Laling Fort, also known as "Laling Qila", is situated in Dhule district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The ancient fort is located atop the Laling hill which is around 9.65 km towards the south of the modern city of Dhule. The Dhule town can be viewed from this hilltop fort, which is a picturesque place. One can get a beautiful trekking experience to reach the top of these hills. This hill is not much steep and easily accessible by all. This is a heritage site and protected monument in the Maharashtra state.

History of Laling Fort
The fortress was occupied by several dynasties, such as, Faruqis, Ahirs, Holkars and others. Laling Fort was among the most prominent forts in the Khandesh region during the reign of the rulers of the Faruqi dynasty. It was founded during the rule of the first Faruqi King. The fortress was allotted by Malik Raja to his eldest son. In 1437, Nasir Khan and Miran Adil Khan were besieged in Laling Fort by the forces of the Bahmani Sultanate. Later they were rescued by an advancing army from Gujarat. Later during the 17th Century, the fortress was used by the army of the Mughal Dynasty during their military campaigns in the Deccan. Eventually, the structure was occupied by the British East India Company and was used as a military post.

Architecture of Laling Fort
Laling Fort was built by an Islamic ruler and was designed in the Medieval Era. The formal design of the fort was done by Malik Raja of Khandesh Empire. This fort used the granite stones of the same hill where it was built. A huge mining area is also found on the beneath of this hills where a deep pond exists. The left over pit became the famous pond to the nearby temple found here. It has got a major gateway to enter this fort area. There are many rocks, carved caves found here. It is believed to be the settlement for the servants of the fort during those times.

Present Condition of Laling Fort
Presently, Laling Fort is lying in a ruined and dilapidated state. Besides, the fort has 2 Hemadpanthi temples and a rained well in collapsed condition. It is now being developed as a tourist destination. The structure is maintained by the Government of India.

How to Reach Laling Fort
To reach the Laling Fort and get around the city one can hire private Taxis, Auto rickshaws and Buses from Dhule city center. The nearest railway stations to this fort are the Dhule Railway Station which is at a distance of 9 km and Mohadi railway Station. The nearest Airport from Dhule is Chikkalthana Airport, located at Aurangabad, roughly 133 kms from Dhule. The airport is well connected to many major cities like Mumbai, Nagpur and New Delhi etc.