Ankai Fort

Ankai Fort stands in the Satmala hills of Yeola taluka, Nashik district, close to Manmad. Built by the Yadavas of Devagiri, it shares a single line of fortification with Tankai fort on the next hill. Ankai's hill has sheer scarps on every side except a narrow spur to the east. Shah Jahan's general Khan Khanan took it in 1635 by bribing the commander, the traveller Thevenot noted it as a stage between Surat and Aurangabad in 1665, the Marathas gained it in 1752, and the British in 1818.

At the foot of the hill are Jain caves on two levels. The upper five hold well-kept images of Mahavira, with carvings of a yaksha, Indrani and lotuses in the main cave, and are locked at night against vandalism. The climb starts on the hillock north of Ankai village, 10 km from Manmad, on a wide path with steps, taking about half an hour to the gate. Seeing both forts takes about three hours.