Pani Kotha — Attraction in undefined

At a distance of 3 km from Diu Bus Station, Pani Kotha is a small ruined fort located on an islet in the Arabian Sea near Diu. It is one of two historical forts in Diu and among the must-visit places in Diu for history buffs.

Also known as Fortim-do-Mar, Pani Kotha Fort is a beautiful stone structure in the sea, built right at the mouth of the creek. It was built during the Muslim domain by Malik Aiyaz and it served as an entry post to control the movement of the Merchant Ships entering Diu for trading. This is also served as the jail during the Portuguese colonial rule.

Surrounded by the Arabian Sea, it was built with stones to resemble the structure of a ship to mislead invaders. Pani Kota stands for a fort built in the water. The fort of Pani Kota is controlled by the Portuguese along the main Diu Fort. Due to its strategic importance, they fortified it by adding further structure in the year 1588 as ordered by the Captain of the Fort, Aires Falcao. A stone inscription is found even today affixed on the wall inside the Fortress about this. The Portuguese also erected a small Chapel in the fort in 1638, dedicated to Our Lady of Victory. This was done in memory of the victory of the Portuguese over the Dutch as per the stone inscription found affixed to the wall of the Chapel. The fort also has barracks for the inmates, a warehouse, a cistern and residence for the Commander. Besides these, there is a lighthouse built on the Menagem Bastion.

The Fortress of Pani Kotha is about one nautical mile from Diu Jetty and can be reached only by a motor boat. Located in the middle of the sea, the Fortress makes for a beautiful view whether seen from the Jetty, from the Fort, from Ghoghla village or from Diu. This Fortress has been illuminated with special light effects giving it a mesmerizing...

Pani Kotha is a structure dating back to the 12th century that is bang in the middle of the sea without any landmass connecting to it and can be viewed from the Fort Diu near the India Union Territory of Diu which is a set of islands. Built by the Portuguese colonial forces that invaded Goa and many other parts of coastal India, the Pani Kotha as it is referred to by locals, was an isolated complex structure built in the middle of the sea to house prisoners. The Portuguese had named it Fortim du Mar and it was built in the shape of a towering fortress with no windows and a single entrance and it used to be a massive spiralling prison reservoir in those days.

Presently it stands as a heritage structure and historical monument in middle of the sea that can viewed or sighted from the Fort Diu. The view is especially attractive after sunset where its silhouette is lighted up by projecting lights that are synchronized with amazing music for a stellar light and sound display. Fortim do Mar or the Pani Kotha was built in the mouth of the creek north of Diu and can only be accessed by the sea route. The name Pani Kotha literally translates to...

The Fortress of Panikotha is a magnificent stone structure in the sea, built right at the mouth of the creek. Approximately one nautical mile from the Diu jetty, it also has a light house and a small chaple dedicated to Our Lady of the Sea. Located in the middle of the sea, the fortress creates a beautiful view whether seen from the jetty, from the Fort, from the Village of Ghoghla or from Diu proper. Special light effects at night give it a mesmerizing beauty. To reach Panikotha, tourists boats are available.

Legend has it that this ship shape structure was one connected with land by an under sea tunnel. You can see this monument in famous bollywood movie "Qayamat". The movie was a remake of the English movie "The Rock". The Alcatraz Island in San Francisco in the Rock and the Fortim de Mor in Diu in Qayamat were similar in that both of them are island fortresses which were...