Belapur Fort, New Mumbai

Belapur Fort is a 16th-century hill fort located in Belapur, Navi Mumbai. It occupies a prominent position on a hilltop near the mouth of Panvel Creek. The Siddis of Janjira built it around 1560-1570 for security and surveillance. The fort later passed under Portuguese, Maratha, and British rule, reflecting the changing regional power dynamics in Western India. Although its exact location has not been officially documented, the remaining turrets dominate the surrounding landscape. The fort's distinctive features include its thick basalt stone walls, bastions, and surviving watchtowers, reflecting military architectural influences specific to the local terrain and strategic maritime surveillance.

The fort is built of nearby laterite stone and lime mortar, a technique suitable for the humid coastal climate. Its structure is built on a dense, craggy plan, adapting to the hilly terrain, rather than being strictly uniform. The structure features thick defensive walls, corner bastions, and high watchtowers to withstand artillery fire. The decoration is minimal, reflecting its military purpose rather than its ceremonial significance.

• Main fortified enclosure
• Corner bastions and defensive walls
• Central courtyard area
• Watch points and parapet walkways