Portuguese built the Vasai or Bassein fort in the 15th century, it covers a vast area and it is said that in olden days encompassed seven villages. But the Portuguese in their wildest dreams must never have imagined the ruinous state it is in today. The beautiful architecture of old is visible in few places. Majority of the area is wilderness, traces of a mango orchard are also seen, the trees so heavily laden with orchids we rechristened them as orchid trees.

Between all of this a jarring image welcomes you, right in the middle of nowhere is a society, the buildings a drab yellow and in complete contrast to the magnificent fort. Also the shoddy cementing of the beautiful sandstone walls in the name of restoration by the archaeological department is heartbreaking.

But the wilderness also has it own beauty, at one place stand the two remaining walls of a once huge hall and in this overgrown, moist and shady corner striped tiger butterflies gather in huge numbers. We were a little early in season and they were in lesser numbers than we saw last year but I still cannot shake off the wondrous feeling of seeing so many of them congregating at one small patch that time forgot.

The butterflies are so perfectly camouflaged that at first sight there's nothing there but just as I stepped in the patch, in that one moment the place transformed into paradise. A cloud of butterflies rose on tinsely wings with dark tiger stripes and floated a few feet above ground and as suddenly as they had come they disappeared in the undergrowth and now i see them holding onto old vines like dried leaves...

Its such a dreamlike sequence i wanted to make sure the butterflies are for real and tried to catch one on my outstretched Palm, it dodged so beautifully almost as if passing right through my hand, kinda makes one wonder...

I don't want to give away the exact location of this magical place ( never having gone on my own always with friends who know the way), but even if you do come across this treasured patch that the butterflies love, please tread softly on this hallowed ground and keep our secret safe.