Asheri Fort

Asheri Fort sits on hills near Mendhavan Khind beside the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway in Palghar district, about 102 km from Mumbai. The tribal village of Khodkona lies at its foot, and villagers have carried out restoration themselves. The fort is around 800 years old and is credited to the Shilahara king Bhojraja.

It passed through many hands: Bimb Raja of Mahim took it from the Kolis, the Gujarat Sultanate held it, and in 1556 the Portuguese captain of Bassein acquired it by bribing its commander. It marked the northern edge of Portuguese territory and served as the centre of 38 villages and 6 parishes, supplied by twenty cisterns and two ponds. The Marathas under Chimaji Appa took it in 1737, lost it, and won it for good in 1739, before Captain Dickinson captured it for the British in 1818. Rickshaws run to the base village from Mastan Naka and Charoti Naka, on either side of the fort, and the nearest town is Manor.