Bandra Fort

Castella de Aguada (Portuguese: "Fort of the Waterpoint"), also known as the Bandra Fort, is a fort in Mum

The Castella de Aquada , commonly known as Bandra Fort is an important heritage building on the Mumbai coast

bai. It is located at Land's End in Bandra. It was built by the Portuguese in 1640 as a watchtower overlooking Mahim Bay, the Arabian Sea and the southern island of Mahim. The strategic value of the fort was enhanced in 1661 after the Portuguese ceded the seven islands of Bombay that lay to the immediate south of Bandra to the British. The name indicates its origin as a place where fresh water was available in the form of a fountain ("Aguada") for Portuguese ships cruising the coasts in the initial period of Portuguese presence. The fort lies over several levels, from sea level to an altitude of 24 metres (79 ft). Castella de Aguada has been featured in several Hindi films, such as Dil Chahta Hai and Buddha Mil Gaya.

History

The Portuguese, who had established a base in the area in 1534 after defeating Bahadur Shah of Gujarat,

built several sea forts along the western Indian coastline. Castella de Aguada was one such strategically located fort, overlooking the Mahim Bay to the south, the Arabian Sea to the west, the islands of Worli to the south and the town of Mahim to the south west. The fort also guarded the northern sea route into Mumbai Harbour. This sea route, a large estuary, was later reclaimed from the sea in the nineteenth century. During the Portuguese rule, it was armed with seven cannons d other smaller guns as defence. A freshwater spring in the vicinity supplied potable water to passing ships, thus 

The fort offers stunning views of the Bandra - Worli Sea Link

lending the fort its name.

After the decline of the Portuguese in the early 18th century, the Marathas became the largest threat to British 

possessions. Sensing an impending Portuguese defeat, the British partially demolished the fort as a 

precautionary measure. The demolition would obviate the possibility of the fort being captured by the Marathas, with the possibility of it being used as a forward military base to attack British Bombay.

In 1739 the island was invaded by the Marathas; it was ruled by them until 1774 when the British gained possession of the area during the First Anglo-Maratha War. In 1830, the British donated large parts of Salsette Island, including Land's End, to Byramjee Jeejeebhoy, a Parsi philanthropist. Jeejeeboy then established his residence on the hill where the fort is located, and the cape was renamed Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Point.

Conservation

In 2003, a conservation program was started by Bandra Band Stand Residents’ Trust to save the fort. It was spearheaded by a local Member of Parliament (MP), Shabana Azmi, who funded part of the effort from her allotted funds. The brick arch of one of the gateways on the verge of collapse, and the foundation masonry of the fort wall that was in danger of tidal erosion were repaired. The nearby Taj Land's End hotel is responsible for maintenance of the fort, having inherited it from the previous owners.

The fort is owned by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Included in the fort makeover are the preservation of the natural rock formations, providing pathways, and the creation of an amphitheatre. The architect for the makeover was P.K. Das, who had earlier redesigned the Carter Road area.

The fort has now gained importance as tourism has started to increase . The fort is a heritage building that symbolizes the rich and fierce history of the city . It is our responsibility to save the fading heritage of Mumbai . 

Mumbai and Bandra Fort

The students studying in nearby colleges are often seen hanging out near the fort

Bandra fort is an important attraction and heritage place in Mumbai . But , even then , Many people are unaware of recreation facilities in and around the fort . Many youngsters come along with their loved ones to share some love . Owing to this factor , many people avoid visiting the fort . A few decades back , this place was absolutely isolated . But , today many people flock this fort to enjoy the panaromic views of the Sea .  With increasing tourism , managing the fort is becoming difficult . Ignorant people carelessly throw waste such as plastic , left over food ,etc. into the open sea . Plastic has been the most degrading factor for water pollution . The need of the hour is to educate the people and bring about a new society which respects history , which respects the heritage of our city and works for the betterment of monuments .