BY GT REPORTER
PANJIM: Delhi-based Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has proposed the conversion of the historically important Cabo de Rama fort located at the headland on a Cape jutting out into the Arabian Sea in Goa, into an exhibition-cum-recreation centre.
INTACH has submitted its conservation and development plan for Cabo de Rama fort to the state government, in which it proposed to revitalise the abandoned fort property by putting it to a new use of relevance in the contemporary situation.
The plan pegs the total cost towards revitalisation and re-use at Rs 20 crore.
“The fort provides a vast open plateau area with a wall enclosure and a panoramic view that’s picturesque and truly enchanting. The fort provides a historic backdrop and the views and location for leisure and recreation. Since the fort is in an isolated location away from urban activity, it needs to be attractive for people to drive all the way,” states the INTACH report.
The report also says that the exhibition-cum-recreation proposal would be viable in the backdrop of the economic boom and growth of consumerism.
“There are a number of exhibitions, trade fairs, sales, etc which are often held in the middle of already congested city centres. People flock these places in large numbers thus increasing the pressure on the already strained infrastructure making life nightmarish in cities. Such activities today are becoming crowd pullers and are leisure and recreation oriented. They should be taken away from city centres,” INTACH says to support its re-use plan for the fort.
The exhibition-cum-recreation centre being commercially oriented will generate revenues, which will contribute to the much-needed upkeep of the fort, it added.
The fort is accessible by road and also has a sea front which link could be explored. With the convergence of people at the fort property, it will remain as a place of relevance. As part of recreation activities, trails and walks around the fort would be developed with information on the place thus increasing awareness of the people.
The Cabo de Rama fort derives its name from mythological association of Lord Rama, the king of Ayodhya having spent some time at the place along with his wife Sita during their period of exile for 14 years, the name though is of Portuguese origin meaning Cape of Rama.
The fort originally known as Khol-gad after the local village settlement was however of pre-Portuguese construction by the administrators of the Adil Shah of Bijapur either the Desai of Karwar or the Raja of Sonda who controlled this territory of Goa, before its occupation by the Portuguese. The probable date of construction available is of 1598 and was meant to check the activities of the Portuguese in parts of Goa.
It was only in 1763 that the Portuguese occupied the fort and the Raja of Sona seeking asylum and protection of his territories ceded the territory after it to them.
