Briefing Document: “Manora” – A Disambiguation Across Locations and Concepts
Executive Summary:
The term “Manora” appears to refer to multiple distinct locations, concepts, and entities. These include:
- A hotel in Lošinj, Croatia (Hotel Manora Lošinj).
- Several geographical locations, primarily in the Sindh province of Pakistan (including Manora Island and Manora, Karachi).
- Fortifications in both Karachi and Thanjavur, India (Manora Fort, Karachi and Manora Fort, Thanjavur).
- A cantonment town in Karachi, Pakistan (Manora Cantonment).
- A town in Washim district, Maharashtra, India (Manora, Washim).
- A luxury apartment residence in Accra, Ghana (Manora Residence).
- A character in Southeast Asian mythology and a related dance form.
This document will detail the key information from the provided sources regarding each of these “Manora” instances.
1. Hotel Manora Lošinj (Croatia)
- Type: A small, family-run hotel located in Nerezine, on the island of Lošinj, Croatia.
- Location: “At the foot of Mountain Osoršćica… 400 meters from the sea.”
- Key Features:41 “spacious and fashionably equipped rooms” themed around traditional sailing ships.
- Restaurant, wellness and spa facilities, kids corner, and outdoor pool.
- Beach access: “Only 400 meters from the hotel is the hotel beach, in a quiet bay surrounded by a pine forest… Sunbeds and parasols are available to hotel guests free of charge from June to mid September.”
- Electric vehicle charger (up to 22kW).
- Children’s animation from June to September.
- Kid snack included at lunchtime between 7.6.-5.9. for children up to 12 years of age if you book a stay with half board of min. 7 nights directly on our website.”
- Emphasis on Personal Attention: “Because we are a small family hotel we are able to offer our guests personal attention; we attach great importance to the comfort of our guests so that they may feel ‘at home’ and completely relaxed.”
2. “Manora” as a Disambiguation (Wikipedia)
- The Wikipedia disambiguation page lists multiple potential meanings of “Manora,” primarily geographical locations and a cultural reference.
- Key Locations Listed:Manora, Karachi, in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
- Manora, Washim, a taluka in Washim district of Maharashtra, India
- Manora Cantonment, in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
- Manora Fort, Karachi, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
- Manora Fort, Thanjavur, Thanjavur, India
- Manora Island, an island in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
- Cultural Reference: Manora, the Thai pronunciation of Manohara, a character in Southeast Asian mythology, and Menora, a traditional dance.
3. Manora Cantonment (Karachi, Pakistan)
- Type: A cantonment town (military base and residential area) located on Manora Island, south of Karachi.
- Administration: “The cantonment maintains its own infrastructure of water supply, electricity and is outside the jurisdiction of City District Government of Karachi.”
- History: Established by the British Indian Army in the 19th century, taken over by the Pakistan Army in 1947.
4. Manora Fort, Karachi (Pakistan)
- Type: A fort originally built to protect Karachi Harbour.
- History:Built as a mud fortress by the Talpur Mirs in 1797.
- Captured by the British in 1839. According to one account, the British “found it guarded by 4 or 5 men, who had no guns to fire back with, and so the fort was quickly surrendered.”
- Reinforced in 1888 by the British.
- Current Use: “After independence in 1947, Manora Fort became the main base of the Pakistan Navy… The fort now serves as the headquarters of the Pakistan Marines.”
5. Manora Fort, Thanjavur (India)
- Type: An eight-storeyed, hexagonal tower.
- Location: 20 km from Pattukkottai, Tamil Nadu, India.
- History:Built by Maratha ruler Serfoji II in 1814–1815 to “commemorate the successful advance of the British over Napoléon Bonaparte… in the Battle of Waterloo.”
- Originally acted as a residence for the royal family and also as a light-house.
- Damage and Renovation: Damaged in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Renovation projects have aimed to improve infrastructure and tourist facilities.
6. Manora, Karachi (Pakistan)
- Type: A peninsula forming a protective barrier between Karachi Harbour and the Arabian Sea.
- Geography: “Was formerly an island, but due to silting is now connected to the mainland by a 12 kilometre long natural sand bridge known as Sandspit.”
- History:Identified as the “Morontobara” island mentioned by Nearchus, commander of Alexander the Great’s naval fleet.
- Associated with the ancient city of Debal.
- Tourism: “Manora’s long sandy beaches… are a popular destination for Karachi residents… Government of Sindh has upgraded the infrastructure of the island… and equipped it with modern features (recreational facilities and watersports activities) at a cost of 650 million rupees.”
- Infrastructure: Improved by projects like the upgraded Manora Beach Road.
- Demographics: Ethnically diverse. “There are several ethnic groups in Manora Island including Sindhis, Punjabis, Kashmiris, Seraikis, Pakhtuns, Balochis, Brahuis, Memons, and Bohris.”
- Population: Approximately 4,273 local residents (2017 census).
7. Manora, Washim (India)
- Type: A town in Washim district, Maharashtra state, India.
- Significance: “It is a central town for nearby villages. All major administrative offices are situated in this town.”
- Religious Significance: Close to Poharadevi, a village visited by the Banjara community to worship Sevalal Maharaj.
- Market: Known for its “bustling market.”
- Demographics: The Banjara community forms a sizable population.
- Market Day: Wednesday is the market day, with traders coming from other cities.
8. Manora Residence (Accra, Ghana)
- Type: A luxury apartment residence in the Airport Residential area of Accra.
