1,326
edits
m
robot: Create/update articles. If there is a mistake please report on my talk page.
>Nolicmahr |
m (robot: Create/update articles. If there is a mistake please report on my talk page.) |
||
| Line 34: | Line 34: | ||
|caption2 = | |caption2 = | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Korlai Fort''' is a [[List of Portuguese colonial forts|colonial fort]] in the [[Raigad district]] of [[Maharashtra, India|Maharashtra]], India.<ref>{{cite book|last=Kapadia |first=Harish|title=Trek the Sahyadris|publisher=Indus Publishing|year=2004|pages=72|isbn=81-7387-151-5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oICZM5HKRbAC&q=korlai+fort&pg=PA72|access-date=2009-02-04}}</ref> Formerly a part of the [[Chaul]] in [[Portuguese India]],<ref>{{cite journal|year=1889|title=Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society|publisher=Bombay Natural History Society|volume=v4|pages=291|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5J9oyAsf0tEC&q=korlai+fort&pg=PA291|access-date=2009-02-04}}</ref> the structure is a specimen of [[Portuguese colonial architecture]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Kapadia |first=Harish|title=Trek the Sahyadris|publisher=Indus Publishing|year=2004|pages=72|isbn=81-7387-151-5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oICZM5HKRbAC&q=korlai+fort&pg=PA72|access-date=2009-02-04}}</ref> It was built as a companion to the fort at Chaul, at this strategic position the Portuguese could use it to defend their province which stretched from Korlai to the [[Fort Bassein]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Indica |publisher=Saint Xavier's College, Bombay Heras Institute of Indian History and Culture|year=2004|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L_htAAAAMAAJ&q=korlai+fort|access-date=2009-02-05}}</ref> Vestiges of the Portuguese occupation are manifested in the distinct dialect of the Korlai villages inhabitants which is a [[Luso-Indian]] creole called [[Korlai Portuguese Creole]]. | |||
== History == | == History == | ||
[[File:Korlai6.jpg|thumb|Old Map of Chaul and environs]] | |||
This fort was built in 1521 by the [[Portuguese India|Portuguese]] with the permission of the [[Ahmednagar Sultanate#Ahmadnagar sultanate|Ahmednagar sultanate]]. In 1521, taking advantage of the confusion in the aftermath of the death of the Burhan Nizam the Portuguese tried to take over the fort.<ref name="bombay ">{{cite book|title=Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency|publisher=Govt. Central Press|year=1883|url=https://archive.org/details/cu31924070623776|page=[https://archive.org/details/cu31924070623776/page/n341 328]|quote=korlai fort.|access-date=2009-02-04}}</ref> However the sultan retaliated and sent some of his best men to reclaim the fort. Subsequently, a truce was reached in which the Ahmednagar sultanate occupied the island and no further fortification of the island took place. Only a wooden cross remained on the island as a sign of its former rulers. | This fort was built in 1521 by the [[Portuguese India|Portuguese]] with the permission of the [[Ahmednagar Sultanate#Ahmadnagar sultanate|Ahmednagar sultanate]]. In 1521, taking advantage of the confusion in the aftermath of the death of the Burhan Nizam the Portuguese tried to take over the fort.<ref name="bombay ">{{cite book|title=Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency|publisher=Govt. Central Press|year=1883|url=https://archive.org/details/cu31924070623776|page=[https://archive.org/details/cu31924070623776/page/n341 328]|quote=korlai fort.|access-date=2009-02-04}}</ref> However the sultan retaliated and sent some of his best men to reclaim the fort. Subsequently, a truce was reached in which the Ahmednagar sultanate occupied the island and no further fortification of the island took place. Only a wooden cross remained on the island as a sign of its former rulers. | ||
| Line 43: | Line 44: | ||
Before its destruction, Korlai had been described by travelers as a "magnificent fortress as strong as any other in the world".<ref name="bombay"/> On the inland side - the only place where it was susceptible to be attacked it was protected by a ditch and could only be accessed by a drawbridge. The main entrance was guarded by a bronze lion and the highest tower by a bronze eagle. It housed 7,000 horses and as much men. | Before its destruction, Korlai had been described by travelers as a "magnificent fortress as strong as any other in the world".<ref name="bombay"/> On the inland side - the only place where it was susceptible to be attacked it was protected by a ditch and could only be accessed by a drawbridge. The main entrance was guarded by a bronze lion and the highest tower by a bronze eagle. It housed 7,000 horses and as much men. | ||
Some parts of it were rebuilt later but now had a garrison of only 50 men.<ref name="bombay"/> The church within the fort was used for worship on Sundays and holidays. Korlai fort was also strategically very important as it guarded the mouth of the bay. [[Sambhaji]] the son of [[Shivaji]] tried to take it over but failed<ref name="daiji"/> and had to withdraw his forces on 6 December 1687.<ref>{{cite book|last=Gokhala|first=Kamal Shri Krishna|title=Chhatrapati Sambhaji|publisher=Navakamal Publications|year=1978|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qvy1AAAAIAAJ&q=korlai+fort|access-date=2009-02-04}}</ref> The fort was taken by the Marathas who held it from 1739-1818. | Some parts of it were rebuilt later but now had a garrison of only 50 men.<ref name="bombay"/> The church within the fort was used for worship on Sundays and holidays. Korlai fort was also strategically very important as it guarded the mouth of the bay. [[Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj]] the son of [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj]] tried to take it over but failed<ref name="daiji"/> and had to withdraw his forces on 6 December 1687.<ref>{{cite book|last=Gokhala|first=Kamal Shri Krishna|title=Chhatrapati Sambhaji|publisher=Navakamal Publications|year=1978|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qvy1AAAAIAAJ&q=korlai+fort|access-date=2009-02-04}}</ref> The fort was taken by the Marathas who held it from 1739-1818. | ||
== Major features == | == Major features == | ||
| Line 71: | Line 72: | ||
==How to reach== | ==How to reach== | ||
It is easily approachable by road. The road from Korlai bus stop ends at the Lighthouse. The fort has three entrance. The entrance from western side is the easiest way, it is from the Lighthouse side. Climbing few steps one reaches in the middle of the fort. The entrance from the eastern side is a | It is easily approachable by road. The road from Korlai bus stop ends at the Lighthouse. The fort has three entrance. The entrance from western side is the easiest way, it is from the Lighthouse side. Climbing few steps one reaches in the middle of the fort. The entrance from the eastern side is a tedious walk of 20 minutes. This route is the main route and the entrance is through main gate, but this route is not recommended in rainy season as this is less used route. The entrance from the port side or northern side is good one. One can reach there by walking along a path from the light house.There is ample of water on the topmost fortification, so a night halt can easily be made. | ||
===Rail=== | ===Rail=== | ||
| Line 113: | Line 114: | ||
[[Category:1520s establishments in Portuguese India]] | [[Category:1520s establishments in Portuguese India]] | ||
[[Category:1521 establishments in the Portuguese Empire]] | [[Category:1521 establishments in the Portuguese Empire]] | ||