The entry to the fort is over the fortifications which is built by stacking stones one over other. The cannons found on the fort are mounted on a wooden rail with wheels. There are two water tanks carved in the stone beside the cannons. On the south end of the fort; there is a huge, nicely built tank that is 50 ft long, 20 ft wide and 15 ft deep. The speciality of this tank is, one side of the tank is made of monolith plain stone and the remaining three sides are built by arranging stones. There are stairs carved on the westside wall of the tank. As the water runs down the slopes of inclining side of the tank; it passes through circular ditches carved; each 6 inch deep and 1 foot in diameter; so the sludge gets separated letting the clean water to accumulate in the tank. With the current bad condition of the tank; hardly any water is retained in the tank. After visiting the tank, walk towards the north and on the left side; there is the decrepit west-facing main entry door. In front of that doorway; one can see a wall. It belongs to stone- built water tank. Even though it is small in size; its structure arrangement is similar to that of the large tank; one side of monolith stone wall while other three sides built with stones. A small water-way(Char) is carved in the stone plain side of the tank. The water that comes from this small water-way; first fills a small stone tank built prior to the main tank. After the small stone tank overflows; then it fills the main tank. This arrangement makes sure that the sludge gets settled in the first tank and clean water is passed to the main tank. Some small steps are carved in the stone beside the tank. On the left side of the destroyed entry doorway; there is a narrow pathway to get down. On this path; there are remains of porches. Passing through the door way; towards left; there are remains of fort wall. Some steps are carved in the stone here. Continuing on this path; walking past a small stone patch, down the road; the path ends in a fork road leading into two different paths. The left one leads to the broken down idol of lord maruti and the right one leads to the 3 caves. After visiting the caves; return on the same path and arrive at top of the fort and the sighting is all done.
The Devakop lake of Palghar can be seen from the fort towards the south.
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Ways To Reach : |
On the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway, 92 km from Mumbai; there is Chilhar forkroad that leads to Boisar. 10 kms from this forkroad; there is a Varangade village that has the viraj factory. Going towards Viraj factory from Varangade village, just befor the factory; at the right( From Boisar to Chilhar Forkroad); is the road to baripada village. (At the start of the road; there is a mobile tower). The road is alongside the compound wall of the factory at 850 metres leads to the Baripada village; the base village of the fort. At the outskirts of the village, there is ground floor structured aanganwadi building on the left. Opposite this building(on the right side of Varangade-Baripada road), a cobbled rough road leads to the fort. In the rainy season, there is a small stream of water that needs to be crossed. The road to the fort is broad and very well used; but has an inclined climb. Advancing on this path one reaches fort in about 1 or 1 and half hour. |
Accommodation Facility : |
Nil |
Food Facility : |
Nil |
Drinking Water Facility : |
Available only till the month of February. |
Time To Reach : |
About 1.5 hrs from the base of the fort. |
Best Season To Visit : |
July to March |