Bassein
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Towards the north of Mumbai , near Vasai lies the Bassein Fort. The Bassien located
70 kilometers from Mumbai, romancing the Arabian Sea is in ruins today. It was
the Portuguese headquarters of their Indian operations in 1534 and centre of their
operations until 1739. With this as the main base, they built other smaller forts
such as the Castella de Aguada, and strong houses in many of the islands. Though
the portuguese ruled from here for 205 years, In the 18th century, the fort was
attacked by the Maratha army under Peshwa Baji Rao's brother Chimnaji Appa, and
fell in 1739 after a three year long campaign. Bassein was known for the refinement
and wealth of aesthetically architectured buildings and palaces and the beauty
of its churches.
Tourism with a DifferenceBassien was rich in natural resources like timber, basalt, granite, cotton, sugarcane and rice, making it a commercial centre. Nunho de Cunha, a Portuguese soldier who conquered it from Muslim ruler, Bahadur Shali, King of Gujarat, founded the city of Bassein in 1536. Today , what remains of the for are the parts of the imposing fort walls, two access doors ('Porta do Mar' and 'Porta da Terra') and vestiges of town houses and churches.Forms Of Tourist Attraction In BasseinSome of the tourist attraction in Bassein are the church and convent of Dominicans, the Franciscan church of Santo Antonio, church and convents of Augustinian, the 'Camara' palace and Jesuits church and convent are some of the visible relics of the past.
Three chapels inside the fort are still recognisable. They have façades typical of 17th century Portuguese churches. The southernmost of these has a well preserved barrel vaulted ceiling. The fort is often used for shooting film scenes. Recently, historian Dr. Regin Domnic D' Silva has taken up the task to set up Bassein Institute of History and Culture. He wants to explore and research on the ruined fort-city . The nearest city to Bassien is Mumbai and the railway station is Vasai. There are taxis and auto rickshaws available from the railway station.
Tourism with a DifferenceBassien was rich in natural resources like timber, basalt, granite, cotton, sugarcane and rice, making it a commercial centre. Nunho de Cunha, a Portuguese soldier who conquered it from Muslim ruler, Bahadur Shali, King of Gujarat, founded the city of Bassein in 1536. Today , what remains of the for are the parts of the imposing fort walls, two access doors ('Porta do Mar' and 'Porta da Terra') and vestiges of town houses and churches.Forms Of Tourist Attraction In BasseinSome of the tourist attraction in Bassein are the church and convent of Dominicans, the Franciscan church of Santo Antonio, church and convents of Augustinian, the 'Camara' palace and Jesuits church and convent are some of the visible relics of the past.
Three chapels inside the fort are still recognisable. They have façades typical of 17th century Portuguese churches. The southernmost of these has a well preserved barrel vaulted ceiling. The fort is often used for shooting film scenes. Recently, historian Dr. Regin Domnic D' Silva has taken up the task to set up Bassein Institute of History and Culture. He wants to explore and research on the ruined fort-city . The nearest city to Bassien is Mumbai and the railway station is Vasai. There are taxis and auto rickshaws available from the railway station.
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