“Mount Poinsur? Never heard of it.” That’s what most people say. Yet, here we stand before a slice of Mumbai’s most delightful and least known heritage, Mount Poinsur Watch Tower.
Let me paint a picture. Imagine a 45-meter high knoll in Borivali. This is Mount Poinsur. For years, people mistook it. Some thought it was a Jesuit observatory. Others believed it a Portuguese watchtower. Still others considered it a “Sir-Padri’s Bungalow.” It was none of these.
Mount Poinsur is actually an ode to St. Francis of Assisi. It shows Marian devotion in Roman Catholicism. This circular chapel boasts a classical dome. An effigy of Christ tops it off. It is a Marian Sacromonte. This means a sacred mount dedicated to Mary.
These Sacromontes exist in Europe and Latin America. But Mount Poinsur is special. Nothing quite like it exists elsewhere. Its uniqueness lies in its seven small circular vaults. These vaults are dug into the knoll. They remind us of the caves on Salsette Island. Hindu ascetics once used these caves. Later, Franciscan monks occupied them.
Mount Poinsur’s story goes back centuries. It starts in 1544 with Fr Antonio do Porto. He founded the Congregation of the Missionary Brothers of St. Francis of Assisi in India. He and his companions built the Church of Our Lady of the Conception. They also established a Franciscan monastery. A college for the local people was founded in Borivali. Fr Antonio do Porto is buried here at Mount Poinsur.
In 1739, the Marathas captured Mount Poinsur. The friars scattered. The church, monastery, and college were plundered and burned.
After a century and a half, the Franciscan heritage drew Bros Paulus Moritz and Nicholas Hohn back. They wanted to revive the Order in India. They made Mount Poinsur the center for their national activities. In 1908, they built a school, orphanage, and rectory south of the Church. They unknowingly hid and protected the hermitage and chapel.
Mount Poinsur has a fascinating history with the Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception. Fr Antonio do Porto founded this church in 1547. By 1548, he and Joao de Goa had baptized many people. They founded a devout hermitage at Mount Poinsur.
In 1549, the Church was called Nossa Senhora da Piedade. This means Our Lady of Piety. Later, around 1630, its name changed to Our Lady of Immaculate Conception. The Franciscans used the Mandapeshwar caves as a crypt. Later, it served as a chapel for parishioners.
Today, Mount Poinsur stands as a testament to faith. It embodies resilience and cultural fusion. Its layered history is a must-see for anyone interested in Mumbai’s heritage. So, take a moment. Reflect on the stories etched into these stones. Remember the echoes of devotion that resonate through time at Mount Poinsur Watch Tower.