Victory Tower, Chittorgarh Fort, Rajasthan Pic 2

vijay stambh @chittorgarh fort, Rajasthan, originally uploaded by ganuullu.

Victory Tower at Chittorgarh Fort

The Tower of Victory (aka Victory Tower or Vijay Stambha) is an imposing structure located in Chittorgarh Fort in Rajasthan, India, constructed by King Rana Kumbha, a Rajput belonging to the Sisodia clan, who ruled Mewar in western India between AD 1433 and 1468. Rana Kumbha constructed the Victory Tower between 1442 AD and 1449 AD to commemorate Mewar’s victory over the allied armies of Malwa and Gujarat.

There are about 157 steps leading to the terrace from where one can have a view of Chittorgarh Town and the Chittorgarh Fort. Vijay Stambha, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, is 37.19 meters high with 9 stories, built of red sand stone and white marble, is enriched with numerous sculptures of Hindu Gods and Goddesses.

Kali at Golconda Fort

Kali at Golconda Fort, originally uploaded by tkremenek.

Color image of Goddess Kali at Golconda Fort, Hyderabad - it is one of a series of images found there by the author.

Terekhol Fort, Goa

 

Fort Tiracol, originally uploaded by Venkatesh K.

Fort Terekhol (also spelt as Tirakol or Tirakhol) is situated on the Terekhol River on the northern tip of Goa. It was built by Maharaja Khem Sawant Bhonsle, the King of Sawantwadi in the 17th century. It was rebuilt in 1764 after the Portuguese Viceroy Dom Pedro Miguel de Almeida captured it. But Terekhol was legally incorporated into Goa only in 1788.

Terekhol Fort is at the northern most tip of Goa's shoreline, 42 km from Panaji, the capital of Goa, on a hillock overlooking the Arabian Sea, at the mouth of river Terekhol. Dr. Bernado Peres da Silva, the first Goan born Viceroy of Goa launched an armed rebellion against the Portuguese using Fort Terekhol as his base in 1825. But the result was not very fruitful as the Portuguese took over the fort once again and Dr. Bernado Peres da Silva never returned to Goa.

The fort was in ruins and the remains of the fort have now been repaired and converted into a hotel, the Terekhol Fort Heritage. The century old Church of St. Anthony is in its courtyard. The Church is not open to the general public except on certain occasions such as the annual feast that is usually held some time in May.

Top of Cabo de Rama

DSCF3390, originally uploaded by itsagoa.

Agencies report from Panaji that the Goa Government has appointed Mumbai based Structural Designers & Consultants Pvt. Ltd. as consultants to prepare a master plan for restoration, construction, beautification, rescue and maintenance of Fort Cabo de Rama at Canacona coast in south Goa.

Director of Goa Archives and Archaeology M.L. Dicholkar told news reporters recently that the firm would be paid Rs. 2 lakh for the draft plan and further Rs. 3.39 lakh for the final plan according to the terms of agreement signed.

The Goa State Government also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Delhi based Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) for a strategic partnership wherein it entrusted to the latter the task of restoration, conservation and maintenance of 51 of its officially listed heritage and cultural monuments in Goa.

The restoration work of Fort Cabo de Rama would be one of them which would be taken up by INTACH based on the report of the consultants, Mr. Dicholkar said.

The View off the top of Fort Cabo de Rama fort

 

The view off the top of the Cabo de Rama fort, originally uploaded by fritz_da_kat.

This is a view of the sea from the top of Fort Cabo de Rama, Goa, India. The fort is almost in ruins and efforts are on to restore the Fort with possible private builders' and restorers' participation. The ruins of the fort and its surrounding areas are a major tourist attraction in Goa.

Fort Aguada, Goa

 

199804290 Fort Aguada, Goa, originally uploaded by williewonker.

Aguada Fort was built by the Portuguese in 1609-1612 to control the entry into the river Mandovi and to protect Old Goa from potential enemy attacks. A spring within the fort provided water supply to the ships that called there. The fort presently houses the Central Aguada Jail. "Aguada" means 'water' in Portuguese.