Poster for a photography competition to inform and educate children of Navi Mumbai about the history of the land
BELAPUR FORT. Ref: Thana District Gazetteer
Bela'pur Fort, on an island of the same name about a mile long and somewhat less than a mile broad, commands the entrance to the Panvel river about five miles west of Panvel. It was described by Captain Dickinson in 1818 as about 400 feet from north to south, and divided midway, its breadth being about half its length. Near the north point, on a rising ground about seventy- five feet high and about 800 feet from the river, were the ruined remains of a battery, part of which supported the roof of an old guard-room. On a somewhat lower point of land, nearer the mouth of the river, were the remains of another battery like the first, supporting an old roof on either side of which were the ruins of a breast work. Both batteries were under cover of the fort guns. Except the north gateway and two round towers on the south face, the fort works were utterly ruinous. The works, including wretched parapets from two to four feet wide, were nowhere more than eight feet thick and varied from six to twenty feet high. The facing or revetment of part of the works was destroyed by violent rain in 1818. Except a low hut and a low ruined well, whose water lasted only a short time after the rains, the interior of the fort showed nothing but ruins. The harbour, about fifty-five feet from the fort, was defended by a low wall running along the top of the river bank. In the wall were two towers the better placed of which was about twenty feet high, and from its height and capacity was a little fort in itself. The battery above was excellent and roofed. A store room of the same size underneath the ground floor was formerly used as a prison. The enclosure was entered by a gate and had at one end a battery much like the other two, and like them commanded by the fort above.
Under the Portuguese Belapur isle was one of the seven divisions subject to Bassein the capital of the north. It included Panechana with thirty villages, Cairana with seventeen villages, and Sabayo with seventeen villages.[Da Cunha's Bassein, 206. Panechana is probably Panvel, Cairana is Khairne eight miles north of Belapur, Sabayo is Shahabaz close to Belapur. Belapur is perhaps Belawal mentioned (1570) as an European Konkan port. Bird's Mirat-i-Ahmadi, 129.] In 1781 a British resident was stationed at Belapur and in 1817 (23rd June) it was taken charge of by Captain Charles Gray. [Mr. W. B. Mulock, C.S.]
This historical research is being carried out as a part of the conservation of the early 18th Century Portuguese fort at Belapur, New Bombay. The aims of the research are thus :
document the geographical and historic evolution of the area along with the factors affecting the same,
study the precinct in a larger political, historic and architectural context,
reestablish the shared connection of relative location and common architectural features, which the fort shares with similar forts, built in the same time period and in the larger area surrounding the Mumbai Metropolis,
raise awareness among the local population, general public and visitors regarding the historic importance of the structure and the need for its immediate preservation and long – term conservation,
initiate awareness about similar structures that lie in the larger surrounding region and the need for their conservation,
formulate a common conservation management plan for all such structures in the larger surrounding area.
Inputs were also provided by experts such as Dr. Shrikant Pradhan, (Archaeologist and History Scholar), Mr. Ramesh Kulkarni (Soiltech Engineers), Mr. Ravi Ranade (Structural Consultant), Dr. Shreeniwas Sathe (Consulting Historian) and C.E.E., Ahmedabad in their related fields such as Historical Context and structural scope of the site, along with potential for excavation.
Bela'pur Fort, on an island of the same name about a mile long and somewhat less than a mile broad, commands the entrance to the Panvel river about five miles west of Panvel. It was described by Captain Dickinson in 1818 as about 400 feet from north to south, and divided midway, its breadth being about half its length. Near the north point, on a rising ground about seventy- five feet high and about 800 feet from the river, were the ruined remains of a battery, part of which supported the roof of an old guard-room. On a somewhat lower point of land, nearer the mouth of the river, were the remains of another battery like the first, supporting an old roof on either side of which were the ruins of a breast work. Both batteries were under cover of the fort guns. Except the north gateway and two round towers on the south face, the fort works were utterly ruinous. The works, including wretched parapets from two to four feet wide, were nowhere more than eight feet thick and varied from six to twenty feet high. The facing or revetment of part of the works was destroyed by violent rain in 1818. Except a low hut and a low ruined well, whose water lasted only a short time after the rains, the interior of the fort showed nothing but ruins. The harbour, about fifty-five feet from the fort, was defended by a low wall running along the top of the river bank. In the wall were two towers the better placed of which was about twenty feet high, and from its height and capacity was a little fort in itself. The battery above was excellent and roofed. A store room of the same size underneath the ground floor was formerly used as a prison. The enclosure was entered by a gate and had at one end a battery much like the other two, and like them commanded by the fort above.
