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Ghodbunder Fort

2022-12-10T16:46:52Z

115.98.233.99:

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2017}}
{{Infobox military structure
|name = Ghodbunder Fort
|native_name = {{lang|mr|घोडबंदर किल्ला}}
|partof =
|location = Ghodbunder, [[Thane District]], [[Maharashtra]]
|image = Ghodbunder Fort courtyard.jpg
|image_size = 300px
|caption = Ghodbunder Fort courtyard
|type = Fortress
|coordinates = {{coord|19.2962|72.8883|dim:200|display=inline,title}}
|built = c.1550-1730
|builder = [[Portugal|Portuguese]]
|image_map = {{location map | Mumbai |alt= On the south shore of a river mouth |lat_deg= 19.2962 |lon_deg= 72.8883 |label= Ghodbunder Fort |label_size= 120 |width= 300 |marksize= 12}}
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[[File:Ghodbunder Fort.jpg|thumb|left|Ghodbunder fort bastion and walls]]
'''Ghodbunder Fort''' is a fort located in '''Ghodbunder Village''', [[Thane]], [[Maharashtra]], [[India]], on the hill just south of the [[Ulhas River]]. It was built by the Portuguese, occupied by the [[Maratha Empire]], and became the [[East India Company]]'s district headquarters. The place was called Ghodbunder because it was where the Portuguese used to trade for ghode (horses) with the Arabs. Hence the name Ghodbunder: ghode (horses) & bunder (port).

In 1530 the Portuguese came to Thane, and they began fortifying the hill area about 1550, but completion of the fort in its current form was in 1730. The Portuguese name for the fort was Cacabe de Tanna. It was under Portuguese rule until 1737. The Portuguese built a church in the fort that still stands,<ref name="charm">{{cite book|last=Karkari |first=R.P.|title=The Charm of Bombay |publisher=READ BOOKS|year=2008|pages=423|isbn=978-1-4097-9294-9|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S7NRZidhAnEC&dq=Ghodbunder+fort&pg=PA423|access-date=27 March 2009}}</ref> and is now used as a hotel. Two angels engraved on the inside wall of the church still remains. The old church can be seen clearly in the background of the courtyard photo.

There are many old maps and texts which mention continual attempts by the Marathas to capture this fort. The Portuguese were able to defend Ghodbunder Fort from these attacks successfully for many years,<ref name="midday ">{{cite news|url=http://www.mid-day.com/news/2007/dec/799975.htm|title=Mid-day|last=Ashar|first=Hemal|date=2007-12-03|access-date=2009-03-30}}</ref> including the attack in 1672 by the powerful forces of Chhatrapati [[Shivaji]] Maharaj.However, the Marathas under [[Chimnaji Appa]] successfully besieged the fort and took it over from the Portuguese in 1737.<ref name="midday " /><ref name="inc">{{cite web|title=Incredible India: Places to Visit Maharashtra: Ghodbunder (43 Km.)|url=http://www.incredibleindia.org/newsite/cms_page.asp?pageid=1321|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014060655/http://incredibleindia.org/newsite/cms_page.asp?pageid=1321|archive-date=14 October 2007|url-status=live}}</ref> Following its capture, [[Sambhaji]] ordered the strengthening of the fortifications, initiating the construction of the tower.{{Citation needed|date=February 2020}}

In 1818, the British occupied the fort and made it the headquarters of the district administration for the [[Company rule in India|East Indian Company]], with a district collector stationed in Thane.<ref name="cyber">{{cite news|title=History becomes mystery|last=Rao|first=Shilpa|date=17 May 2007|url=http://www.cybernoon.com/DisplayArticle.asp?section=xtras&subsection=bombayfirst&xfile=May2007_extraspecial_standard806&child=extraspecial|archive-url=https://archive.today/20070808020334/http://www.cybernoon.com/DisplayArticle.asp?section=xtras&subsection=bombayfirst&xfile=May2007_extraspecial_standard806&child=extraspecial|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 August 2007}}</ref>