- Key Features: Studios, apartments, and penthouses, starting at $94,000. “3 Minutes From Kotoka Int. Airport.” Markets itself on luxury, exquisite design, and a “lifestyle characterized by indulgence and refinement.”
Key Themes and Considerations:
- Geographical Dispersion: “Manora” refers to locations in Pakistan, India, Croatia, and Ghana, highlighting the term’s varied usage across different regions.
- Historical Significance: Several “Manora” locations have historical relevance, particularly those in Karachi (fort, cantonment, island) related to colonial history and naval importance, and Thanjavur (Fort) as commemorating a key European battle.
- Modern Development: The sources indicate ongoing development and investment in “Manora” locations, such as the tourism upgrades in Manora, Karachi and the luxury apartments in Accra.
- Cultural Heritage: The reference to Manohara in Southeast Asian mythology demonstrates a cultural dimension to the name.
Timeline of Main Events
- Ancient Times: The area of Karachi was known to ancient Greeks. Nearchus mentions a hilly island (Morontobara) and a flat island (Bibakta), believed to be Manora Point and Kiamari/Clifton, respectively.
- 1554: Manora is mentioned by Ottoman admiral Seydi Ali Reis in his book Mir’ât ül Memâlik.
- 1790s: Manora Fort in Karachi is first built as a mud fortress by the Talpur Mirs to protect Karachi Harbour from pirate raids (specifically Qasimi pirates).
- 1797: Manora Fort in Karachi is built by Talpur dynasty.
- 1814-1815: Serfoji II, a Maratha ruler, builds Manora Fort in Thanjavur to commemorate the British victory over Napoléon Bonaparte in the Battle of Waterloo (1815).
- 1839 (February 1): British ship HMS Wellesley anchors off Manora Island (Karachi).
- 1839 (February 3): HMS Wellesley attacks Manora Fort in Karachi, leading to its capture by British forces. Karachi and lower Sindh fall under British control.
- 1865: St. Paul’s Church is built near Manora Fort in Karachi.
- 1888: The old Manora Fort in Karachi is mostly removed and the battery is reinforced.
- 1889: The Manora Point Lighthouse in Karachi, designed by Alain-Chartier-de-Lotbiniere Joly de Lotbinière, is completed.
- 1947: After Pakistan’s independence, Manora Island (Karachi) becomes a major base for the Pakistan Navy and is governed as a military cantonment.
- 2000-2003: Restoration and conservation of Manora Fort in Thanjavur takes place.
- 2004 (December): The Manora Fort in Thanjavur is damaged by the Indian Ocean tsunami.
- 2007: The State Tourism Department plans to renovate Manora Fort in Thanjavur and improve its infrastructure.
- 2010 (March 14): “Reclaiming Manora Dawn” newspaper article published.
- 2017 (March 15): Manora Cantonment population listed as approximately 4,273
- 2020: Manora Beach Road (Karachi), connecting Manora to Kakapir across Sandspit, is upgraded.
- 2021 (October): The Manora Beach Resort in Karachi is inaugurated by Murad Ali Shah.
- Present: Hotel Manora on Lošinj Island offers children’s animation, electric vehicle charging, and kid snack during lunch.
Cast of Characters (People)
- Nearchus: (Flourished 4th century BC) A Greek admiral who commanded Alexander the Great’s naval fleet. He mentioned islands near Karachi.
- Seydi Ali Reis: (1498-1563) An Ottoman admiral and author who mentioned Manora in his book Mir’ât ül Memâlik (1554).
- Talpur Mirs: A dynasty that ruled Sindh and commissioned the original Manora Fort in Karachi in the 1790s.
- Serfoji II (also known as Saraboji II, or Serfoji Bhonsle): (1777-1832 CE) A Maratha ruler of Thanjavur who built Manora Fort in Thanjavur to commemorate the British victory over Napoléon.
- Wussul Ben Butcha: The individual who surrendered Manora Fort in Karachi to the British in 1839, according to some reports.
- Napoléon Bonaparte: (1769-1821) French military and political leader whose defeat by the British was commemorated by the construction of Manora Fort in Thanjavur.
- Alain-Chartier-de-Lotbiniere Joly de Lotbinière: Canadian engineer who designed the Manora Point Lighthouse in Karachi, completed in 1889.
- Murad Ali Shah: Current Chief Minister of Sindh, who inaugurated the Manora Beach Resort in Karachi in October 2021.
- Sevalal Maharaj: Lord of the Banjara community.
Places:
Manora Residence, Accra: A luxury studio and apartment residence in the Airport Residential area of Accra, Ghana.
Manora, Karachi: Municipality in Sindh, Pakistan, located on a peninsula that forms a protective barrier between Karachi Harbour and the Arabian Sea.
Manora Cantonment: A cantonment town in Manora Island, south of Karachi, Pakistan, serving as a military base and residential establishment.
Manora Fort, Karachi: A fort built to protect Karachi Harbour, originally built by the Talpur Mirs in 1797 and captured by the British in 1839.
Manora Fort, Thanjavur: A fort in Tamil Nadu, India, built by Maratha ruler Serfoji II in 1814–1815 to commemorate the British victory over Napoléon Bonaparte.
Manora, Washim: A town in Washim district, Maharashtra state, India, known for its bustling market and nearby religious sites.
Hotel Manora, Lošinj: A family hotel in Nerezine, Lošinj Island, Croatia, offering accommodation, dining, wellness, and activities for families.