Arnala

Posted by VISHAL On 9:45 PM 1 comments

District : Thane Grade : Easier

The fort of Arnala is built on the northeast of a small island Arnala. As river Vaitarna of North-Konkan meets the sea near this fort it is possible to keep watch on this creek and the surrounding area.

History :
Sultan Mahmood Begda of Gujarat built the sea fort of Arnala in 1516. In 1530 Portuguese won this fort and built new structures on it. Portuguese ruled over the fort for more than 200 years. Later the Marathas took it. Bajirao-I reconstructed fort like the Portuguese. In 1817, like the other forts, British captured this fort also.

Fascinating Spots :
The fort is approximately rectangular in shape and is being protected by continuous and strong ramparts having a height of about 10 meters. The bastions are in good condition even today. There are three entrances to the fort out of which the main entrance is on the north side. At both sides of this entrance there are two big bastions. On the arc of this entrance nice carvings can be seen and on both sides an elephant and a tiger are carved. These indicate the strength of the ruler of the fort. On the main entrance a lithograph is seen. From the lines of the lithograph we can understand Bajirao Peshwa reconstructed that fort. Inside a fort there are temples of ‘Tryambakeshwar’ and ‘Bhavani Mata’. In front of ‘Tryambakeshwar Mahadev’ temple is a nicely built octagonal lake. Inside the fort, wells of drinking water are available. On the way towards main entrance, there is a temple of ‘Kalikamata’.

If we see the fort from the beach we see a bastion to the left, which is apart from the fort. There is a small entrance to enter it.
It takes about half an hour to 45 minutes to see the fort completely. We can view the surroundings while walking on the strong rampart of a fort. From the projection above the main entrance we can see the fort completely.

Kali Mandir near Arnala Fort by Nagraj Salian.

Ways To Reach :
Arnala is about 10 km from Virar station on western railway route. S.T. buses and auto-rickshaws are available to reach there. After reaching the beach from Arnala village we can reach fort by commuter boat only. The boat service is available from 6 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. It takes about 5 to 10 minutes to reach fort through the boat.

Accommodation Facility :
Not available on fort. A day is sufficient as one can see the fort completely and return by boat within 2-3 hours.

Food Facility :
Not available on the fort

Drinking Water Facility :
Water is available in the wells on fort.

Time To Reach :
About one hour from Virar

SNAPSHOTS:

Main Entrance gate of Arnala Fort

Water tank at Arnala

Temple inside Arnala Fort

Arnala fort ruins

Separate Buruj of Arnala fort

Arnala fort Walls

Inside View of Arnala Fort

FORTS |

Chavand - Near Pune

Posted by VISHAL On 2:38 AM 0 comments

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Situated at a height of 3000ft from sea level, the fort houses many a remnant of constructions that take us about 800 years back into the time. The fort is in Pune district, at a distance of 20 km from the city of Junnar. The region at the foothills of the fort contains exotic flora & fauna. It was here that we could spot at least 12 varieties of birds. Village of Chavandwadi lies at the base of the fort.

History

Malik Ahmed founded the Nizam Dynasty in 1485. He was the first Nizamshah who acquired the fort of Chavand after the dissolution of the Bahmani Empire. The seventh Nizamshah was Second Burhanshah. His grandson Bahadurshah was imprisoned here in 1594. Bahadurshah was the nephew of Chandbibi, a renowned
personality from the same period. She played an important role in helping him to achieve the throne.

In 1636 Shahajiraje, father of Shivaji Maharaj, signed a treaty with the Moghals, in which the Moghals got Chavand. Shivaji Maharaj named the fort as Prasannagad",

Mythological references :

The forts named after the names of great sages (for e.g. Vasota, named after Vasistha) are pre-ancient forts.
The forts decorated by Buddhist carvings and sculptures (for e.g. Shivneri) are ancient forts.
Forts belonging to the medieval period are related to Shaiva, Shakta or Naath.
The goddess Chamunda is an idol of destruction of evil, with a terrifying appearance, armed with weapons. The deity belongs to Bengal, Bihar and Karnataka.

Attractions

Saptamatrika (The seven cisterns) : The British in their attack have destroyed many a construction in the eighteenth century. Here a temple half buried in the earth can be seen. As we go ahead on the left, we can see 7 water tanks aligned along each other. These have much mythological significance, & their names are as follows: Brahmi, Maheshwari, Kaumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Indrayani & Chamunda, the most powerful goddess of all.

