Bhavangad Fort

Bhavangad, or Bhavani Gad, stands at Saphale–Madhukar Nagar, 3 km from Kelve village in Palghar district. Chimaji Appa built it in 1737 with the help of 2,000 labourers to counter the Portuguese and prepare the Maratha attack on Bassein (Vasai), and it played a prominent part in that conquest. The British captured it in 1818. Much of the masonry was laid without lime, and the fort is now badly ruined.

Remains of bastions, walls and a cistern survive, and a temple of Bhavangadeshwar stands on the highest point. The citadel has a west-facing gomukhi entrance built with lime mortar; its arch has fallen, but the surrounding bastions and walls stand, with guard chambers inside. Past a second ruined gateway is a square rock-cut tank that holds plenty of water, with a platform built beside it by villagers. A walk around the walls takes about an hour.