Mumbai

Forts of Mumbai

Mumbai's forts are not hilltop citadels but small watchtowers and gun batteries, built by the Portuguese and the British in the 16th–18th centuries to guard the seven islands and the creeks between them. The two worth a visit are Bandra Fort at Land's End and Worli Fort at the tip of the Worli fishing village, both with the Sea Link in view. The Fort district in South Mumbai is named after the walled British town that stood there until 1862.

Bandra Fort (Castella de Aguada)The head-on view of the Sea Link, from inside a 380-year-old Portuguese fort

Worli Fort & Worli KoliwadaThe Koli settlement that predates the city, with the Sea Link filling the horizon

The two forts to visit

Bandra Fort is free to enter; both forts are in the list above.

Bandra Fort (Castella de Aguada)

A Portuguese watchtower of 1640 at Land's End in Bandra, overlooking Mahim Bay and the Arabian Sea. The name means "fort of the watering point": a freshwater spring here refilled passing ships. It rises over several levels from the sea to about 24 metres, and the slope has been terraced into gardens with a small open-air amphitheatre. The view is the Bandra-Worli Sea Link straight ahead; it is busiest at sunset. The fort belongs to the ASI.

Worli Fort and Worli Koliwada

Often taken for Portuguese, the fort was built by the British around 1675 on Worli Hill as a lookout over Mahim Bay. It stands at the tip of Worli Koliwada, the settlement of the Koli fishing community, and the way to the ramparts runs through the village lanes. From the walls the Sea Link fills the horizon. Mornings are the liveliest time in the village.

The other forts: what is left

Most of Mumbai's forts are ruins or sit on land you cannot walk into. Dates and owners as given in the encyclopedic list of the city's forts.

Sion Hillock Fort, Sion	British, 1669–1677, on a conical hill that marked the border between British Parel and Portuguese Salsette. Ruined steps and walls overgrown with trees; a view over the Thane Creek salt pans. About 500 metres from Sion station. ASI.
Sewri Fort, Sewri	British, 1680, a hill fort used as a watchtower. Under renovation. ASI.
Mahim Fort, Mahim	A watchtower and defensive fort at Mahim. Dilapidated. Government of Maharashtra.
Madh Fort, Madh Island	Portuguese, 17th century, a watchtower that also served as a prison. Stable. ASI.
Riwa Fort (Kala Killa), Dharavi	British, 1737, a watchtower. Dilapidated. ASI.
Bombay Castle, Fort	Built by the British after 1668 around the manor house of the Portuguese Garcia de Orta, who held the island from 1554; the Governor's House stood inside. Preserved, and used by the Indian Navy.
Fort George, Dongri	British, completed in 1769 on the site of the older Dongri Fort. Mostly demolished from 1862; the north bastion and stretches of wall in the grounds of St George's Hospital survive.

Why the Fort district is called Fort

The island of Bombay was Portuguese until 1661, when it passed to England as part of Catherine of Braganza's dowry; in 1668 Charles II leased it to the East India Company. The Company fortified its settlement at the southern end of the islands, and the walled town became known simply as the Fort. Of its three gates, the one leading to St Thomas' Church was Churchgate, which is why the station has that name. The walls were demolished in 1862, and in 1864 Flora Fountain replaced the Churchgate.

No walls are left, but the name stayed with the district between Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and the Gateway of India, now one of the densest stretches of Victorian and Edwardian architecture in Asia. A walk from CST south to Horniman Circle and Flora Fountain and on to Kala Ghoda passes Elphinstone College (1888), the David Sassoon Library (1870) and St Thomas' Cathedral. Guided options are in heritage tours.

And the palaces?

Mumbai grew as a port and trading city under the Portuguese and then the British, not as a royal capital, so there is no maharaja's palace to tour. The building people usually mean is the Taj Mahal Palace, the hotel Jamsetji Tata commissioned and opened in 1903, next to where the Gateway of India was later built; its Sea Lounge is open to non-guests for afternoon tea. See the Taj Mahal Palace and, for staying there, luxury hotels in Mumbai.

Good to know

Small forts, but a few things make the visit easier.

Bandra Fort at sunset — It is free and fills up at sunset, when the Sea Link's lights come on; arrive a little early. In the cooler months the amphitheatre hosts open-air music and theatre.
Worli is a village, not a park — People live in the lanes you walk through to the fort. Be considerate and ask before photographing people or homes. Community-run walks cover the village with care; see walking tours.
Two forts, one view — Both forts look at the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, one from the Bandra side of Mahim Bay and one from the Worli side.

FAQ

Why is Fort in Mumbai called Fort?

It was the walled settlement of the East India Company at the southern end of the islands. The walls were demolished in 1862, but the district kept the name.

Who built Bandra Fort?

The Portuguese, in 1640, as a watchtower over Mahim Bay with a freshwater spring for passing ships. Its Portuguese name, Castella de Aguada, refers to that watering point.

Is Worli Fort Portuguese?

No, although it is often taken for one. The British built it around 1675 on Worli Hill as a lookout over Mahim Bay.

Which is the nearest station to the Fort area?

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CSMT) and Churchgate on the suburban railway; on the Aqua Line metro, CSMT, Hutatma Chowk and Churchgate stations.

Are there palaces to visit in Mumbai?

Not royal ones: Mumbai was a trading port, not a princely capital. The "palace" most visitors see is the Taj Mahal Palace hotel by the Gateway of India, whose Sea Lounge serves afternoon tea to non-guests.

Sources (10)

Facts checked: 15 October 2026. Prices and hours are approximate; check locally.

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