Worli Fort

The Worli Fort (Marathi: वरळी किल्ला) is a fort built by the British in Worli, Mumbai, India. The fort, often mistakenly referred to as being built by the Portuguese, was actually built by the British around 1675. The fort, built on the Worli hill, overlooked the Mahim Bay at a time the city was made up of just seven islands. It was used as a lookout for enemy ships and pirates.

The upkeep of the fort has been impossible due to its inaccessibility, as the roads leading to it are completely blocked by illegal hutments that have cropped up over the years, only to be overlooked by the local authorities for the sake of electoral gain and bribes paid for allowing illegal constructions. The fort is completely in ruins today and a slum has enveloped the edifice, making it a den for illegal activities like the brewing of illicit liquor within its confines. A bell tower peeps out of the ruins and the ramparts are used to dry clothes. Historians have often called for the protection of the area but their efforts have fallen on deaf ears. This in spite of an NGO claiming to have adopted the Worli Village, where the fort is located.This Fort was on the verge of collapse and total disintegration until a few years ago.Finally, citizen awareness of preserving Mumbai's historical edifices and petitions in the media resulted in Mumbai's politicians deciding to repair all old monuments and forts in the city. Worli Fort has undergone a total face-lift in 2008/2009 but in the process its ancient looks have totally disappeared, resembling more of a "Disneyland artificial fort" rather than an edifice over 300 years old. The "Bandra-Worli Sea Link" bridge named "Rajiv Gandhi Setu" was inaugurated by United Progressive Alliance Chairperson and Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday(30-6-2009) and can be viewed in its totality from the "Worli Fort", a configuration of ancient and modern architectural marvels.Hope Worli fort gets some tourist attention after construction of the "Bandra-worli Sealink" as it provides a grand spectacle from the forts summit of the entire Mumbai bay .Strangely, this fort was totally neglected and crumbling, although situated in prime Mumbai with a fishing village that is unique to bustling populated Mumbai.