BASSIEN FORT - DAMAN – DIU – KORLAI near Alibaug CORPORATE OFFICE White House, Church Road, Manickpur, Vasai (west), MUMBAI – 401 202. Maharashtra - INDIA Phone:- +91 22 65720888. Helpline: +91 9168259988 E-mail:- [email protected] Web: www.tvsholidaymakers.com Bassein Fort (Around Mumbai) now called Vasai… Bassein Fort, now in ruins, was under the Portuguese a thriving fortified city from 1534 to 1739 when it was sacked by the Marathas. The ruins of the Portuguese Fort still stand almost hidden by brushwood and palm groves. Some of the walls and churches can still be seen. About 10 kms to the north-west lies Nallasopara village, the capital of the Konkan region from 1500 BC to AD 1300. Many Buddhist relics were discovered here. Nallasopara is believed to have been the birthplace of the Buddha in a previous life. To the north, is the Agar of Agashi and to the south is the Agar of Bassein. An hour by bus from Bassein station is the Vajreshwari Temple and Akoli Hot Springs. Also easily accessible is Ganeshpuri with the Sadguru Nityanand Maharaj Samadhi Mandir, the Bhimeshwar Temple and other ashrams. Initially the Muslim rulers began to construct a fortress in 1532. The Portuguese fought with them, conquered the fortress on 20th January, 1533 and destroyed it the same evening. During the period 1590 – 1600 the Portuguese put up a rampart wall around the ‘Portuguese township’ which is now commonly called the Vasai Fort. At one time there were in Vasai as many as 2500 Portuguese, many of them Doma persons who had been granted titles of nobility by their Royal Masters, The King Of Portugal. Therefore Vasai at that time was called ‘Dom Bacaim’. During the takeover of Vasai, by the Marathas it is believed the 800 Portuguese soldiers died in the battle Of Vasai lead by 22,000 Marathas. On 16th May, 1739, the Marathas hoisted their saffron flog declaring their victory over the Portuguese. As far as the 800 who died in the battle their bones were found in the tank in the fort area, cremated in Hindu style. White House, Church Road, Manickpur, Vasai (west), MUMBAI – 401 202. Maharashtra INDIA Tel: +91 22 65720888. Mobile: +91 9168259988. E-mail: [email protected]. Web: www.tvsholidaymakers.com Fort of Moti Daman The massive Fort that runs round the settlement like a girdle, dates back to 1559 AD. The Colossal structure in the present form encompasses about 30,000 sq. Meters. with 10 bastions and two gateways. The Fort is protected by a moat on the land side and also connects the river to the sea. It is basically polygonal in plan with projections at regular intervals of about 500 feet and carrying splayed angular bastions.The parapet above the fortification walls is without merlons but is provided with loop holes. The terraces close to the top of the wall are connected to the top of the wall are connected to the inner ground surface by open flight of steps at many places. All along the inner wall, there are barracks for defense personnel's. The inscription above the southern (land) gate mentions that this gate along with the bastions adjacent to it was completed in 1581 AD. after the Mughal invasion in Akbar's reign. The inscription on the Northern (sea) gate gives the date of 1593 AD. for the completion of the Fort wall. On the Northern side within the confine of the Fort were located the palaces, the Secretariat and other official buildings. A large number of Portuguese gentry and their families resided within the Fort. Fort of Nani Daman The small fort with high stone walls encloses an area of 12,250 sq. meters. It has three bastions and two gateways. The most conspicuous part of the Fort is the giant gateway facing the river with a large statue of St. Jerome and two giant human figures, on either side of the gateway. The imposing church of Our Lady of the Sea is the principal building within the Fort. Nani Daman Nani Daman offers some wonderful sites to the traveler : Gandhi Park near Nani Daman jetty, Nani Daman Fort and the church inside and the fishing jetty where boats are anchored to name a few. The tourist crosses over to Moti Daman through the Daman - Ganga Bridge where an old world of broad roads, the massive Fort, the stately Light house, Gardens, Historic Monuments and ancient Churches in Gothic style provide a feast to the aesthetic taste. White House, Church Road, Manickpur, Vasai (west), MUMBAI – 401 202. Maharashtra INDIA Tel: +91 22 65720888. Mobile: +91 9168259988. E-mail: [email protected]. Web: www.tvsholidaymakers.com Welcome to Diu - India... A beautiful blend of sea, sand and sun, Diu is a God's gift to those in quest of a blessed land where the weary weight of this unintelligible world can, for a while, be lightened and the waking soul can hear the music