India is s known for its gigantic forts that not only served as a line of defence for many centuries, but also proved to be architectural enigmas. However, due to prolonged negligence, these marvellous forts have become prone to encroachments or have been taken over illegally. Most of the forts are in a grave condition today, and despite this, the authorities refuse to pay attention to them. In our ‘Fort Series’ of the last surviving forts of Mumbai, we feature Dharavi Fort this week.
Factopedia
Dharavi was initially a large piece of marshy land that was located strategically, dividing the lands ruled by the British and the Portuguese. John Horne, the then Governor of Bombay, had commissioned the construction of this fort to protect Bombay from the aggressive sea-faring Maratha leader Kanhoji Angre.
Present state
The fort lies under the jurisdiction of the State Directorate of Archaeology and Museums (SDA). Locally known as the Kala Killa or Riwa Fort, it is located in the K/East ward and is in a poorly maintained and dilapidated state. Slum encroachments have increased to such a level that major portions of the fort have been taken over illegally, so much so that even the entrance of the fort cannot be located. The fort has an underground tunnel, which was built for an unobstructed flow of Mithi River in those times. However, the fort’s current state is pitiable.
The information and the picture for this article were sourced with the help of NGO Nagar.
