Karnala Fort, Medieval fort in Raigad district, Maharashtra, India

Karnala Fort is a medieval fortification in Raigad district, Maharashtra, spread across two levels and surrounded by dense forest. The most noticeable part of the site is a 125-foot basalt pillar called Pandu's Tower, which once served as a watchtower to monitor the surrounding valleys.

The fortification originated under Devagiri Yadav rule and changed hands over centuries among various powers including Tughlaq rulers, Gujarat Sultanate, Nizam Shah, Portuguese, Marathas, Mughals, and finally the British East India Company. Each of these powers left architectural marks that remain visible in the walls and structures today.

The Bhavani Temple stands at the foot of the fort, not at its base as sometimes stated. Local tradition holds that the goddess gave Chhatrapati Shivaji a sword with which he conquered a large territory. The fort's two inscriptions, one in Marathi on the inner side of the lower gate and one in Persian on the upper gate dated 1147 AH (1735 CE), belong to the fort gates, not to the temple.

Two trails reach the fort: the Karnala fort trail, 2.69 km from the base, and the shorter but steeper 1.20 km nature trail. The forest department has placed five resting places along the main path, and iron railings secure the final steps near the entrance. Avoid cooking at the base of the pinnacle, as smoke irritates the honey bees.

The fort's two inscriptions are often confused with the Bhavani Temple: the undated Marathi text is on the inner side of the lower gate, while the Persian one on the upper gate read "Syed Nuruddin Muhammad Khan, Hijri, 1147 AH (1735 CE)" before being removed by miscreants. The Marathi words are now indecipherable.