Information on Sewri Fort (Mumbai, Maharashtra) - History & Architecture

Sewri Fort is a magnificent fortress built by the colonialist in Bombay. It is a 343 years old great fort still standing in good conditions. This fort has vast significance in the development of Mumbai City in trade and commerce. It has also much cultural influence over its peoples too. This fort is an important tourist place I the Mumbai City. It is situated n the Sewri Fort Road, East Sewri, Mumbai City, Maharashtra State in India.

Sewri Fort Architecture

Sewri Fort is well built in the European style. Its structural designs are very unique and are very different from the colonial built forts in India. This forts foundation is laid on a quarried mine hills located here. Its foundations were laid on 60 meter high cliffs of these mined hills. Hence it is standing on a strong base of rocks underneath. Its fortification is in irregular shape. This is a stone structure having very large stone blocks. Its main walls are thick and large, in terms of height, it is not that much defensive. It has 10 turret areas. These were strongly fitted with great cannons. They were 10 in numbers and were in use many times here. Inside this for there are many strong complexes built. The unique part of these complexes is that, they had a curved roof made of stone blocks. These are well lined up and looking great as a well planed housing. These stone roofed complexes were used as store room, magazine room and residential rooms. It has very good pathways fully covered with stone slabs and small steps all around this fort. It has got very nice watch towers placed on its all four sides.

Sewri Fort History

Sewri Fort is one of the fortifications built by the British to safeguard its naval sea route from the Surat to Goa. Since the 17th century this area was in aggression with the Siddhis, the Mughals and the Marathas. The colonialist both moved friendly or fought and conquered many of its trade interest provinces. In the year 1672 AD the British underwent with many fortification works in the Mumbai Islands to protect its trade and factories. These forts also stood as the main watch towers towards the Arabian Sea. The Sewri fort came in to existence for 1780 AD with full completion of its fortification works. This fort was first attacked by the Siddhi's by the command of Yadi Sakath with a twenty thousand solders. Even the Portugal's tried it to bring this fort in its control. But in 1772 AD the Portuguese with draw its force due to strong firing from its great cannon placed in this fort. These cannon also fired up many pirates and invaders here. These cannons were well known in the history to be used maximum number of times in a fort. The east India Company was well able to establish its command over the Mumbai ports and its naval base with these help of fortification in the Mumbai Islands. This fort was used as prison and as a store hose for the Mumbai Port. The latest news of the Sewri fort is from the Maharashtra Tourism Department. It has plans to convert it's a national museum. A few parts of the complexes are to be leased for mini theatres and for restaurants.

Sewri Fort Tourism Significance

Sewri Fort is the best place for fort enthusiast and history buffs. This fort is the best place to see the European fort architecture. This is an existing strong fort after witnessing many wars. It is a vintage and the best place to see how a defensive fort looks like.