KBG Contest No. 11 was well contested.
The correct answer is Vasai Fort or Bassein Fort located in a northern suburb of Mumbai. The readers' responses ranged from Karnala Fort to Golconda Fort to the ruins in Ross Island near Port Blair.
We congratulate the winners who were the first three to identify the Fort correctly:
Akhil Vamshi
Veeresh Naidu
Suchitra Chowdury
There were many more who gave the correct answer thereafter. We thank them and wish them better luck next time.
Just to recapitulate, the clues given are reproduced below:
How to get there
Vasai Fort can be reached by the suburban train from Churchgate railway station in Mumbai. Get down at Vasai Road station and take a bus or auto to the fort located 8 kms south-west of the station. See the map below.
Brief History
The Fort was built in 1184 AD by the Yadavas of Devagiri. Thereafter it was controlled by the Chalukyas (till 1432), Gujarat Sultanate (1432-1533), the Portuguese (1534-1739), the Marathas (1739-1818), East India Company (1818-1857) and the British Raj (1857-1947). The fort is a monument of national importance and is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India. Readers may refer Wikipedia for more details.
The Fort Now
The fort is a major tourist attraction in the region for its Indo-Portuguese history. Several watch-towers still stand, with safe staircases leading up. The Portuguese buildings inside the fort are in ruins, although there are enough standing walls to give a good idea of the floor plans of these structures. Many of the arches have weathered the years remarkably well. They are usually decorated with carved stones, some weathered beyond recognition, others still displaying sharp chisel marks. Besides all the structures, tourists often also observe the nature that has taken over much of the fort. Butterflies, birds, plants and reptiles can all be observed. See Ghumakkad's pictures below.
Film Shooting
The fort is also a popular shooting location for Bollywood movies and songs. The Bollywood hit ″Kambakkht Ishq″ from Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya is one of the Bollywood songs. Movies such as Josh, starring Shah Rukh Khan, and Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega have a number of scenes from the fort.
Chimaji Appa Statue
In the 18th century, the Bassein Fort was taken over by the Maratha Empire under Peshwa Baji Rao's brother Chimaji Appa and fell in 1739 after the Battle of Baçaim. The fort was taken by the British in 1774 and returned to Marathas in 1783 under the Treaty of Salbai. The British in 1818 attacked and again took over the territory from the Marathas. The fort also played a strategic role in the First Anglo-Maratha War.
Although Ghumakkad had visited the fort more than 10 years ago, the pictures and KBG-11 contest brought back the memories. If you are in Mumbai and haven't seen Vasai Fort yet, do plan an outing. The ruins will not disappoint you. Am reminded of William Blake's famous words: "The ruins of time build mansions in eternity".
Moving on, KBG-12 once again centres around a Fort. Watch the announcement to grab the KBG Badge of Honour.
Thanks for browsing
- Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ 24th March 2019/hbindia@gmail.com
#kbg #kbg11 #kaunbanegaghumakkad #funwithtravel #fort #ruins #ghumakkadhb #ghumakkadharsh #contest #vasaifort #indoportugesehistory #seafort #natgeoindia #photowalks #travelindia #wandertrails #basseinfort #williamblake #chimajiappa
The correct answer is Vasai Fort or Bassein Fort located in a northern suburb of Mumbai. The readers' responses ranged from Karnala Fort to Golconda Fort to the ruins in Ross Island near Port Blair.
We congratulate the winners who were the first three to identify the Fort correctly:
Akhil Vamshi
Veeresh Naidu
Suchitra Chowdury
There were many more who gave the correct answer thereafter. We thank them and wish them better luck next time.
Just to recapitulate, the clues given are reproduced below:
How to get there
Vasai Fort can be reached by the suburban train from Churchgate railway station in Mumbai. Get down at Vasai Road station and take a bus or auto to the fort located 8 kms south-west of the station. See the map below.
The Fort was built in 1184 AD by the Yadavas of Devagiri. Thereafter it was controlled by the Chalukyas (till 1432), Gujarat Sultanate (1432-1533), the Portuguese (1534-1739), the Marathas (1739-1818), East India Company (1818-1857) and the British Raj (1857-1947). The fort is a monument of national importance and is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India. Readers may refer Wikipedia for more details.
The Fort Now
The fort is a major tourist attraction in the region for its Indo-Portuguese history. Several watch-towers still stand, with safe staircases leading up. The Portuguese buildings inside the fort are in ruins, although there are enough standing walls to give a good idea of the floor plans of these structures. Many of the arches have weathered the years remarkably well. They are usually decorated with carved stones, some weathered beyond recognition, others still displaying sharp chisel marks. Besides all the structures, tourists often also observe the nature that has taken over much of the fort. Butterflies, birds, plants and reptiles can all be observed. See Ghumakkad's pictures below.
Film Shooting
The fort is also a popular shooting location for Bollywood movies and songs. The Bollywood hit ″Kambakkht Ishq″ from Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya is one of the Bollywood songs. Movies such as Josh, starring Shah Rukh Khan, and Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega have a number of scenes from the fort.
Chimaji Appa Statue
In the 18th century, the Bassein Fort was taken over by the Maratha Empire under Peshwa Baji Rao's brother Chimaji Appa and fell in 1739 after the Battle of Baçaim. The fort was taken by the British in 1774 and returned to Marathas in 1783 under the Treaty of Salbai. The British in 1818 attacked and again took over the territory from the Marathas. The fort also played a strategic role in the First Anglo-Maratha War.
Although Ghumakkad had visited the fort more than 10 years ago, the pictures and KBG-11 contest brought back the memories. If you are in Mumbai and haven't seen Vasai Fort yet, do plan an outing. The ruins will not disappoint you. Am reminded of William Blake's famous words: "The ruins of time build mansions in eternity".
Moving on, KBG-12 once again centres around a Fort. Watch the announcement to grab the KBG Badge of Honour.
Thanks for browsing
- Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ 24th March 2019/hbindia@gmail.com
#kbg #kbg11 #kaunbanegaghumakkad #funwithtravel #fort #ruins #ghumakkadhb #ghumakkadharsh #contest #vasaifort #indoportugesehistory #seafort #natgeoindia #photowalks #travelindia #wandertrails #basseinfort #williamblake #chimajiappa
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