Sion Fort

Hard as it may be to imagine, Sion was a wasteland of saltpans in the 17th century. It was right at the northern end of Bombay island, the last frontier before the waters separated it from Salsette. This is how it acquired the name ‘Shinva’ or ‘Sheev’ (Marathi: boundary). Now, the folks at Sahapedia Walks and Talks want to take you back in time to retrace its historic relevance. One of their guides, Ashwini Nawathe, will take participants through its 17th-century landmarks that are still around, including the Sion fort, Duncan Causeway, Rewa fort and St Thomas’s Church. “Many Mumbaikars cross Sion during their daily commute. But they don’t get a chance to appreciate the neighbourhood, in the context its history”, says Nawathe.