Kolaba Fort is situated in Alibaug of Maharashtra. It is another fort after the Khanderi fort where one has to use the boat to reach the fort. It is believed that this historic fort situated on the banks of Alibaug is the last fort built by the great Maratha warrior, Shivaji Maharaj before his death.
In the olden days, the Kolaba Fort was a small military outpost, but then there was big transformation, renovation, and consolidation made by Chhatrapati Shivaji. There are several temples where sculptures of animals like elephant and leopard are made on the walls.
To see the 3 centuries old fort at Alibaug one has to hire a boat during the high tide while during the low tides the fort can be reached by walking through the scenic views as the place is scarcely populated. Kolaba was a huge fort, whose reservoir and shrines still exist, but the large part of the fort was destroyed long ago. Its high bastions and the canons are still intact. The main door of the fort is on the east side and the carvings of animals and birds can be seen on the main door.
Kolaba fort's history is connected to the Maratha Navy. It was due to the efforts of the great Maratha "Sarkhel" or "Admiral" Kanho Ji Angre, was on top of its prowess and strength. The Janjira army and the Portuguese army tried to conquer the fort but never succeeded.
After the demise of the Kanhoji Angre and Sardji his successor, the Peshwa had to intervene in the dispute between two Angre brothers, Manazi and Sambhaji. The two brothers found the Mataji and the Northern Territory. The Peshwas always favored Manazi and as a consequence, there was a rise of Sambhaji’s men at Vijayaradurga’s successor, and hence Kolaba fort’s significance started to decline.
Considered as one of the most important forts of Maharashtra, the planned location has helped it to operate as a main naval station and a base point to launch attacks on the British army. Today, Kolaba fort is one of Mumbai's major tourist destinations. A lot of tourists come here every year. Because of its historical importance, the Kolaba Fort has been a nationally protected monument by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
Kolaba Fort, Alibaug Timings: 10:00 A.M to 6:00 P.M (3:00 P.M to 5:00 P.M preferred time)
Kolaba Fort, Alibaug Entry Fees: INR 5
