| Belapur Fort | |
|---|---|
| Belapur,Navi Mumbai, India | |
 Belapur Fort as seen from its base | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Hill Fort Land battery |
| Owner |
|
| Open to the public | No |
| Condition | Dilapidated |
| Location | |
 | |
| Coordinates | 19°00′20″N73°01′42″E / 19.005524°N 73.028403°E /19.005524; 73.028403 |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1570; 455 years ago (1570) |
| Architect | Shazada Wal jah bahadur |
| Materials | Basalt andLime mortar |
| Demolished | Partially demolished in 1817; 208 years ago (1817) |
Belapur Fort is a fort near the township ofBelapur inNavi Mumbai,Maharashtra,India. The fort was built by theSiddhis ofJanjira. It was later conquered by the Portuguese, and then Marathas. In the early 19th century, the fort was captured by the British. After the British gained supremacy in the region, with the expansion of theBombay Presidency, the strategic importance of the fort declined, and it fell into disuse.
Built by the Siddhi dynasty in the Navi Mumbai region, it is located atop ahillock, near the mouth of thePanvel Creek. In 1682, the fort was formerly annexed by the Portuguese, who had managed to defeat a revolt in the regions controlled by the Patkar family, the parganas "Cairena, Sabaio and Panchena", nearBelapur (at that time known asShabaz,Belaflor doSabaio in Portuguese).[1]
In 1737, theMarathas, led byChimaji Appa, wrested control of the fort from the Portuguese. He had made a vow that if it were to be successfully recaptured from the Portuguese, he would place a garland ofbeli leaves in a nearby Amruthaishwar temple, and after the victory the fort was christened as Belapur Fort. The Marathas ruled the area until 23 June 1817, when it was captured by Captain Charles Gray of theBritish East India Company. The British partially destroyed the fort under their policy of razing any Maratha stronghold in the area.[1]
During its active days, the fort stationed fourcompanies each of 180 men, and 14 guns ranging from 4–12 pounds (2–5 kg) in weight. A tunnel is also supposed to exist, which many locals believe connects it toGharapuri Island, the site of theElephanta Caves.[1]
The fort comes under the jurisdiction ofCity and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO). It lies in a dilapidated state. Plans are underway to renovate the fort which is in danger of being lost to encroachments. Residents have used theRight to Information Act to save the fort from dumping and debris. A pond in the vicinity that supplies water to the area is also in danger of being choked.[2] There is no renovation or restoration as per the given reference as of January 2018.