Although the fort currently lies in ruins, the government of India has started its renovation.<ref name="Mehta">{{Cite news|author=Mehta, Rajshri|title=Plans afoot to beautify ruined Ghodbunder Fort|date=31 January 2014|newspaper=The Times of India|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thane/Plans-afoot-to-beautify-ruined-Ghodbunder-Fort/articleshow/29635859.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202082855/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thane/Plans-afoot-to-beautify-ruined-Ghodbunder-Fort/articleshow/29635859.cms|archive-date=2 February 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The fort itself is under the control of the [[Archaeological Survey of India]] (ASI).<ref name="Mehta" />

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== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{-}}
{{Forts in Maharashtra}}
{{Forts in India}}

[[Category:Forts in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Portuguese forts in India]]
[[Category:History of Thane district]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Thane district]]
[[Category:1550s establishments in Portuguese India]]
[[Category:1730s in Portuguese India]]
[[Category:16th-century forts in India]]
[[Category:17th-century forts in India]]
[[Category:Forts around Mumbai]]

Durgadi Fort

2022-12-10T16:34:12Z

115.98.233.99:

{{Infobox building
| name = Durgadi Fort
| native_name = दुर्गाडी किल्ला
| native_name_lang = Mr
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| image_caption = Durgadi Fort in February 1900's (Right) Patri Pull Bridge oldest bridge in [[Kalyan]]
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| address = Dudh Naka, Kalyan West, Kalyan, Maharashtra 421301
| location_city = [[Kalyan]], [[Maharashtra]]
| location_country = India
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'''Durgadi Fort''' is a fort located in [[Kalyan]], near [[Mumbai]] in [[Maharashtra]], India.

The fort has a [[Hindu temple]] and a [[masjid]] at the top, which has religious significance for both [[Hindus]] and [[Muslims]]. It has witnessed riots in the past and is considered communally sensitive. A team of [[Maharashtra Police|State Reserve Police Force]] personnel is deployed for security.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tandel |first1=Faisal |title=Cop finds SRPF napping on duty, steals entire platoon's guns |url=https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/cop-finds-srpf-napping-on-duty--steals-entire-platoon-s-guns-16927195 |publisher=[[Mid Day]] |date=February 5, 2016}}</ref>

== History ==
[[File:Durgadi Fort ,Kalyan, Maharashtra - panoramio (1).jpg|thumb|left|An entrance gate of the Durgadi Fort]]
The fort's construction started during [[Shah Jahan]]'s reign and was completed in [[Aurangzeb]]'s reign in 1694 AD. Durgadi Fort is built on a hill beside the Kalyan creek. The fort came under [[Maratha Empire|Marathas]] when Chhatrapati [[Shivaji]] Maharaj captured [[Kalyan]] and [[Bhiwandi]] from Adilshah in 1654. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj built the fort close to the creek and used it as a dock to build boats and ships. During [[British Raj]], stones from the fort wall were used to construct the [[Kalyan]] and [[Thane]] piers.<ref>{{cite news |title=Exploring the forts of Thane |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/photos/mumbai-news/photos-exploring-the-forts-of-thane/photo-HhFakJYTmSebIQklOoWrzL-4.html |publisher=[[Hindustan Times]] |date=May 19, 2018}}</ref>

Under the rule of Marathas, a new gate about 150 feet to the south of the Ganesh Gate was opened near the mansion of Maratha General [[Ramji Mahadev Biwalkar]]. In the citadel of the fort, Marathas built a small temple of Hindu goddess [[Durga]] and named the fort Durgadi in honor of the goddess, a name it still bears. The original idol of the goddess Durga was stolen in 1876.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj used the fort as dock and began the work of the first [[Navy]] of [[Hindavi Swarajya]] and he hired 340 Portuguese artisans to build the naval docks. Later, the fort was repaired by [[Ramji Mahadev Biwalkar]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Durgadi Fort |url=http://indiaairport.com/tourism/kalyan-dombivali/durgadi_fort.htm |work=IndiaAirport.com}}</ref>

In 1682, Moghul Sardar Hasan Ali Khan captured the fort, later recaptured by Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the second Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire. However, the Moghuls took it over again in 1689. It later came under Peshwas. In 1728, the Portuguese attacked the fort but were repelled by Shankarji Keshav Phadke, a Peshwa commander.<ref>{{cite web |title=Durgadi Fort |url=https://www.globalkalyan.com/durgadi-fort/}}</ref>

The [[Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation]] has built a new gate and made a garden around the fort.

