| Fort Name : | Alphabetically | RangeWise | DistrictWise | CategoryWise | GradeWise |
| Ghotawada Fort (Gotara) | FortHeight : 1950 | ||
| Type : Hill forts | Fort Range : Ghotawada | ||
| District : Thane | Grade : Medium | ||
| This is one of the rare known forts in Thane district with different names to it i.e. Gotara, Gumtara, Ghotawada, Dugaad fort. On the Bhiwandi – Vajreshwari route from the Dugaad junction we can see a hill to the left on which the fort stands quietly ignored from our eyes. This fort must have been built to keep a watch on the Tansa river and surrounding area. After the era of Shivaji Maharaj this fort was hardly ever used which is why it remains ignored till dated. The entire hill has been covered by dense vegetation and the routes for access to the fort have been well hidden which makes it difficult to reach. Many structures might have been lost in this dense forest cover. The path to reach the fort can be accessed from the three base villages of Dugaad, Mohili and Usgaon. |
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| History : | |||
| This fort must have been existent since Shilahar era. Later during Maratha rule Shivaji Maharaj refurbished this fort. On 24th March 1737, during the campaign of Vasai, after leaving from Mahuli fort the Peshwas rested in the jungle at the base but due to absence of water they could not hold for long and thus had to move ahead. | |||
| Fascinating Spots : | |||
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| Reach Dugaad junction on the Bhiwandi-Vajreshwari route from here a road leads in to Dugaad base village. The path from here takes us to the fort in 2 hours after a steep and tiring ascend. Another route can be taken from Mohili village which is just before Dugaad. From Mohili a path crosses across fam lands for about 15 minutes and then the trails goes through a thick forest cover. This route will take 3 hours to reach the fort as it circumvents the mountain. There are two summit on the fort one at Dugad side and one at Mohili side and both are connected by a path. The citadel can be seem from the summit and can be accessed after a 15 mins steep walk. Here we reach at the entrance. We can also see the fortification wall alongside. The entrance is built in Gomukhi style and its bastions are still intact but its arch is in ruins. Many carved stones can be seen lying around. There is a dried water tank in front of the entrance. As we go to the right there is a group of 7 water tanks at a short distance. Of these tanks, only one tank holds water till February. On the path from the left side of the entrance there is bastion still standing in a good condition. On the lower side of this bastion there is path which leads to a stream which has water almost all year round. On the path back to the entrance there is stone covered in vermillion with carvings of a person with Trident and a Sword in hands. Besides this stone there are ruins of some structures. From the fort top we can see forts of Kamandurg, Takmakgad and Tungareshwar forest area. A third route to reach the fort is from Usgaon. The path from here circumvents the Usgaon dam and reaches a small waterfall patch alongside which a path leads us to the lower summit in an hour. There are two more summits as we move ahead. By this route it takes about 3 hours to reach the top most of the fort at the citadel. | |
| Ways To Reach : | |
| Via Dugaad:- Dugaad junction is 32 kms from Kalyan on the Bhiwandi – Vajreshwari route. From the junction Dugaad village is at 4 kms. Via Mohili:- while going to Dugaad from the junction there is road to the left going to Mohili village at 4 kms . Via Usgaon:- Usgaon is at 42 kms distance on Kalyan – Vajreshwari route. | |
| Accommodation Facility : | |
| Nil | |
| Food Facility : | |
| Available in Mohili village. | |
| Drinking Water Facility : | |
| Available in water tank on the fort till February. | |
| Time To Reach : | |
| 3 to 4 hrs from the base. |
| Marathi Version |