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| Diu Fort upload.wikimedia.org image. Ed Sentner |
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| Diu off Gujarat Fort. gujarat-travels.com |
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| Diu Fort.upload.wikimedia.org |
Above image: The Diu Fort and the high wall. with view toward the sea. image credit. Ed Sentner.......
After several battles and siege by the local rulers particularly the Sultanate, atlast the Portuguese under the military leadership of Dom João Mascarenhas and Dom João de Castro. Diu and the fort became Portuguese possession and the colonists enjoyed uninterrupted control over the fort and Diu island, along with Daman and Goa
Before the Portuguese had built the fortress in 1535, the ancient history of the place was linked to several kings and dynasties. The island was occupied by the Chavda Rajputs in the 9th century, and later by the Vaghela dynasty. The island would later come under the control of the Gujarat Sultanate. Today the fort is a landmark of Diu and one of the Seven Wonders of Portuguese Origin in the World.
Key features of the Diu fort are as follows:
Diu Fort, a formidable structure on the Diu island's coast, stands as a testament to Portuguese military might in western coastal India. Its strategic location commands panoramic sea views, bordered by the ocean on three sides. The fort boasts a robust defense system, featuring an outer wall along the coastline and an inner wall fortified with bastions for mounting cannons, many crafted from brass and still preserved. A double moat, with an outer tidal section and an inner one carved from sandstone, provided an additional layer of security.
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| Portuguese artifacts,Diu. |
Above image: Diu. Portuguese relics made from petrified (hard) wood in the Museum. image credit, image.tommy (posted to Flicker) upload.wikimedia.org........
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| Diu Fort,,India.upload.wikimedia.org |
Constructed swiftly between October and March using Portuguese forced labor, the fort features three entry gates, the main one adorned with five large windows and stone galleries. An inscription in Portuguese marks the entrance, guarded by the St. George bastion. Inside, a lighthouse stands prominently. Even in ruins, the walls, gateways, arches, ramps, and bastions evoke the fort's past military significance. Gardens with paths lined by old cannons now occupy the interior. The fort's legacy is further underscored by the well-preserved cannons and scattered iron shells, remnants of its historical role. A jetty on the northwestern side, built during its construction, remains in use, connecting the past to the present.
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