Salher Mulher

Salher and Mulher are two forts that are located very close to each other. That is why they are often referred to as twin forts. Most people make it a point to visit both these forts on a single trip. You can do this as well. These forts are quite close to the city of Mumbai in Maharashtra.

The famed fort located in Salher near Waghamba in Nasik district is not only regarded as the highest fort in the Sahyadri range but also one that had witnessed the massacre of more than one thousand army men who laid their lives in safeguarding the honor of their motherland.

The fort actually was under the control of the legendary Maratha warrior Shivaji in 1671. The Mughals were trying to capture it. Finally, in 1672 they launched a massive attack in which at least one lakh soldiers took active part. But the strategically positioned hill fort held out, mostly because Shivaji’s forces gave their last drop of blood to keep the control. At the end, Shivaji won and the Mughals had to beat a hasty retreat. Accounts of the battle for the Salher fort are written in golden letters in the annals of Shivaji’s war memoirs. The great warrior soon took controls of the nearby Malher fort and established his rule over the entire region.

Incidentally, both the forts are not only well fortified but are also somewhat self-sufficient. For instance, water, which is the most essential commodity for a fort, especially when it is under siege, is available aplenty in the large tanks and ponds within the fort precincts. They had large granaries for stocking cereals, enough to feed a number of battalions for a long time.

How to reach: The twin forts are best visited either from Nasik or Satana. There is the small Gandhinagar airport in Nasik. There is a busy rail station as well. So you can either take the train or flight to receive Nasik. There is a regular bus service from all major cities in the state to the city. It is best to hire a taxi from Nasik to visit the fort.

If you want, you can stay overnight inside the temples in the fort. Otherwise, you can stay at Nasik city. You won’t find any hotels near Salher and Mulher forts, cottages near Salher and Mulher forts or home stays close to the Salher and Mulher forts.