Songir Fort

Songir Fort, also known as Suvarnagiri or Survangiri, is a historic hill fort located in Songir village, Dhule district, Maharashtra. Situated at an elevation of approximately 304 meters, it occupies a narrow ridge along the ancient Surat-Burhanpur trade route. The fort changed hands among the Yadavas, Farooqui Sultans, Mughals, Marathas, and British between the 12th century and 1818. Today, only ruins remain, including a gateway, bastions, and a stepped well.

Visitors can expect a short climb of about 20 to 30 minutes via cemented steps to reach the fort summit. At the top, they will find the remains of an east-facing gateway with carved stone pillars, square and circular black-stone bastions, and a large rectangular stepped well known as Sasu-Sunechi Vihir. The fort plateau stretches roughly 1,200 feet in length and offers views of the surrounding highways and Dongargaon Dam. Most structures are in a ruined state with little vegetation.

Traditionally attributed to Yadava King Ugrasen in the 12th century, Songir Fort was captured by Malik Raja of the Farooqui dynasty in 1370 CE. It passed to Mughal control in 1601, to the Marathas in 1752 via the Treaty of Bhalki, and finally to the British in 1818. The fort served as a strategic guardian of the Surat-Burhanpur trade route for over 700 years under six successive ruling powers.

The fort site includes the shrine of Sati Asara Devi, which holds local religious significance. A Sanskrit inscription slab that once stood at the fort gate is now preserved at the V.K. Rajwade Research Center in Dhule, representing the region's epigraphical heritage.