of the nature. This tiny island of breeze, beauty and serenity situated off the southern tip of the Saurashtra (Kathiawad) peninsula of Gujarat, lapped by the Arabian Sea, is a picture of calmness with superb beaches and a fascinating history. Diu was ruled by many well-known kings and dynasties during the prehistoric, ancient and medieval times. It was a Portuguese colony until 1961. It is now a Union Territory, separated from Goa in 1987.It was an important trading post and naval base from where the rulers controlled the shipping routes in the northern part of the Arabian Sea between the 14-16th centuries. With an area of 38.8 sq. km., and a coastline of 21 km, the island of Diu is separated from the coast by a narrow channel on the north. Of the two tiny mainland enclaves, Ghoghla is the entry point to Diu if you arrive through Una, a town in Saurashtra. The branching palms, popularly known as Hoka trees, introduce from Africa by the Portuguese and coconut palms swaying and whispering in the gentle intoxicating sea breeze extend a fascinating welcome to the visitors in Diu. The climate of Diu is pleasant throughout the year. It has sunny weather throughout the year and the annual rainfall is only 60 cms. The ethnic mosaic comprises Hindus, Muslims and Christians. The colorful culture of this island is a mix of Kathiawadi (Saurashtra) culture blended with Portuguese legacy. Main languages spoken in the district are Gujarati, Hindi, English and Portuguese. The historical Portuguese Fort, imposing churches, the golden sand beaches, blue sea waters, latest water sports, clean environment and friendly local population make Diu a perfect getaway for all seasons. It has excellent all weather road links with Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Bhavnagar and Vadodara. It also has daily air link (except Saturday) with Mumbai. Veraval the nearest railhead (90 Km) is connected to Ahmedabad. Korlai - The Lesser Known Portuguese Enclave on Konkan Coast The West Coast of India is dotted with ports and forts that recount the historical legacy of the region. Local Indian rulers and later, the Europeans, beginning with the Portuguese tried to establish their control over the stretches of the Malabar as White House, Church Road, Manickpur, Vasai (west), MUMBAI – 401 202. Maharashtra INDIA Tel: +91 22 65720888. Mobile: +91 9168259988. E-mail: [email protected]. Web: www.tvsholidaymakers.com well as the Konkan coasts. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to find a trade route to India under the leadership of Vasco da Gama who first landed at Calicut in 1498. The Portuguese gradually established their settlements at regular intervals right from Cochin to Diu on the Western Coast of India. Their chief settlements included Cochin, Goa, Korlai, Chaul, Mumbai, Bassein (Vasai), Daman and Diu. Among these, Korlai, with a strong hill-fort near Chaul, occupied a strategic position. The name of Korlai had cropped up quite a number of times in the course of my research on the Portuguese, British as well as Maratha history. Though not far away from Mumbai, I did not get an opportunity to visit the place. However, during my recent visit to Alibaug, I made up my mind to explore this medieval Portuguese enclave. Five of us, my host in Alibaug, Vithal Patil, a retired forest officer, his two daughters, Mangala and Meenakshi, my wife Benny and myself set out from Alibaug to Korlai in the morning. Korlai village is at a distance of 23 km from Alibaug on the road to Murud. It is situated on the slopes of Konkan range between Arabian Sea on the west and Revdanda back-waters on its east. White House, Church Road, Manickpur, Vasai (west), MUMBAI – 401 202. Maharashtra INDIA Tel: +91 22 65720888. Mobile: +91 9168259988. E-mail: [email protected]. Web: www.tvsholidaymakers.com After alighting at Korlai, we paid a visit to the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel established in 1741, and met the parish priest Fr Donald D’Souza from Vasai. From the church we could see the thick walls of the magnificent Portuguese fort on the hill stretching from the main land into the sea. The population of the Korlai village is around 3000. It has separate sections for the Christians, Hindus and Muslims. A small community of less than a thousand people in Korlai, especially the descendants of the original converts to Christianity still speaks a unique language known as Portuguese Creole (a blend of Portuguese and local Marathi). It is also called ‘Kristi’ language, that is, the language spoken by the Christians. The locals refer this language as ‘Naw Ling’, meaning ‘our language’. This language originated among the Christian farming community in upper Korlai from around 1520.