Located 77 km from Mumbai, this grandiose structure reflecting history and majesty, was built by Bahadur Shah, the erstwhile Sultan of Gujarat, during 1526-1537. The fort is fronted by a harbour, with scenic views of the blue waters of the Arabian Sea. The purpose of building this fort was to guard the coast against foreign powers. Ironically, the fort not only fell to a foreign power, but went on to become a power centre of their colonial rule. It was an edifice of the Portuguese rule in India.

Today, the Bassein Fort reveals tomorrow’s exotic date with the past. Also known as Vasai Fort, it has Portuguese architectural influence written on its walls. The Portuguese owned this fort once upon a time, who in turn converted this fort into a sprawling city. The fort reflected the Portuguese power and control over western India.

However, though fort has a strong Portuguese influence, a chain of rulers had control over this place. In 1739, the fort fell to a Maratha campaign. After the Portuguese, the Marathas captured this fort and then finally the British. The fort was utilised to construct ships. But today all you will find here are the ruins of this rich past. Today its peaceful and calm surroundings make it a perfect place to enjoy some time of solitude, with resonance of history echoing through its old ramparts.

In spite of much of it being in ruins, the Bassein Fort is very appealing and has a certain old world charm to it. The place is filled with ruins of the various buildings which once adorned the fort. But still you can make out the various structures even today, many of which have well-preserved facades. Few of these structures are still covered with beautiful designs while some others have worn out. The fort has three ceilings. It is great fun to explore the remnants of the fort, which transports you back in time. It is an ideal place for all the adventure seekers. You will also find remnants of an age old church here. The picturesque locales of the fort make it a favourite place for shooting movies.

The fort is surrounded by quiet greenery on all sides and you can find pretty butterflies and flowers here. Many other places of interest are found in the vicinity of the Bassein Fort. The Vajreshwari Temple is placed close by and is accessible by bus. The Akoli hot springs also are very famous. You can also visit the Nalasopara village where Buddhist remnants are seen.

The Bassein Fort, located somewhere on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway, is within reach from all parts f the city. The Vasai Road railway station is placed very close to the fort. From there, you can hail a cab or an auto rickshaw to reach the fort.