https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Mandvi_FortMandvi Fort - Revision history2026-11-15T08:37:15ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mandvi_Fort&diff=515822&oldid=prevJerilynSturgess: started new post2025-02-21T18:22:59Z<p>started new post</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>[[File:Mandvi Kutch Gate.jpg|thumb|Ruins of fort wall and gate near Brahmapuri area]]<br />
[[File:Mandvi Fort - panoramio.jpg|thumb|Mandvi Fort]]<br />
'''Mandvi Fort''' is a ruined [[fort]] located in [[Mandvi]], [[Gujarat]], India. It is Gujarat's last-standing maritime fort.<ref name="The Times of India 2001" /><br />
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==History==<br />
The then ruler of Kutch, Rao Khongarji, built the port in 1580. To protect the country from pirates and other enemies, a fortress was constructed in the 17th century.<ref name="Prasad2001" />{{efn|According to ''The Times of India'' (2001), the fort was built by Raoshri Bharmalji, in 1549.<ref name="The Times of India 2001" />}}<br />
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In 1978, Mandvi municipality was handed over the fort under condition that it will preserve it. Later, in 1992, the municipality decided to demolish {{convert|290|m}} of wall to free the land but was opposed by citizens. The appeal was rejected in 1993 and the {{convert|300|m}} -long wall of the west side was demolished in 1993. In 1999, the state archeological department considered it for declaring protected monument but later decided against it. After assessing the condition of the fort, the court rejected appeals against demolition in 2001. The fort wall was demolished in two phases except four gates and six bastions which were preserved as protected monuments.<ref name="The Times of India 2001">{{cite web | title=500-year-old Mandvi fort being demolished in Kutch | website=The Times of India | date=29 October 2001 | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/500-year-old-Mandvi-fort-being-demolished-in-Kutch/articleshow/594019939.cms | accessdate=1 February 2015}}</ref><br />
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==Architecture and fittings==<br />
It was {{convert|8|km}} long, {{convert|2.7|m}} broad, and {{convert|3|m}} high with five gates, three windows and seven [[bastion]]s (''kotha''). <br />
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The fort had several gateways and 25 bastions. At present, most of the wall has disappeared. The bastion on the southwest is largest and acts as a lighthouse. The circular masonry tower of Mandvi Lighthouse is situated up the spiral stairs of the bastion of the Mandvi Fort.<ref name="Prasad2001">{{cite news |last1=Prasad |first1=I.C. R. |title=Earthquake results in lighthouse destruction |url=http://www.lighthousedigest.com/digest/StoryPage.cfm?StoryKey=1187 |access-date=30 December 2024 |work=www.lighthousedigest.com |date=December 2001}}</ref><br />
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==Notes==<br />
{{notelist}}<br />
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==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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{{coord missing|Gujarat}}<br />
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[[Category:Forts in Gujarat]]<br />
[[Category:17th-century forts in India]]<br />
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Kutch district]]</div>JerilynSturgess