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Rock Cut Caves : As we proceed towards the northern direction around the fortification, we can see that a proper way was constructed hereby to move around to keep watch. On the north side of the fort, human made caves are situated where the fortification ends. Here it is said that a secret passage exists, amidst the wall, right below the caves. As we go the south side, we can have a beautiful view of the river Kukdi that originates from Kukdeshwar, a famous pilgrimage near the fort. On the southeastern side, no fortification exists as steep fall dominates this place. Again as we proceed westwards, we can see the fortification here. This fort being strongly secured was used for imprisoning Bahadurshah Nizam in 1594.
Chavandabai Shrine : On the topmost part of the fort, i.e. on a small hillock, is situated the temple of Goddess Chavandabai. Here rises the question, that who brought this deity here in Maharashtra, which is predominantly from the provinces of Bengal, Bihar & Mysore. The answer is also quite simple. Naneghat had been the main route for transport of goods that came from other provinces via harbour of Sopara & Kalyan, the place of junction. Some well established businessman from Mysore, who came through Naneghat, must have established Chamunda here. Folks were unable to utter Chamunda, & they called it as Chavand, hence was named the fort.

Reaching There

By Air -
Pune is the nearest Airport 130 km away.
By Rail -
Pune is the nearest rail head.
By Road -
From Junnar regular ST buses ply to Kukdeshwar.

Trek Routes

Chavandwadi Route (Grade : Easy) -
Decend at Pur phata. From here head towards Chavand village. A well defined pathway from here takes you up the fort. Mid way there are steps hewn out of rock to reach the top.

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FORTS |

Mahim Fort

Posted by VISHAL On 2:22 AM 1 comments

The Mahim Fort is a fort in Mahim, in Mumbai (Bombay), India. It was built by the first governor of Bombay, Gerald Aungier (1669-1677). It was part of the larger Bombay Castle. It overlooks the Mahim Bay and Bandra to the north. Strategically located it was a defence post against possible Portuguese attacks from the north (which owned the Salsette Island across the Mithi River) and later from the Marathas.

For a large part of this last millennium, barring the last 55 years, India had many rulers. Be it the Mughals, Portuguese, or British, there has been no shortage of folks who wanted to rule this part of the world - after all, India was once called the land of milk and honey.

The city of Mumbai has several historic monuments and heritage sites, each telling its own tale. The Mahim Durgah, the Portuguese Church, or for that matter the Gateway of India, are all legacies of the ruler of that era.

Of these, the Mahim Fort is a relic from the British Raj. This fort is actually a fortress - a part of the larger "Bombay Castle" or St. George's Castle. This castle was an important base during the time of the British Empire, but now all that remains are a few ramparts scattered about the city.

The Mahim Fort has cousins in Sion, Worli, Shivri and Mazgaon. The fort was built by the then Governor of Bombay, Gerald Aungier, in the year 1669, in order to strengthen British defences. He also made Bombay more populous by attracting Gujarati traders, Parsi shipbuilders, and Muslim and Hindu manufacturers from the mainland.

A man named Thomas Grantham then strengthened the fort's ramparts in 1684. In the year 1772, 111 years after Bombay was taken from them, the Portuguese attempted to attack this fort. The British replied with cannonballs and thunder. In fact, the Bandra church also bore the brunt of their fire. By all historical accounts, there were apparently 100 soldiers and 30 cannons in the Mahim Fort at that time.

Mahim Bhuikot, Thane dist. 1 by Konkan Premi.

It is therefore anti-climactic that today, in all probability, all one can find are encroachers and hutments in the area. It is sad that a heritage site with such a glorious past, has been allowed to run to seed. The fort which was once visible from the Mahim Causeway and Bandra Reclamation, is barely visible now. The Mahim Fort needs to be restored and given the status of heritage structure.

A case of Mahim Fort, Mahim, Mumbai, submitted by Swetal Kanwelau of the Kamala Raheja Institute of Architecture & Environmental Studies, Mumbai, won the second prize at the Second IAHH International Student Design Competition. The results were announced in February 2004. The competition was aimed at investigating the issue of urban decay and degradation to evolve a more enlightened approach to planning, design and management of revitalisation, restructuring, redesign, conservation and redevelopment of such urban areas.

Fact File

Location: Mumbai

Distance from major cities:
Pune - 165 km

Villages at Foothills: Mahim
Altitude: Sea Level
Latitude: 19°2'31"N
Longitude: 72°50'17"E

Best time to visit: Throughout the year {mosmap lat='19.042056'|lon='72.838108'}

topHistory

In 1684, the fort was strengthened by Sir Thomas Grantham. In 1772, the Portuguese attempted to attack this fort, but
they were repelled by the British with cannon balls. The Mount Mary's Bascilica also was damaged during this encounter.
According to accounts, the fort had 100 soldiers and 30 cannons at that time.

topAttractions

The fort lies off the Mahim Causeway which links the suburbs to the city. The mushrooming of slums and encroachment
around the fort has lead to it being in a dilapidated state, with cracks appearing. Tidal changes in the Mahim Creek have
also contributed to structural changes. The Bandra-Worli Sea Link poses a threat to it.

