Salher Fort

Salher, once called Gavalgarh, rises above Salher village in Satana tehsil of Nashik district, Maharashtra, close to the Gujarat border. At 1,567 metres it is the second highest peak in Maharashtra after Kalsubai and carries the highest fort in the Sahyadri range. The Marathas held it as a staging post, and wealth taken in the raids on Surat came here first before moving on to their capital forts.

In 1672 the Mughals attacked, and Shivaji sent Suryajirao Kakade, whose troops won the Battle of Salher in open, pitched combat on the plain. It was among the bloodiest clashes between the two powers and showed that the Marathas could beat the Mughals outside guerrilla warfare. After the victory they also took Mulher and controlled the Baglan region. The Peshwas later held the fort, followed by the British.