Coveted by many a marauder, Goa’s coast is lined with the remnants of once-strong forts. Worn down by the waves of time, today these shadows of formidable barricades stand as sentinels of a bygone age.
Fort Aguada
Built in 1612 by the Portuguese to guard against the Dutch and Marathas, Aguada served as a reference for vessels travelling these waters. It stands on Sinquerim beach, starting at the mouth of the Mandovi river and overlooking the Arabian Sea. The fort takes its name from the freshwater spring housed within its walls; ‘aguada’ means ‘water’ in Portuguese. A four-storey lighthouse was added in 1864, and is the oldest in Asia. The Portuguese dictator Salazar imprisoned his political opponents in the fort, which now serves as the Central Jail.
Fort Aguada
Chapora Fort
A predecessor of Fort Aguada, Chapora was originally built by Adil Shah of Bijapur on a steep cliff along the Chapora River. The Portuguese built the present red laterite structure at this site in 1617. Owing to its strategic location, it was much sought after and changed hands between the Marathas and Portuguese. It declined in importance once Goa’s borders spread northwards and Pernem was included in its fold. It now lies abandoned, laced by acres of untended grass and looking out to Anjuna beach.
Terekhol Fort
Originally built by the ruler of Sawantwadi, the Terekhol fort was seized by the Portuguese in 1746 under Viceroy Dom Pedro de Almeida. The Viceroy then renovated the fort and built St. Anthony’s church here. In 1825, the first Goan Viceroy, Dr. Bernado Peres Da Silva staged a revolt against the Portuguese from the fort. Though the revolt was crushed, the fort is an integral part of Goan pride and history.
Terekhol Fort