Vasai Fort

Vasai Fort Latest News

Several Ganesh idols immersed in an artificial pond were allegedly found dumped near the jetty at Vasai Fort recently, sparking outrage among residents. 

About Vasai Fort

• Vasai Fort, also known as the Bassein Fort, is an ancient fort located at Vasai in the suburbs of North Mumbai, Maharashtra. 
• It overlooks the confluence of the Ulhas River. 

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Vasai Fort History

• Vasai was known as a place for shipbuilding in the 15th Century. 
• Bahadur Shah, a Mughal Emperor, had built the Bassein Fort in the 1530s. 
• The Portuguese conquered and destroyed most of the fort a year after it was built. 
• The Portuguese remodeled the fort into a flourishing city by building a citadel inside. 
• The fort was under Portuguese control till 1739 AD. 
• In the 18th century, the fort was raided and overtaken by the Maratha army under Chimaji Appa. They stood strong for 3 long years, and then the British took over the fort in the First Anglo-Maratha War. 

Vasai Fort Architecture

• The fort covers an area of around 110 acres. 
• Surrounded by the sea on three sides and protected by a strategically designed moat on the landward side, its defenses were nearly impenetrable. 
• The fort’s walls, stretching over 4.5 kilometers, are fortified with eleven towering bastions, each echoing the echoes of battles fought long ago. 
• Within its expanse, remnants of once-majestic churches, intricate archways, and Portuguese-style facades still stand, albeit weathered by time. 
• Three old churches are recognisable in the fort. The southernmost chapel has a well-preserved barrel-vaulted ceiling, and the walls are covered with tree roots and palm groves.

News: TOI