Kalyan in Maharashtra will soon be home to a naval museum. Set up near the Durgadi Fort next to the Ulhas river, the depository will showcase the marine history of the region, starting from the period of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Here’s what you should know about it. By Eshita Srinivas
Travellers who enjoy heading to historical spots often chalk in time to visit Kalyan and explore the Durgadi fort, which is perched on a small hill, next to the Ulhas river, on the Mumbai-Agra road. The cultural spot is believed to be the point where the country’s first naval base was set up. To add to the experience of visiting it, the state’s tourism department and municipal corporation are working on setting up a museum in the region, which will spotlight naval history.
The naval museum in Kalyan will be shaped like a ship
This initiative, Times of India reports, seeks to retrace the “footsteps of history” that have been erased over time, starting with a collection of materials that shed light on the workings of ships while tracing the navy’s history from Shivaji’s time to now. The foundation stone for the project, which is a part of the Smart City development programme, was laid by the state Tourism and Environment Minister, Aaditya Thackeray.
As a part of this project, officials also seek to develop the Ulhas riverfront, from the Durgadi Fort to the Gandhari village. This will turn the riverfront into a centre for social, cultural, and recreational activities. “The riverfront will be a nature-oriented sustainable public space which will enhance the quality of life of residents. It will improve the city’s health and compensate for the city’s green cover,” Dr Vijay Suryavanshi, commissioner of the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) was quoted as saying by Times of India. In line with this, the development of a jogging track, cycle track, walkway, promenade, theme parks, pergolas, pavilions, shopping areas, cafeteria, and dedicated spaces for children are in the works, Free Press Journal reports.
The project is scheduled to be completed within three years and is slated to boost tourism in the region. No further information on the naval museum has been released so far. Besides this, the construction of a 23-acre city park on the banks of the Waldhuni river has begun as well.
Feature and hero image: @san_zone_/Instagram
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