OLD SNAP >>

FORTS |

Matheran

Posted by VISHAL On 3:05 AM 1 comments

Matheran is tiny hill station with exceptionally striking pastoral beauty. It is set in the mountainous region in between Mumbai and Pune. The term ‘Matheran’ suggests "forest on top". Amidst the green Jumbo forest, it is indeed the most impressive and notable hill station in Maharashtra.

Hugh Poyntz Malet, who was the collector of Thane district, discovered this pretty resort in 1850. During camping around the village, he came across a spring and it still bears his name.

ORIENTATION

It is located at an altitude of 803 meters. It is situated about 108 kms from Mumbai City, in the Karjat Tehsil of Maharashtra.

WEATHER

Temperature: 12.35 to 36.35 (Celcius)

Rainfall in Matheran varies from 0.0 to 828.0 mm/month.

Best time to visit: Though Matheran is a year round destination, the best time to visit is from October to May. Average temperatures range from 16° C in winter, to 32° C in summer.

Entry Fee: There is an entry fee of Rs.25 per head, which you need to buy to enter Matheran. These tickets are sold at the small ticket window at the entry of the main gate and have a map behind it.

GETTING THERE / ROUTE INFORMATION

Matheran is 100 km from Mumbai and 26 km from Neral, from where you can get the toy train to Matheran, a journey of 1½ hours. You can get to Neral on a local train on the Mumbai-Pune line, a journey of 2 hours from Mumbai Central. The drive via Karjat and Neral is 108 km.

By Air
The nearest airport, Mumbai, 100 km, is well connected with national and international flights. From there, you’ll need to switch to train or road.
By Rail
The rail journey to Matheran is half the fun of your trip. Neral, the nearest railhead (21 km), is connected to Mumbai, Pune and other parts of Maharashtra. From here, a special, narrow gauge "toy train" gets you up, puffing and wheezing all the way. Except during the monsoon season (June-September), there are several trains a day on the mountain railway. These take 2 hours to cover the climb to their destination. Stations on the way have names like Water pipe and there is also the famous One Kiss Tunnel. During the monsoon, the service is restricted to one train a day and during heavy rains even this can be cancelled due to landslides.

By Road
State Transport buses regularly ply from Mumbai and Pune. A taxi from Neral to Matheran takes about half-hour to reach. Taxis stop about 2.5 km from the center of the hill station. After parking the car at the base of the hill, You can go to the top on horse.

SHOPPING INFORMATION

Shop for Chikki, honey walking sticks, and custom-made leather footwear. Matheran is a foot freak delight and the more you bargain the more you will get!

MAJOR ATTRACTIONS

Its 8 sq. kms cover a hilltop in the Sahyadri Hills, and its proximity to Mumbai ensures its’ continued popularity for weekend getaways.

There seems to be an obsession with unusually named lookout points; Matheran has 33 such points from where you can feast your eyes on the Sahyadris and the valleys below, and admire rosy sunrises and sunsets.

Matheran does not have any internal motorized transport, making it all the more special. The only modes of transport are horses, donkeys, by foot or a ”Taxi” which basically is a cart pulled by a guy.

Charlotte Lake is the prime attraction of Matheran, owing to its greenery and picturesque surroundings. The hoary charm of British and Parsi homes still allures people from both far and near. Malet Spring draws everyone’s attention with its scenic setting and clear waters. Panthers’ Caves and Paymaster Park are big attractions for children. One can take a wonderful view of the Towers of Bhivpuri Power House, Karjat Palasdari Lake, Borgaon Village and Rambaug Point from the renowned Alexander Point.

Declared an Eco-sensitive region by the Union Environment Ministry, Matheran is an exceptionally beautiful place, in the company of sightseeing places like Mount Berry, Luisa Point, Echo Point, One tree Hill, Garbut Point, Olympia Racecourse and Hart point. A large number of medicinal plants and herbs thrive in the region. The red laterite earth here completes the vision of the bucolic and unscathed hill resort.

NightLife: Well, there is no nightlife in Matheran.

Nearby spots: Panvel, Karnala, Lonavla, Poona and Mumbai.

TOURIST INFORMATION

Carry light woollens for winter. Walking-sticks.

Accommodation

Regarding places to stay, this serene place has a few ancient bungalows that have been turned into Hotels and guesthouses. Here, you can avail all basic facilities. Since this place falls under environment friendly region, construction is not allowed here. Probably that’s why Matheran has maintained its lovely charisma. Thus, come to Matheran and see yourself, the beauty and splendor that have been bestowed upon it by Mother Nature.

From simple lodges to luxury resorts, an MTDC bungalow to pure vegetarian guesthouses, Matheran has accommodation options to cater to all budgets.

MORE SNAPSHOTS FROM MATHERAN :)