Portuguese Fort

The Diu Fort, also known as the Portuguese Fort lies on the west coast of India in Diu, a Union Territory, governed by the Government of India. As the name suggests, Diu Fort was built by the Portuguese colonists during their reign. The main town of Diu is located to the west of the fort. The fort was built in 1535, consequent to a security union counterfeited by Bahadur Shah, the Sultan of Gujarat and the Portuguese when Humayun, the Mughal Emperor announced the war to annex this territory.

The fort was strengthened over the years, till 1546. Portuguese ruled over this territory from 1537 till 1961, counting it to be as 424 years, the longest period by any colonial rule in the history. However, were forced to quit in December 1961, when a military action called the “Operation Vijay” commenced by the Government of India, thereafter Diu merged into India and became a centrally administered Union Territory of the very country.

Being infamous in the initial years ultimately got highlighted and gained its importance by the act of opinion poll, which was conducted through the Internet and telephone when about 239,418 Portugal people participated. It was conducted by the Portuguese with the assistance and initiative of Portuguese government to list it out in the New Seven Wonders of Portugal that were built during their colonial rule.

The Diu fort and the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa were selected among the Portugal wonders from India, among the seven from across the world, out of a list of 27 monuments built in 16 countries during the Portuguese reign. The listing of these new Portugal memorials was declared on June 10, 2009 on the event of the Portuguese National Day, which was held in Portugal.