Kolaba Fort, Alibag

Kolaba Fort stands just off the shore of Alibag, reachable on foot at low tide or by boat at high tide. Its construction was ordered by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in March 1680 as part of fortifying the Konkan coast, and the fort was completed after his death by his son, Sambhaji Maharaj, in 1681.

The fort became a key base for the Maratha navy under Kanhoji Angre, who used it to launch raids against European shipping along the coast. In November 1721, a combined British and Portuguese naval expedition attempted to capture the fort but failed, underlining its strength as a coastal stronghold. Notably, despite standing in the sea, the fort contains freshwater wells within its walls.

Kolaba Fort is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India and retains cannons, carved animal and bird motifs on its walls, and the remains of a temple within its fortifications.