Asheri Garh Fort

The Portuguese captured this fort in the year 1556 AD and converted it as a head quarter of thirty-eight suburbs and six church communities.The main purpose was to protect the rice producing area of Bassein from marauders.

In the forest at the base of the hill was a Koli settlement named Varanipur, which was strengthened by a Portuguese stockade armed with three guns. The hill was so steep that the ascent was generally made barefoot or with the help of ropes. On the way up there were thirteen passes, of which the four chief were known as the Gate Pass, the Evening Pass, the Prabhu Pass, and the Cow Pass. The main line of approach was through a pass named Salada. Beyond Salada a footpath ran through a very narrow and steep defile called the pass of Good Hope, because one slip would dash the climber to pieces. At the top of the defile the gate was entered through a cave from which a staircase of seventy steps led to the top of the rock where was another strong gate guarded by four Portuguese families. Inside of this was a second fortified door armed with two falcons.

The top of the hill, which was 1600 paces longer than it was wide, was large enough to give room for breeding cattle, pigs and sheep. It commanded a view of the country round and the sea could be seen in the far west. The rock was not fortified, but round the edge large stones were piled ready to be hurled on any attacking force. On the top were twenty water cisterns and two reservoirs. The garrison, which was chiefly composed of pardoned criminals, numbered about 700, including women and children.