Fort Vasai, Portuguese colonial fort in Palghar district, India.

Fort Vasai, formally Fortaleza de San Sebastião, is a ruined fort near the coast in Palghar district, Maharashtra. Its dark grey stone walls, built of rectangular blocks, are flanked by rounded cylindrical towers and pierced by an arched gateway that opens onto a dark passage with a metal gate. Ten bastions once carried cannon; inside are the remains of three churches, a hospital, a prison and a court.

The fort was established in the 16th century as a military construction project and served for centuries as a key Portuguese administrative center. Maratha forces took control in 1739 after an extended siege period.

The churches and residential buildings inside show how European settlers lived and built their homes in India. Walking through, you notice how they constructed thick-walled structures and placed churches at the center of their community.

The site is best explored on foot since the fortification is relatively compact in layout. Bring sturdy footwear because the ground is uneven in places and can be slippery in certain areas.

The Marathas renamed the ten bastions after capturing the fort in 1739. During the siege, the St Sebastian bastion was reportedly blown up with gunpowder, allowing Maratha troops to enter. Each bastion once housed eight soldiers and a captain.