The environmental history of maritime forts in and around Mumbai

Coastal lands vulnerable to attacks from the sea maintained powerful navalforces for their defence even in ancient times. Forts were built with seawardorientation keeping a close watch on movements on the sea and adjoining land. The present study seeks to examine the historical importance of coastal forts and fortresses in the immediate hinterland with respect to their geographical locations in the past as well as the present in a stretch of North Konkan lying between Dahanu and the Kundalika estuary. The areabecame dynamic from the maritime point of view with the advent of colonial traders seeking footholds in search of seaborne trade. The objective of this study is to understand the role of the sea in the maritime heritage and history of the region that brought about significant and marked changes in the socio – political setup of the area. Almost all coastal forts were built on some natural site of advantage, commanding the sea or a creek. Site and logistics were important considerations. Having been exposed to the elements of nature and subjected tovarying degrees weathering, many are mere remnants of their past glory. There is need to realise the heritage value of the f orts and to conserve them or restore them – a line of thinking that is taking shape in the minds of few scholarsand conservationists.