FORT KORLAI

Korlai Fort also known as Morro de Ciaul or Morro de Chaul in Portuguese times, lies on the south bank of Roha creek. It is a rocky ridge stretching north –west half across the river and lies opposite to Revdanda. Inside the ridge lies the village Korle at the base of the rocky hill, with Korle beach on the western side. It is surrounded by the sea to the west and north lay, to the east the river, and to the south the mainland.
Morro de Chaul was at unique location, protecting the mouth of the river. It was very important to have control over this fort as it could protect the fortified city of Chaul.

The crest of the ridge is flanked by walls, and the defenses are strengthened by an outwork on the rocks just above sea level, and by three cross walls and towers between the outwork on the sea and the main fortifications on the top of the hill.

Fort is almost 2800 feet long in north and 100 feet broad in east-west. It has outer fortified wall with loop holes. It has total eleven gates out of which seven are inner and four are outer.

On the north of rocky ridge is the water battery which is within the bullet range of the main channel. The name of this battery is Santa Cruz. From here the hill raises. This ridge is fortified with two lines along the length. This slope is divided into three enclosures with two bastions wall to wall. Top of the hill fort is surrounded by parapet with fortified bastions along the border. and a great strong tower called as the Castle of Resistance.
One the top is a rain water cistern with three openings each of around 1 sq.ft.













There are ruins of Church and magazine. Church with Chapel had an inner roof of palm leaf matting and an outer roof of thatch with some paintings on it. Along the border are seven major bastions.
In early Portuguese records, names of these seven bastions were given as Sam Thiago, Sam Francisco Xavier, Sam Pedro, Sam Ignacio, and Sam Philippe may still be read.During Maratha rule on the fort between (1739-1818) the names of these bastions were changed to Pusati, Ganesh, Pashchim (west) Devi, Chauburji, Ram, and Pan.

The few remaining guns seemed to smeared with red lead, a colubrina or calverine, half colubrine, half camel, iron sakre.
There are hindoo temples which are roofless. First is a temple of Ganesh, then of two goddesses Manjradevi and Vedikadevi. Idols of godess Majra and Vedika were taken to Korle Village.















There are three Portuguese stone carved inscriptions.
1. Over a doorway in the centre and highest part of the fort
2. Over the chief entrance,
3. Over an altar in the chapel, are worn and unreadable.
Out of which last two are worn out and unreadable.
The first inscription is surmounted by a cross, is a coat of arms with a shield, the Portuguese stars called as “quinas”in the centre, and seven castles round.
Inscriptions is as follows

ESTE CASTELO MANPO V. FAZER
OVIZORI. DA INDIA DO FELIPHE
MZSEDNOV BRODE 1646 ANOS 9
SENDOCAPITAODE CHAUL. FE
RNAO DE MIRANDA E RIQEAS EA
CABOV SENE MAIO DE 1680 SENDO
CAPITAO DE SAFRACACRIS TOVAO
DABEEV D AZEVKDO.
( English Translation : This castle was commanded to be built by the Viceroy of India D. Felippe Mascarenhas in November, 1646, Fernao Miranda Henriques being Captain of Chaul, and was finished in May 1680, Christorao d Abreu d' Azevedo being Captain of this fort.)











History:In 1521,Ahmadnagar King allowed to built a fort in Chaul. Along with the fort in Chaul, the Portuguese raised a bulwark on the flat lang on the foothills of Korle rock ridge.
On the condition of supplying 300 horses (which would be useful in a war against Adilkhan) from Arabia in reasonable rates Nizam Ul Mulk allowed Portuguese to built the fort in chaul in 1521. Along with the fort of Chaul Portuguese bult a small bulwark on the flat land at the foot of a small hill on the Korlai rock ridge.
Cambay fleet attacked on Korle but its garrison was strengthened from Chaul. This drove of Gujathi fleet with major loss. During this period Burhan Nizam (1508-1553) died. Taking advantage of both these incidents Portuguese asked for the cession of the fort Korle, which was refused by Ahmandnagar King. King sent his best engineers to strengthen this hill by strong fortification. Portuguese opposed raising small quarrel with Ahmadnagar troops, but later the mutual decision the fort remained unfortified.

Again in 1594 the new Nizam King (Burhan Nizam II) set a war against Portuguese. He built a' fort 'a wonder of strength and completeness' on the Korleridge. From this fort Nizam army did much injuries to Ravdanda wall which was again in fortified city.
Portuguese started reinforcing their army from Bassein and Salsette and on 4th September 1594 they destroyed the korle market under the command of Abranches, the captain of Chaul.. He landed on Korle shore and fought hard and chased musalmans to the outer gate. Gate was blocked by dead elephants. Portuguese entered the fort.
Enraged at the death of Antonio, a Franciscan father who had led them with a crucifix fastened to a lance, the Portuguese rushed forward and forced their way through the second gate. At last after fierce resistance musalman general Fateh Khan was taken into prison. ( Later Fateh Khan became the Christine and after his death he was buried with great pomp. Fateh Khan’s wife and a daughter were ransomed and became Christian.
His daughter was sent to Lisbon from Goa.
Initially, Portuguese destroyed the fort except Tower of resistance and the battery at the water’s edge, but later they strengthened the fortification. (Ref. from description of Chaul rock by Della Valla in 1623 as crowned musalman fort, strengthened by Portuguese).