Fort

Fort

The Fort of Diu, an expansive and imposing structure is situated on the extreme coast of the Island on the eastern side. The Fort commands a magnificent view of the sea and its surrounding areas. It is hemmed in by the sea on the three sides and surrounded by a canal in the fourth. The huge battle scared fort was a product of a strategic alliance between Bahadur Shah, the Sultan of Gujarat and the Portuguese against the Mughals, built in the year 1535 by D. Nuno da Cunha and rebuilt in the year 1546 by D. Joao de Castro. The Fort is spread over an area of 5.6 hectares and its height above the sea level is 26.40 m. This enormous monuments had residence for the noble, warehouse, and barracks for the soldiers, house of arms and ammunitions, prison, church and a chapel unfortunately in ruins. The Fort has a number of bastions- Bastion St. Domingos, Bastion St. Nicolau, Bastion St. Philip, Bastion Couraça, Bastion Cavaleiro, Bastion St. James, Bastion Chato (Flat), Bastion St. George, Bastion St. Tereza, Bastion St. Lucy. The oldest of them all is believed to be of St. George. Once inside the Fort you are overwhelmed by the great majestic of the ancient stone work which transports you to a bygone era of gallant soldiers when time stands still. Walking on its broad ramparts and feeling the intimidating cannons and iron shells that still lie inter-spread 31 all over, I want to delve into history and reconstruct the enchanting tales of battles and empire.

On the Fort stands a giant structure, now housing the light house which serves as navigator to the fishermen and a jail.

Planned, constructed and defended, the Fort of Diu is a symbol of the potent foreign rule of the Portuguese who managed to hold to this sunny territory of India even after the country’s freedom from the British.