Goa FortsTiracol, Chapora, Aguada, Reis Magos, Cabo, Mormugao, Cabo Da Rama FortThe pleasure of scaling the heights of a Goan fort to enjoy the view over the Arabian Sea or watch the setting sun turn its old ramparts to burnished gold can be an enriching change from beach lounging. Tiracol FortThe Portuguese acquired the 18th century Tiracol Fort, which defended both the Tiracol Estuary and the sea, from the Rajas of Sawantwadi in 1776. The high battlement walls with decorative turrets were its defense towards the sea, while on the landside was a dry moat. The laterite-paved courtyard has a tiny chapel of St Anthony with a statue of Christ in front of it. The chapel has a classical facade seen in churches of the 19th century.The rooms within the fort have been converted into a heritage hotel. Its height makes for magnificent views across the sea to Arambol, Chapora and Aquada. Location Chapora FortChapora Fort, located on the southern headland of the Chapora River was originally built by the Adil Shah of Bijapur and reconstructed by the Portuguese. The fort guarded the Chapora estuary. The land around and the space encompassed by the laterite walls and cupola-topped turrets, was large enough to accommodate the entire population of Bardez in case of an attack by the Maratha ruler Sambhaji. It had a chapel dedicated to St Anthony, a customs house and some springs. Lying deserted since the 19th century, the remains of the fort tower magnificently over the green hills and beaches around, but its battlements and bastions see very few visitors as little remains of the fort. The views of the Vagator from the ramparts are quite spectacular.Location Fort AguadaFort Aguada, perched high on a cliff overlooking Aguada Bay and the mouth of the Mandovi River was perhaps the strongest fort protecting Portuguese territory. Its strategic location, approximately 4 km west of the fort of Reis Magos, made it the first line of defense for the one time trading port of Old Goa. When it was built in 1612, it encompassed the entire peninsula at the south-western extremity of the province of Bardez. The fort gets its name Aguada (agua means 'water' in Portuguese), from the three fresh-water springs within the fort. Ships leaving the port or arriving from a voyage replenished their drinking water supplies here.The fort wall circumvents the seashore and goes right up to the top of the rocky headland. It once boasted 79 cannons that could fire out to sea or bay and a canal that connected the Nerul River to the sea. It has a huge clock and a bell that was once housed in St Augustine's tower in Old Goa. The prison is located at the lowest level. The little Church of St Lawrence nearby, built in 1630, was originally within the fort limits. Location Reis Magos FortThe original Reis Magos Fort was built around 1490 by Adil Shah and was subsequently enlarged on different occasions. It was annexed by the Portuguese and rebuilt in 1760. It had only 33 guns and a small garrison defending it. It also had a spring, which supplied it with fresh water. The views from the rooms towards the sea are simply breathtaking. After liberation from Portuguese rule, the fort was used as a prison and recent plans were to convert it into a boutique hotel.Location Cabo Fort (Cabo Palace or Raj Bhavan)Above Panjim, overlooking the mouth of the Mandovi and Zuari rivers, is Cabo Fort. Once an imposing structure, it held an entire citadel. But all that remains today is three large cisterns still used to store water. Building of the fort began in 1540 but saw completion only much later. Before the fort was built, a chapel was erected dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and a convent of the reformed Franciscans. In the 17th century, the convent was used as the residence of the archbishops and later as the place of the Governors.The convent, now known as Cabo Palace or Raj Bhavan, is the official residence of the Governor. It enjoys the status of being the most elegant of India's Raj Bhavans. The 180-years-old British Cemetery, cared for by the Department of Archives, is just outside the gate of Raj Bhavan and can be freely visited. Location Mormugao FortConstruction of Mormugao Fort commenced in 1624 and it covered an area measuring six miles in circumference. It originally had 20 bulwarks, three magazines, five prisons, a chapel and quarters for guards. The fort had 53 guns and a garrison with four officers. Within the fort were two fountains. The fort protected the entrance to Mormugao Port and so, from a military point of view, was the most important fort on the west coast. Sadly, all the remains of it today is the chapel and a portion of the boundary wall.Location Cabo Da RamaCabo da Rama Fort sits high on its headland in far south Goa. The Portuguese took over the fort from the Raja of Sonda, only to have it retaken. They finally gained possession of the fort on 1st June 1763. Under the Portuguese, it had military barracks, a chapel and quarters for the use of the commandant and 21 guns for its defense. There was a well within the fort and its vicinity were two springs, one of which had both cold and hot water emerging from two different spouts. The ruin, which is all that exists of the fort today, gives some idea of its size but nothing of its layout. Just the views from the fort out to sea, make the trek up worth the effort.Location Return from Goa Forts page to Goa Holidays and Goa Hotels Home Page
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