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{{Short description|Stone fort in Mumbai, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Mahim Fort
| native_name= माहीम किल्ला
| image = Mahim Fort 3.jpg
| caption = Mahim Fort
| former_names =
| map_type = Mumbai
| coordinates = {{coord|19.039848|72.837768|display=inline}}
| altitude = {{convert|1|m|0|abbr=on}}
| building_type = Fort
| architectural_style =
| structural_system = Deccan-trap basalt
| cost =
| location = [[Mahim]], [[Mumbai]]
| address =
| client = Portuguese
| owner = [[Government of Maharashtra]]<ref name="express" />
| current_tenants = Encroachments
| landlord =
| start_date =
| completion_date = 16th century
| inauguration_date =
| demolition_date =
| destruction_date =
| height =
| diameter =
| other_dimensions =
| floor_count =
| floor_area =
| main_contractor =
| architect =
| structural_engineer =
| services_engineer =
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}}
The '''Mahim Fort''' (Marathi: {{lang|mr|माहीम किल्ला}}) is a fort in [[Mahim]] in [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]] state, [[India]].<ref name="portal">{{cite web|url=http://www.mahim.com/et/epage45.htm|title=Mahim Portal|work=Mahim|publisher=Dataflow|access-date=2008-09-15}}</ref> Strategically located in the [[Mahim Bay]], the fort overlooks [[Worli]] to the south, [[Bandra]] to the north, and Mahim to the east. The origins of the fort are unclear, but it occupies a strategic location that has been frequently contested. The fort is currently in disrepair, suffering from administrative neglect, encroachment of slums, and exposure to tidal erosion.

==History==
In 1516, Portuguese commander [[Dom Joao de Monoy]] entered the [[Mahim Creek]] and defeated the commander of Mahim fort.<ref name="gazette">{{cite web|url=http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/pdf/gazeetter_reprint/Thane-II/histroy_portuguese.html#1|title=Section III - Portuguese|publisher=Thana District Gazetteer|access-date=2008-09-15}}</ref> The fort was the site of frequent skirmishes between the [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]] and a Gujarati ruler before the island of Mahim was appropriated from [[Bahadur Shah of Gujarat]] by the Portuguese in 1534. In 1661, the Portuguese ceded the island of Mahim as dowry to [[Charles II of England]]. After the English gained control of the fort, it was strengthened by Sir [[Thomas Grantham]] in 1684,<ref name="portal" /> and became a strategic watchtower against possible Portuguese attacks, and later from the [[Marathas]].<ref name="portal" />

In 1772, the Portuguese attempted to attack this fort, but they were repelled by the [[British Empire|British]] with cannonballs.<ref name="portal" /> The [[Mount Mary Church, Bandra|Mount Mary]]'s Basilica was damaged during this encounter. According to historical accounts, the fort had 100 soldiers and 30 cannons at that time.<ref name="portal" />

The fort was captured by the British during the [[First Anglo-Maratha War]].<ref name=Naravane>{{Cite book |last=Naravane |first=M.S. |title=Battles of the Honorourable East India Company |publisher=A.P.H. Publishing Corporation |year=2014 |isbn=9788131300343 |pages=61}}</ref>

==Encroachments==
The fort lies off the [[Mahim Causeway]] which links the suburbs to the city. The fort is heavily encroached by slums, and parts of the fort have caved in due to tidal erosion and neglect. Though the site is classified as a Grade I heritage structure, nothing much has been done to maintain it.<ref name="express">{{cite web|url=http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=46680|title=A fortress falls to monumental neglect|last=Sharan|first=Abhishek|date=2003-03-16|work=[[Indian Express]]|publisher=[[Express Group]]|access-date=2008-09-15}}{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Large boulders are strewn on the sand and crevices as high as three metres (fifteen feet) are visible. Responsibility of the fort is shuffled between the state government and the [[Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation]], although the fort lies of state government land.<ref name="express" /> In 2004, rupees five lakhs had to be returned as the encroachments were not removed by local authorities.<ref name="iex2">{{cite web|url=http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=80786|title=State is failing the caves: Jagmohan|last=Choudhury|first=Chitrangada|author2=Prarthana Gahitole|date=2004-04-05|work=[[Indian Express]]|publisher=[[Express Group]]|access-date=2008-09-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040529093048/http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=80786|archive-date=29 May 2004|url-status=dead}}</ref> Later, in 2008, [[Jairaj Phatak]], the Municipal Commissioner had proposed a makeover to the fort.<ref name="dna">{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1149217|title=Phatak proposes a beauty therapy|date=2008-02-05|work=[[Daily News and Analysis]]|publisher=Diligent Media Corporation Ltd.|access-date=2008-09-15}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Castella de Aguada 4.jpg
File:Mahim Fort 6.jpg
File:Mahim Fort 7.jpg
File:Mahim Fort 9.jpg
File:Mahim Fort 10.jpg
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[List of forts in Maharashtra]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commonscat}}
*[https://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/-/mahim-fort Mahim Fort on maharashtra Tourism website]

{{Tourist attractions in Mumbai}}
{{Forts and fortresses of the Portuguese empire|state=collapsed}}
{{Forts around Mumbai}}
{{Forts in Maharashtra}}
{{Forts in India}}

[[Category:Archaeological sites in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:History of Mumbai]]
[[Category:1516 in India]]
[[Category:1772 in India]]
[[Category:1534 establishments in the Portuguese Empire]]

Mahim Fort - Revision history

Bot at 01:23, 12 February 2022