Visited This Fort In Navi Mumbai Which Is Rumoured To Have A Secret Tunnel To Elephanta Caves?

Many people don’t realise this but Mumbai and the metropolitan region has a number of beautiful forts hidden in plain sight. Bandra Fort is famous, however there are many forts like Sion, Vasai, Riwa, Sweri and more that have basically been more or less ignored by the public. For all you history buffs out there who love to explore the ancient, check out the beautiful Belapur Fort in Navi Mumbai.

 

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Located near the township of Belapur in Mumbai, the now overrun fort was built by the Siddis of Janjira in 1560–1570. The fort had many masters, it was conquered by the Portuguese in 1682. Later on, the Marathas launched a campaign to wrest control of it led by Chimaji Appa. He vowed one day that when he conquered the fort, he would place  a garland of beli leaves in the nearby Amrutheshwara Temple. Once the Marathas conquered the fort, it was renamed Belpaur after the beli leaves.

belapur

Image Courtesy: Twitter/@micnewdelhi
The fort was captured by the British East India Company in 1817 and was partially razed to the ground, as the British had a policy of destroying any Maratha stronghold in the region. According to the locals, the fort has a mystery hidden deep underneath it. It is rumoured that under the fort, there exists a tunnel that connects the fort to Gharapuri Island, where Elephanta Caves are located.

 

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At the moment, not much has been done to restore the fort. It is currently an unprotected monument under C.I.D.C.O.

Also Read: 6 Best Holi 2024 Parties In Mumbai: Where Celebration Meets Colors, Dance, Music, And Fun!


The fort still makes for a beautiful destination to visit and click pics. If you happen to take a trip there, don't forget to carry your camera and tag @whats_hot_mumbai in your adventures.

Cover Image Courtesy: Twitter/@micnewdelhi

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