Bosco, Gabe, JoeGoaUK, and Mervyn, I emailed Naresh Fernandes who wrote the article in the NYT International (formerly the International Herald-Tribune) about the identity of the fort and he told me that it is Vijaydurg in Konkan Maharashtra.
That means the NYTI has made a major boo-boo. The fort was not built by the Portuguese and it is not in Goa. Time was when major international newspapers had credibility and a reputation to support, which doesn't seem to be the case now. This particular fort was built in 1205, more than 725 years before the picture in the NYTI article was taken (1927). 143 years after the Portuguese conquered Goa in 1510, the fort was captured from the Adil Shahis (Idalcaos) of Bijapur by Shivaji who went on to expand its acreage. The Adil Shahs themselves had come into possession of it from a minor Hindu king of the region. It is surrounded by water on all 4 sides, of which 3 sides comprise the Arabian sea. Vijaydurg is in Deogad which is a western region of Ratnagiri district famous for its luscious and world famous Alphonso mangoes, of which the Deogad crops are supposed to be the tastiest. Thanks to JGUK for his fascinating pics of some Goa forts. The history behind each of them is fascinating. For example the Alorna fort in Satari was captured by a Portuguese Almeida, count of Alorna, who had a very interesting tussle with the Bonsales of Sawantwadi and gained it by a mix of cunning, treachery and valor. Guess I haven't earned an egg-nog from Bosco after all. Roland Toronto. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---------------------------------------------------------------------------