Arnala Fort

Arnala Fort is a historic island fort located off the port town of Arnala in Palghar district, Maharashtra. Originally built in 1516 by Sultan Mahmud Begada and later rebuilt by the Marathas in 1737, it served as a strategic coastal defense point controlling navigation at the mouth of the Vaitarna River. The fort features an octagonal freshwater reservoir, temples, dargas, and surviving ramparts. It is a protected National Monument currently in a state of disrepair.

Visitors can expect to explore a ruined island fortress accessible only by commuter boat from Arnala village. The site contains external ramparts with a walkable path, a large octagonal water reservoir, temples dedicated to Ambakeshwar, Bhavani, and Shiva, and the dargas of Shah Ali and Hajji Ali. A separate Martello tower stands on the southern end of the island. The fort offers views of the Arabian Sea and Vaitarna River estuary but lacks maintained tourist facilities.

Originally constructed in 1516 by Gujarat Sultan Mahmud Begada, the fort was expanded by the Portuguese in 1530 to control Konkan shipping. Captured by Chimaji Appa for the Maratha Empire in 1737, it was rebuilt with ten bastions. The British seized it during the First Anglo-Maratha War in 1781 and permanently acquired it after the Third Anglo-Maratha War in 1817. It was declared a National Protected Monument on May 26, 1909.

The fort houses both Hindu temples (Ambakeshwar, Bhavani, Shiva) and Islamic dargas (Shah Ali, Hajji Ali), reflecting the syncretic cultural history of the region. The sacred paduka of Shrinity Anand are also preserved in a dome on the eastern face.