Thalner

Situated in Shirpur Tehsil, which is around 46 kilometers north-east of Dhule in Maharashtra, Thalner fort stands on the bank of the River Tapi. The fort is named after the temple of Thaleshwar which is located at the foot of the fort. At one side of the fort is the river. The other three sides are surrounded by a moat-like depression, varying in width from 100 to 15 yards. The walls of the fort rise to a height 60 feet from this depression, thus making it secured against sudden enemy aggression. The fort has only one entry gate on the eastern side but this entry point is secured by five successive gates, each placed at higher heights till the final gate comes level with the main wall of the fort.

Thalner Fort witnessed a great battle in 1818, when Sir Thomas Hislop, the British General came to take possession of the fort. Surprisingly enough, the inmates of the fort did not offer any resistance. They just fired matchlocks at the enemy. However, when summons were sent to the fort for surrendering, the Marathas declined. Moreover they insisted on putting terms and conditions that were not acceptable to the British. After ascertain that the Marathas had no canons ready for firing in the fort, the British general took the advantage of using howitzers. Needless to say, this had the desired effect and after a few casualties suffered by the British, the fort was taken over.

It is not the best fort in the state, but it could still be a worthy visit. There are hidden tunnels that you could try to discover. There are stone temples where you can offer prayers. The fort itself is not in great condition, but you can still catch a lot of history here.

How to reach: If you are driving from Mumbai, then you have to take the Mumbai-Agra road and reach Dhule first. The fort is located about an hour away from Dhule. The better option might be to take the train or the bus. There are both private and public buses that can take you there.

You won’t find good hotels in Thalner fort and resorts in Thalner fort. The best option would be to stay in Dhule and visit the fort from there.