Dativare Fort, Military fort in Palghar district, India.
Dativare Fort is a fortification built on a hillock beside the Vaitarna River in Maharashtra's coastal region. The ruins display stone walls and defensive structures scattered across the hilltop that extend toward the nearby Arnala Fort.
The Portuguese established this strategic fortification in 1548 and controlled it for more than a century as part of their coastal holdings. Later the East India Company took over the site and managed it until independence came to the region.
The fortification displays military building techniques used to protect Maharashtra's coastal regions from invaders. Walking through the site today, you can observe the remaining walls and bastions that showcase how these defenses were constructed.
The walk to the fort starts from Dativare village and takes around thirty minutes on foot along a hiking trail. The terrain is hilly and paths can become slippery during rain, so proper footwear and plenty of water are recommended.
The fort once guarded important trade routes running along the Vaitarna River and helped control the region's coastal commerce. These routes connected Maharashtra's ports with inland markets and were central to why the stronghold mattered economically.
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