To visit Malji Kot, one must get down at either Naigaon or Vasai stations on the Western Railway local train route. Malji Kot is located approximately 19 km from Vasai station and around 15 km from Naigaon station, along the Mumbai–Ahmedabad highway. Since there is no available information about this fort and the local residents are also unaware of its history, it is advisable to gather complete information beforehand before visiting. While traveling from Naigaon, one passes through Maljipada settlement on the Mumbai–Ahmedabad highway. A newly built McDonald's restaurant and a Hindustan Petroleum petrol pump here serve as landmarks to easily locate the place. Behind this Maljipada settlement, on a small hill, stand the remains of Malji Kot, barely holding themselves together. ... While traveling toward Mumbai along the highway, the structure of Malji Kot can be seen on a hill to the right, near the road. The structure is quite small, and if traveling at high speed, it may even go unnoticed. The hill on which Malji Kot stands is about 150 feet high and takes roughly 20 minutes to climb. Due to the dense growth of shrubs on the hill, the remains are barely visible and difficult to identify. However, to the west, a rampart of about 3 feet in height is visible. Apart from this, the only remaining part of the fort is a single bastion. This bastion is constructed using roughly hewn stones and clay mortar. The presence of loopholes for muskets on the parapet clearly indicates that its primary purpose was defence and surveillance. The current height of the structure is about 20 feet, but based on the notches in the walls meant for wooden beams, its original height must have been around 30 feet. Inside the fort, there is no provision for living quarters, water storage, or supplies. However, pits dug inside, likely in the hope of discovering hidden treasure, are visible. From the overall construction, it appears that the fort was used to monitor transport routes along the creek and to safeguard the surrounding region. Since no historical records are available about this fort, it is known locally by the name of the nearby village—as Malji Kot or Malji Kot. The current state of the fort is quite poor, with vegetation growing on the walls. From the top of the bastion, one gets a panoramic view of the Ulhas Creek and the surrounding region, all the way to Kaman Durg in the distance. The architectural style of this fort matches Portuguese military construction, and it is believed to have been built by the Portuguese in the 16th century. The primary use of such forts was to provide logistical support and protection to other smaller forts in the region. By using small forts, watchtowers, and long-range cannons, the Portuguese had established their control over the maritime routes of North Konkan. After the capture of Vasai Fort in the campaign of 1739, this area came under the control of the Marathas. The fort is very small and can be fully explored in about 10 minutes. Visitors expecting a large fort may be disappointed. However, for those interested in understanding the geographical importance of a Portuguese surveillance post along an ancient maritime trade route, this location is certainly worth a visit.
© Suresh Nimbalkar