== Durgadi Temple ==
[[File:Durgadi Fort ,Kalyan, Maharashtra - panoramio (6).jpg|200px|thumb|Durgadi Mata Temple on the fort]]
It is believed that Chhatrapati [[Shivaji]] Maharaj himself built Durgadi Temple, dedicated to the Hindu goddess [[Durga]] on Durgadi fort. The [[Shiv Sena]] chief [[Bal Thackeray]] had started the [[Navaratri]] celebrations at the temple, which still continues. On the occasion of the Navratri, the temple is visited by devotees from [[Mumbai]], [[Thane]], [[Raigad district|Raigad]] and [[Palghar]] districts.

In 2018, the temple was visited by about 7 lakh devotees during the Navratri festival.<ref>{{cite news |title=Preparations for Navratri festival at the historic Durgadi fort of Kalyan |url=https://www.mymahanagar.com/mumbai/preparation-of-navratri-festival-on-the-historic-durgadi-fort-of-kalyan/129934/ |publisher=[[Mahanagar (newspaper)|Mahanagar]] |date=September 27, 2019}}</ref>

=== 1967 Communal tension ===
In 1967, a communal tension arose in [[Kalyan]] over the temple on Durgadi Fort, on which both Hindu and Muslim community had their claims. While local Hindus believed the shrine atop the fort was that of Hindu goddess [[Durga]], the Muslims claimed it to be a mosque and began performing [[namaaz]] near the temple. When [[Shiv Sena]] supremo [[Bal Thackeray]] got to know about the matter, he declared that Shiv Sena would unfurl the [[Bhagwa Dhwaj|saffron flag]] atop the Durgadi Fort on September 8, 1967. Then the [[Navaratri|Navratri]] festival came, and Chief Minister [[Vasantrao Naik|Vasantrao Phulsing Naik]] announced a ban on the [[Puja (Hinduism)|puja]] at the Durgadi temple. Still, despite the ban, Shiv Sena workers and Theckeray defied the ban and performed the Puja and religious ceremony at the shrine.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Johari |first1=Aarefa |title=Back to the '60s: The Shiv Sena's tradition of violence is as old as the party itself |url=https://scroll.in/article/761832/back-to-the-60s-the-shiv-senas-tradition-of-violence-is-as-old-as-the-party-itself |publisher=[[Scroll.in]] |date=October 13, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Purandare |first1=Vaibhav |title=Bal Thackeray & The Rise of the Shiv Sena |date=2013 |page=71 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Bal_Thackeray_The_Rise_of_the_Shiv_Sena/JS1hBAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Durgadi+Fort+Thackeray&pg=PT114&printsec=frontcover}}</ref>

== Photogallery ==
<gallery class="center">
File:Durgadi Fort Enterance.jpg|Durgadi Fort entrance
File:Durgadi Fort ,Kalyan, Maharashtra - panoramio.jpg|Durgadi Fort
File:Durgadi Fort ,Kalyan, Maharashtra - panoramio (17).jpg|Durgadi Mata Temple on the fort
File:Durgadi Fort ,Kalyan, Maharashtra - panoramio (5).jpg|A mosque on the fort
File:Durgadi Fort ,Kalyan, Maharashtra - panoramio (2).jpg|Durgadi Fort
File:Durgadi Fort ,Kalyan, Maharashtra - panoramio (15).jpg|Durgadi Fort
File:Durgadi Fort ,Kalyan, Maharashtra - panoramio (22).jpg|Durgadi Mata Temple on the fort
</gallery>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Forts in Maharashtra}}
{{Forts in India}}

[[Category:Forts in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:History of Thane district]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Thane district]]
[[Category:Forts around Mumbai]]