For history buffs and people who love exploring old structures there are a lot of things in store if you are in Mumbai. The city does have a fair amount of ancient structures, architectures and formations here which would be too interesting to explore. If you are ever visiting Mumbai then you need to surely check out the forts there. One such important fort here is the Vasai Fort. The Vasai Fort Mumbai is old and much of the fort is also in ruins today. But even then this is still a popular sightseeing spot in the city. If you are visiting here you must visit this fort to know about the history of power struggles surrounding this fort.
Keep on reading this article as I will mention everything that you probably need to know about the Vasai Fort. This will be a helpful read for you if you are planning a trip to this fort in Mumbai.
Vasai Fort Mumbai
Location: Killa Road, Police Colony, Vasai West, Vasai, Maharashtra
Location on Google Map :
Timings: The Vasai Fort timings are from 6 am to 6 pm
Vasai Fort entry fee: There are no tickets required to enter in this fort.
How to reach
By air
If you are travelling by air then the nearest airport to reach the Vasai Fort is the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai. From the airport the fort is about 48 km away and it would take about 1 and half hours of time to reach there. You will have to take a cab or hire a car to reach the fort from the airport.
By train
The major railway stations to reach the Vasai Fort are the Chhatrapati Shivaji Railway Station and the Mumbai Central Railway Station. From the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus the fort is located at a distance of 76.9 km. And from Mumbai Central Railway Station the fort is located at a distance of 78.4 km. From both the stations it would take more than 2 hours to reach the fort. Also in the case of suburban railway stations, Vasai Station is the nearest railway station. Vasai station to Vasai Fort distance is about 10.3 km and you can reach there in about 29 minutes. You can easily take an auto rickshaw from the station to reach the fort easily. Or you can take a cab or hire a car to reach there as well.
By road
You can get regular buses from major cities and towns to reach Mumbai and the nearest major bus stop is the Mumbai Central Bus Depot located about 75 km away from the fort. You can also take your own vehicle or take a cab or hire a car to reach the fort from various parts of the city and outside as well. The roadways in Mumbai are well connected so reaching the fort by road would not be a hassle. If you are travelling within the city then you can opt for buses or opt for local transport like auto rickshaws as well to reach the fort conveniently.
Best time to visit
You can visit the fort anytime of the year but to enjoy the fort at its best it would be ideal to visit there during winter months. From October to March the weather in Mumbai is usually the best. So if you are visiting here during that time of the year you will be able to enjoy the ambience well. Also it would be comfortable as the weather will be comfortable with temperatures on the cooler side. As the ideal time of the day it would be ideal to visit here early in the morning. Or else you can also visit here during the evening before the fort closes. These are the ideal times to explore the location. Also as the fort is located in a secluded area it would not be ideal to visit here after it gets dark. So plan your trip here accordingly.
Overview of Vasai Fort
Vasai Fort or Bassein Fort is a 500 year old Portuguese Fort located near Vasai Virar. This is a quaint fort located at a beautiful location where the sea protects the fort from all three sides. For about two centuries this fort was the centre of power under Portuguese rule. Later in the century the fort was under the control of the Marathas. However the main aim behind the construction of this fort was to store warfare materials. Also the soldiers used to stay here as well and the fort was a city in itself. It also had facilities like churches, administrative blocks, and hospitals inside its premises. The Portuguese used this fort as a base in controlling the whole Mumbai and beyond.
Furthermore there were strong and impenetrable walls of this fort as well. Other than being the military base, the fort also served as the official residence of the Governor of Portugal whenever he used to visit here. At present this is one of the most popular sightseeing spots in the city. Moreover because of the beauty of this fort it also serves as a popular location for film shootings as well. It is also a popular landmark for the city along with being a location for heritage walks. The Archaeological Survey of India currently restores and takes care of this fort. For nature lovers this can be a great spot to visit, so make sure you visit here.
Vasai Fort History
The construction of the Vasai or Bassein Fort started long back in the 1530s. During that time the Sultan of Gujarat was Bahadur Shah who was ruling the area during that time. In 1534 he lost the control to the Portuguese governor Nuno da Cunha. It was then that he started building this fort city and developed the fort with further fortifications. Later in the time the brother of Peshwa Bajirao, Chimaji Appa and his Maratha army took over the fort in the 18th century. But the power did not stay with them for very long and it was short lived. Soon the British attacked the fort and took control of the fort under them.
Architecture of Vasai Fort Mumbai
At present major sections of this particular fort are in ruins already. However that in itself gives the fort a beautiful old world charm. Along with that you can also understand how the fort was back in the days by noticing whatever is left today. The fort offers a beautiful landscape as well, as the sea surrounds it on all three sides. On one side there is the land where the entrance gate is located. After entering from the land side gate you will enter the front courtyard of the fort.
In spite of major portions of the fort being in ruins there are still a few arches that have passed the test of time. Also you will be able to see some facades here which were persevered later on. One of the most important features of this fort is also the presence of three churches inside the fort premises. The architecture of these churches reflects the architectural style of old Portuguese churches. Along with that there are also some watchtowers here inside the fort. The watchtowers were built here majorly for the purpose of observing the surrounding villages and the Vasai Creek.
Things to do at Vasai Fort
Exploring the ruins
This is the ideal location in case you want to explore the historical ruins. You would also get a fair idea on how the area was at one point of time. Moreover this is the ideal location to visit for a history buff as well. You can make your way through the overgrown bushes here and walk through the blocks. Check out the expansive fields, the walls, watchtowers which are in ruins etc. The location also packs a long history of various rules and rulers like the Portuguese, Marathas and British. All of these get reflected here and it would be exciting to explore for sure. However for adventurers there is an underground tunnel here also that you can check out.
Visit the churches
This fort houses three churches within its fortified walls. These are Saint Joseph’s Church, Holy Name of Jesus Christ and the Franciscan Church of Saint Anthony. At present only the Holy Name of Jesus Church is used for prayers. But you can walk up to all the churches and explore them here.
Enjoy the views
You can enjoy a beautiful view of the Mumbai skyline from here and that is one of the most interesting things to explore here as well. You can trek up to the Vasai Fort or climb the steps to reach the top of the watchtowers. There the location would offer you beautiful views of the fort and the beach surrounding it, the skyline of Mumbai and more. Vasai Fort for couples is also an ideal location as it can be romantic to visit here with your partner.
Photography
This is an ideal location for photographs as everywhere you will find beauty here. It is also a popular location for film shootings and professional photoshoots as well. A lot of times various pre wedding shoots and other portfolio shoots take place here. Or if you are someone who loves clicking photos of nature and its beauty then you need to visit here too. If you are someone who loves clicking their own photographs or selfies then also you will find a lot of beautiful backdrops here for stunning photographs.
Heritage Walks
This is one of the most important activities that you can enjoy in the fort. Local groups from the Vasai village organize these walks and a lot of people take part in this too. After taking part in this activity you would get to learn a lot about various styles of architecture and also get an idea about various inscriptions on the wall. It would be extremely interesting to enjoy the activity at a location like this.
Wrapping Up!
So that was all about the Vasai Fort and now you need to plan a visit there as soon as you can. Let me know if this article on the fort is helpful for you in planning a trip to this location.
