The majority of the Mumbaikars know about the Madh-Marve beach on the Western Railway. Madh is a seaside town located about 12 km west of Malad railway station. Coconut orchards, bungalows, and the overall atmosphere make you feel like you are in Goa. There are a total of 4 forts in the Madh area, such as Madh Kot, Madh Fort, Erangal Buruj, and the bastion on Ambova Island. As there is no information available and the locals do not have much information, we should gather full information before visiting here. On the way from Malad to Madh, after entering the village, if you come by boat or from Andheri, you can see Madh Kot on the rocky hill near the beach in Koliwada on the right side and the left side respectively. Situated on a rocky hill, this Kot is on the verge of extinction. ... The locals know Madh Kot as Madi. Currently, the fort is being used as a toilet by the locals, so seeing the fort is a challenge. Considering the available remains of the fort, it was a warehouse and its appearance has changed due to the collapse of the protective walls around it. This fort must have been constructed to store the goods coming by water in the Madh area. The current height of the fort is 20 feet and its original height should be up to 30 feet. At present, the construction of this fort, which measures 80 x 140 feet and looks 20 feet high, has been done using stones, mud, and shells, while the construction on the corners seems to have used wrought stones. The special feature found in the construction of this fort is the square blocks in the wall or rooms. The interior has a seating arrangement parallel to the wall and also some space for storing goods. There is no accommodation or water supply inside the fort. This kot was not made for battles based on its overall structure. This kot should be used only for the collection of tax or storage of goods. The present condition of the fort is very pitiable and trees have grown on the walls. 10 minutes is enough to see the kot. The area was once part of the Portuguese-occupied North Konkan region. This area was known as Firangan in the Marathi language. Most of the forts in Firangana were built by the Portuguese. These forts had some special architectural style. Considering the history of Firangan, it can be seen that the Portuguese had constructed a bastion in some places and an outpost in some places. This fort was built by the Portuguese in the 16th century along with other forts in the Madh region. The main use of these warehouses and watchtowers, built by the Portuguese, was to supply the small and large forts in the province. Using all these small kots, watchtowers, and long-range cannons, the Portuguese established their empire in North Konkan. During the Vasai campaign of 1739, this area came under the control of the Marathas, and the Portuguese were wiped out from this area. Visitors to the fort are likely to be upset cause it's not exactly a fort, but if you want to see the Portuguese warehouse and its geographical importance, you can visit this place. Apart from this, there is a temple of Harbadevi on another hill in Madh village and some of its ancient idols are worth visiting.
© Suresh Nimbalkar