About Shirgaon Fort
Shirgaon Fort is a historic coastal fort located in Shirgaon village, Palghar district, Maharashtra, situated adjacent to Shirgaon Beach. Originally built in 1225 AD by the Yadava dynasty, it was later controlled by the Portuguese, Marathas, and British. The fort stands approximately 200 feet tall and features well-preserved masonry walls, bastions, hidden caves, and a historic cannon. It served as a strategic watchpoint for monitoring Arabian Sea maritime activity.
Visitors guide
Visitors can explore the ruins of a 13th-century coastal fort with solid masonry walls, parapets, and bastions in relatively good condition. The site offers panoramic views of the Arabian Sea and surrounding palm groves. Notable features include a five-foot cannon on the northwest citadel, hidden caves within the fort walls, and a rare multi-branched palm tree. The terrain is uneven in places, and the fort is open for daytime exploration without an official entry fee.
Key highlights
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13th-century coastal fort originally built by Yadava dynasty in 1225 AD
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Well-preserved outer walls, bastions, and parapets in solid masonry
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Five-foot historic cannon marking past battles on northwest citadel
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Hidden caves embedded within the fort walls
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Panoramic views of Arabian Sea and Shirgaon Beach
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Rare palm tree with six to seven branches
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Strategic Maratha watchpoint for monitoring enemy naval movements
History of Shirgaon Fort
Built in 1225 AD by the Yadava dynasty of Devgiri, Shirgaon Fort passed through Gujarati Muslim rulers (1432), Bahamani Dynasty, Ahmednagar Sultanate, and Portuguese control (1594). The Marathas captured it on 22 January 1739 after the siege of Vasai Fort and repaired it in 1772. Chhatrapati Shivaji used it to monitor enemies approaching via the Arabian Sea. The British captured the fort in 1818.
Route
| By air | Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai, approximately two hours drive from Palghar |
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