Siddhagad Fort

Siddhagad Fort is a historic hill fort located in the Murbad taluka of Thane district, Maharashtra, standing at an altitude of approximately 980 meters. Built in 1656 by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, it is historically significant as the site where freedom fighter Veer Bhai Kotwal was killed by British officials in 1943. The fort features semi-ruined structures, rock-cut steps, caves, and a memorial dedicated to independence fighters within the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary.

Visitors can expect a moderately challenging trek through dense forests of the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary leading to a prismatic mountain citadel. At the summit, there are ruins of bastions, water tanks, stone relics, and a cave midway up the balekilla. A memorial honors freedom fighters Veer Bhai Kotwal and Hiraji Patil. The fort offers panoramic views of Gorakhgad, Machindragad, and the surrounding Western Ghats, along with seasonal waterfalls.

Built in 1656 by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Siddhagad is noted for its role in the Indian independence movement. On January 2, 1943, revolutionary Veer Bhai Kotwal and Hiraji Patil were assassinated here by British police officer DSP R. Hall while operating the underground 'Kotwal Dasta' that sabotaged electricity pylons supplying Mumbai. The British captured the fort in 1818 using cannons positioned on the higher adjacent Dhamdhamicha Dongar.

The fort serves as a memorial site for India's freedom struggle, specifically honoring the sacrifice of Veer Bhai Kotwal and his associates who formed a parallel government in the Karjat region during the Quit India Movement.