Again, not a trek, technically But then, an enjoyable trek, if you wish to be in isolation, away from the hustle bustle of the city. Walking endlessly, along the walls of the fort, staring into the creeks, this is a wonderful place to be. The Vasai fort or Bassein fort, is a sea-facing fort built by the Portuguese to protect their township of Vasai. So, there is no trekking upward or downward. The fort is also undergoing restoration, so you might see some activity going on there.
Reaching Vasai fort: Take the Virar bound local from Borivali/Andheri/Dadar. If you are lucky, you might also be able to board a Vasai Road bound local. The frequency of Virar locals has now improved considerably. Get down at Vasai Road station. It is advisable to start as early as possible. The Western Railway has now put up the latest local timetable on its website. So, you can have a look at the Virar local timings before you start out.
Walk down to the ST stand. From the ST stand, there are buses to the fort after every half-an-hour. The destination is Killabunder, the last stop on the route. If you are reaching early, be prepared to share space with fish, dried wood (as source of fuel) and lots of other utility stuff. There are shared autorickshaws too, but they carry four people (3 in the passengers' area and one next to the driver). So, if you don't want to wait for the ST, this is another option. The fare per person is just a little bit more than the ST (if 4 people are travelling).
At Vasai fort: This fort is nothing but a collection of ruins. You can climb up and walk along the wall of the fort to witness everything around Vasai fort. You also get a scenic view of the Vasai creek. Since the west-end of the fort doesn't face the sea, you view the sunset. On the wall, there are places where you can climb down to the inside of the fort. You can visit the ruins. Some structures are still in a shape where you can make out what they used to be. Cathedrals, stores, barracks, meeting places, soldier stations, churches, and many more structures. Go down to the jetty for a closer view of the Vasai creek. All in all, you may be able to spend 3-4 hours at Vasai fort. It is essential to wear full pants and good pair of socks with shoes as the area is full of wild trees and shrubs that have grown hapazardly.
Facilities: The fort is situated near the fishing village. So, you may get stuff like snacks, mineral water, cold drinks, etc. at the village shops. But do not expect meals like lunch over there. You will have to come back to Vasai city or go near the railway station for that. So, it is advisable that you carry a fair amount of mineral water, snacks, etc. along with you. Also, it is advisable to return to Vasai Road before sunset.
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