port of Mumbai. Soon the Marathas too fade away with the British India occupation.

Many bolly wood movies and series maker put this fort as a backdrop to show Mumbai. It is also a good location for other film industries in India.

Madh Fort Tourism Importance

Madh Fort is a cool and silent place to be visited once in Mumbai. It is a great place to see the European architect and its past glory. It is the best place for history buffs and fort lovers to visit a cute island fortress.