Information on Korlai Fort (Raigad, Maharashtra) - History & Architecture

Korlai Fort is a beautiful Island fortress built by the Portuguese. It is around 493 years ago built giant structure still standing aloft in this Island. This fort has significant impact on the India history with the Sultanate of Ahmednagar, The Maratha Empire and with the British East India Company (BEIC). It is located near the Morro de Chaul Islands, Korlia Town near Alibaug, Raigad District of Maharashtra State in India. The fort portrays significant historical backdrop and more of all, the genius of the architectural beauty that is well praised even today.

Korlai Fort Architecture

Korlai Fort is built in the European model of architecture. This fortress was designed and built by a Portugal architect named Dom Filipe Mascarenhas. This fort was built as a defensive fort and had a very deep moat around it. The main gates were approached by draw bridges only, which gave it foremost safety inside this fortress. It has used the locally found granites and sea sand for its construction. It is a complete stone marvel. Mortar is used as the bonding material all over its structure. There are two main ramparts built here. The 1st is the outer layer which has four passage gateways. The 2nd is the topmost fortification on the citadel, which has seven passages on its ramparts. It has very strong bastion built all over these ramparts. These ramparts are very irregular in shape. This is due to the maximum usage of open land areas used here. It has got a very large place for artilleries. There are many canon pedestal placed with imported cannon kept here. It has nearly 400 ateliers gaps and holes for gun firing. Its magazine rooms are very strongly built with granite stones. The main complexes here are built up to four stories and few small structures are found in single storied structures. There are also many scattered individual structure found here. A church was built in the European style in the year 1630 AD and was a great worship place until 1728 AD. There is a fresh water catchment area found here, which is greatly called as the Santa Cruz. This fort has many look out areas placed with gaps in geometrical designs all over its structure. It does have the watch towers to keep a vigil over the sea.

Korlai Fort History

Korlai Fort is also known as the Morro Fort and the Castle Curlew Fort. This fortress was built by the Portuguese in the year 1521 AD. This was the time they entered the western parts of India for spice trading and wished to have their factories here. They went with friendly relation with the Ahmadnagar Sultan and took permit to build a giant fortress here. Within a century of time there were many aggression happened with the sultan and Portuguese here. In the year 1594 AD the portages sized this fort permanently from the sultans be defeating them strongly in the fort surroundings. The famous Maratha king Shivaji tried many time to conquer this fort and was defeated many times. He finally accepts defeat and went back with his troops on 1687 AD. This fortress was later conquered by them after a century by a new clan. From the year 1739 AD to 1818 AD this came under the Maratha Empire. Then comes the BEIC and took over from Marathas in a small battle and hold it from 1818 ad to the India's Independence. This fort was responsible in developing its sea and land areas in trade and over all development of this region. A light House and a sea port added value to its spice trade for the colonist.

Korlai Fort Tourism Importance

Korlai Fort is a strong fort till standing in its glory. This for has a scenic view of the Arabian Sea for its hilltop. It is a protected monument and a heritage site maintained by the state archeological department. It is the best Island for to see in Maharashtra. Visiting the fort itself gives wonderful experience to an individual, but apart from that, if you are photographer's enthusiasts and history lovers, the fort is surely going to quench your thirst. It is a wonderful place to be to enjoy serenity as well as to soak in the brilliance of the history that is portrays by the timeless Korlai Fort.