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{{short description|Historic fort in India}}
{{About|the fort in
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2017}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Castella de Aguada
| image = Bandra-fort-mumbai.jpg
| caption = Bandra Fort
Line 39 ⟶ 41:
| references =
}}
'''Castella de Aguada''' (corruption of ''Castelo da Aguada'', [[Portuguese
==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 and other smaller guns as defence.<ref name="origins">{{cite book|last=D'Cunha|first=Jose Gerson|title=The Origins of Bombay|publisher=Asian Educational Services|location=Bombay|year=1900|edition=3|pages=212|chapter=IV The Portuguese Period|isbn=81-206-0815-1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=miD5YO05jpUC&
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.<ref name="timesofindia">{{cite news|url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDA2LzExLzI2I0FyMDA0MDA=&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717070114/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDA2LzExLzI2I0FyMDA0MDA=&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 July 2011|title=Govt Will Remain Owner Of The
In 1739 the island was invaded by the [[Maratha Empire|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 [https://www.google.com/maps/views/view/115215192429475734180/photo/I7RF6iht53sAAAQWoCUb-w Land's End] (Click to view the Photosphere), 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.<ref name="toi-bandra">{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/18005656.cms|title=Bandra to get back a chunk of its past glory|date=4 August 2002
==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.<ref name="express" />
[[File:Entrance to Bandra Fort.jpg|thumb|Entrance to the Castella de Aguada, or Fort of the Waterpoint]]
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 Promenade|Carter Road]] area.<ref name="toi-bandra"/>
==See also==
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==References==
{{Commons category|
{{Reflist}}
{{Forts and fortresses of the Portuguese empire|state=collapsed}}
{{Forts around Mumbai}}
{{Forts in Maharashtra}}
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