Fort of Diu is one of the oldest forts of India located on the western coast of India in Diu, a Union Territory, which is administered by the Government of India. Because of its exemplary strong structure, this fort is also considered as one of the Seven Wonders of the World along with Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa. Fort of Diu is one of the most prominent structures of medieval India. It is well known for its strong architecture.
History of Fort of Diu
Fort of Diu was erected during the Portuguese rule in India. The Portuguese ruled over Diu from 1537 till 1961 till it was annexed to the India after the military action, which was called Operation Vijay. Built in 1535, the fort was constructed just after the defense alliance of Bahadur Shah, the sultan of Gujarat and the Portuguese, when Mughal emperor waged a war on Diu. At that time, the Sultan of Gujarat had to enter into alliance with the Portuguese in order to secure the territory of Gujarat and Daman and Diu.
In the past history, the fort of Diu came under attack for a number of times. Along with the Mughal attack, it also faced an attack during the siege of the Turks. It was severely attacked by the Turks which almost defeated the Portuguese when suddenly they changed their plan and moved towards red sea leaving Diu under the control of the Portuguese. Diu Fort was constructed on the ruins of another fortress, which was built by the Arab Governor Malekhyaaz around 1400 AD.
Structure of Fort of Diu
Fort of Diu is also known for its structure. Surrounded with strong walls, the fort enjoys the pleasant sight of the Arabian Sea on three sides. While the outer wall is constructed along with the coastal line, the inner wall is constructed with bastions where the guns were placed on. The fort has three entry gates; in the main gate there are five windows with stone galleries on the front wall. From the Diu fort, one can get the view of the Panikota fort opposite to the Diu fort. There are several cannons and a number of iron shells scattered on the fort. Along with this, the entrance gate is decorated with the Portuguese inscriptions.
Monuments inside the Diu Fort
The fort of Diu is also known for some more historical monuments which are located inside the premises of the fort. Popular monuments like St. Paul`s Church, St Thomas church, the Venetian gothic style old bungalows, stone havelis and some old shrines of Lord Shiva are some of the most prominent monuments of the Fort of Diu. Thus with its most celebrated historical monuments and splendid architecture this has been considered as one of the well known tourists spots of Diu.
Visiting Information to Fort of Diu
There are no railway lines in Diu but the nearest railway station to this fort is on the metre gauge line at Delvada, which is 8 km from the Diu Fort. Nearest airport to this fort is Diu Airport, which provides regular air links to Mumbai. Diu is also approachable from Una, which is 10 km from the Gujarat border.