Under the Portuguese Belapur isle was one of the seven divisions subject to Bassein the capital of the north. It included Panechana with thirty villages, Cairana with seventeen villages, and Sabayo with seventeen villages.[Da Cunha's Bassein, 206. Panechana is probably Panvel, Cairana is Khairne eight miles north of Belapur, Sabayo is Shahabaz close to Belapur. Belapur is perhaps Belawal mentioned (1570) as an European Konkan port. Bird's Mirat-i-Ahmadi, 129.] In 1781 a British resident was stationed at Belapur and in 1817 (23rd June) it was taken charge of by Captain Charles Gray. [Mr. W. B. Mulock, C.S.]
This historical research is being carried out as a part of the conservation of the early 18th Century Portuguese fort at Belapur, New Bombay. The aims of the research are thus :
document the geographical and historic evolution of the area along with the factors affecting the same,
study the precinct in a larger political, historic and architectural context,
reestablish the shared connection of relative location and common architectural features, which the fort shares with similar forts, built in the same time period and in the larger area surrounding the Mumbai Metropolis,
raise awareness among the local population, general public and visitors regarding the historic importance of the structure and the need for its immediate preservation and long – term conservation,
initiate awareness about similar structures that lie in the larger surrounding region and the need for their conservation,
formulate a common conservation management plan for all such structures in the larger surrounding area.
Inputs were also provided by experts such as Dr. Shrikant Pradhan, (Archaeologist and History Scholar), Mr. Ramesh Kulkarni (Soiltech Engineers), Mr. Ravi Ranade (Structural Consultant), Dr. Shreeniwas Sathe (Consulting Historian) and C.E.E., Ahmedabad in their related fields such as Historical Context and structural scope of the site, along with potential for excavation.
Belapur Fort is challenged by the encroachment of developers and natural elements like rain, vegetation and development of infrastructure for New Mumbai
Snake skins and several evidences of nature's older residents of the place struggle for existence.
The fort build by the Abyssinians, taken over by the Portuguese, then the British and then the Marathas survives the four centuries in addition to the onslaught of the elements and humans. Our team reached out to the highs and lows of the past and the present.
Belapur Fort is home to a giant moth besides mangroves, birds, and insects.
An old temple has been renovated and surrounded by modern housing that negates the history of the place.
Bastion in basalt stone masonry build by local masons under the Abyssinians in the sixteenth century is the only surviving reminder of the chequered history of Belapur Fort
Missing floors and roof from the site are evidenced in the ruined structures
Distant views of the creek through the ruined structures are available
Architect Shomit Sarkar (goggled) and Deepak Jadhav pose for a picture in the ruined arch on the bastion.
Proposal for a toilet in the fort
Exhibition on forts of Mumbai, its maritime heritage and an audio visual presentation can all be facilitated from this point, a proposed structure amidst the five acre site.
A canteen and a cafeteria are also proposed.
The bastion taken over entirely by trees is the last standing structure of the fort.
The mangroves and the little forest around the place are a biodiversity reserve are points for conservation.
TOTAL AREA UNDER GREEN COVERAGE = 90,000 SQ.M
•THE ENTIRE SITE SERVES AS THE GREEN OASIS TO THE URBAN SETTLEMENT OF BELAPUR.
•MOST OF THE AREA UNDER DENSE GREEN COVERAGE IS UNDER THE OWNERSHIP OF CIDCO, THEREFORE AN INTEGRATED APPROACH CAN BE ADOPTED WITHOUT MUCH DIFFICULTY.
'Belaflor do Sabayo' from the Archives in Lisbon were sourced (courtesy Sidd Mendiratta Architect from Portugal)
The square bastion outside the fort near the palm grove is also in need of conservation.
Archival aquatint of the Islands of Bombay and Salsette
Mumbai and Gretaer Mumbai today in the context of Belapur where forts are seen at the red spots.
Site plan of the fort and the square bastion outside.
Ruins in a picturesque and romantic format as seen today.
