The Mazagaon Fort is an island fort situated in Mazagaon in the state of Maharashtra. It was built by the British East India Company around the year 1680. But the fort was demolished around June 1690 by Yakut Khan, a Siddi general. Located atop the Bhandarwada Hill at an elevation of 32 m, the Mazagaon Fort is situated at the Joseph Baptista Gardens.

History of Mazagaon Fort
Till the 18th century, Bombay or modern day Mumbai comprised of many small islands. In 1661, seven islands were ceded to the British East India Company by the Portuguese administration in India. It was a part of the dowry to Charles II of England when Catherine of Braganza was married to him. The harbour proved eminently pertinent, and the British administration later shifted their base to Bombay from Surat as the harbour proved extremely pertinent. In the meantime, the Siddis had allied with the forces of Mughal Dynasty.

The East India Company and the Mughal Army constantly fought against each other. After the British East India Company faced several attacks from the Siddis in the year 1672, the Sewri fort was constructed in 1680 in Bombay. It was located on Mazagaon Island and overlooked the eastern seaboard. Yakut Khan, a Siddi general attacked Bombay with an army of 20,000 soldiers in 1689 and occupied the Sewri and Mazagaon forts. Currently, the Mazagaon Fort lies in a state of ruin and is maintained under the Government of India.

Attractions of Mazagaon Fort
The site of Mazagaon Fort is a popular tourist destination and attracts several visitors throughout the year. There is also a popular recreation ground named after Joseph Baptista who was a freedom fighter. The Joseph Baptista Gardens is locally known as the Mazagaon Gardens and is adorned with a number of plants including Cycas, Ixora, Musanda, Bougainvillea, and Hibiscus. One can also enjoy a panoramic view of the Mumbai harbour from this garden.

Visiting Information on Mazagaon Fort
The nearest railway station is at Mumbai at a distance of about 4 km from the fort and the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is the closest at a distance of 22 km from the Mazagaon Fort.