Versova (Mumbai)
Encyclopedia
Versova is an upmarket neighbourhood in the Andheri area of northern Mumbai
. It is located at 19°7'60N 72°47'60E and is known for its beach and the Versova Fort. It was part of the Portuguese empire up to 1739, when the Portuguese lost this part of their empire to the Marathas.
Vesawe is the original name of the village, which derives from the Marathi word for "rest"; Chatrapati Shivaji Raje would bring his navy here to rest between battles. The beach faces the Arabian Sea
. A large population of Mumbai's fishing community, the Koli
s, reside at one end of Versova beach. Fishing is the primary industry in this area.
Unlike the Marine Drive, which is guarded by tetrapods, Versova beach uses massive rocks to buffer the buildings from the waves. During high tide, the entire beach goes under water, hence there are no permanent structures on the beach, nor any legal inhabitants.
Over the past few years, there have been attempts by local citizens and the BMC to improve the condition of the beach. The Save Versova Beach Association was formed for the purpose, but the beach still lacks basic facilities such as lifeguards, which are critical considering the treacherous waters here.
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
. It is located at 19°7'60N 72°47'60E and is known for its beach and the Versova Fort. It was part of the Portuguese empire up to 1739, when the Portuguese lost this part of their empire to the Marathas.
Versova beach
Arabian Sea
The Arabian Sea is a region of the Indian Ocean bounded on the east by India, on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by the Arabian Peninsula, on the south, approximately, by a line between Cape Guardafui in northeastern Somalia and Kanyakumari in India...
. A large population of Mumbai's fishing community, the Koli
KOLI
KOLI is a radio station serving Wichita Falls, Texas and Vicinity with a country music format. It operates on FM frequency 94.9 MHz and is under ownership of Cumulus Media. It is the radio flagship station for the Wichita Falls Wildcats hockey team....
s, reside at one end of Versova beach. Fishing is the primary industry in this area.
Unlike the Marine Drive, which is guarded by tetrapods, Versova beach uses massive rocks to buffer the buildings from the waves. During high tide, the entire beach goes under water, hence there are no permanent structures on the beach, nor any legal inhabitants.
Over the past few years, there have been attempts by local citizens and the BMC to improve the condition of the beach. The Save Versova Beach Association was formed for the purpose, but the beach still lacks basic facilities such as lifeguards, which are critical considering the treacherous waters here.