India Fort Aguada. Fort Aguada (Goa): photos and reviews

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Impregnable fortress Aguada, which appeared on Goa map dating back to the time of the Portuguese, it is perhaps the most “historic” landmark in the state. Situated on the edge of Candolim Beach, the fort is considered one of the best preserved fortified structures in Goa. It is probably for these vaunted fortification qualities that part of Aguada is still used as a prison. (They say that a considerable number of foreign tourists vegetate there, serving time for what is not customary to use, distribute and even - mind us! - utter in vain).

The 17th century fort was built of red stone on the very shore of the sea, at the entrance to the Mondovi River delta. Moreover, the fortress carried two important functions at once - the protection of the city of Old Goa, the capital of the Portuguese colony, and as a storage facility for fresh water. Today, part of Fort Aguada can be safely visited from 10 am to 6 pm (although if you offer the guards 30-50 INR, they can be allowed in after hours). The main attraction is the old lighthouse from 1612, which, alas, is no longer operational.

Prices on the page are as of November 2019.

Near the fort, on Sinquerim beach, one of the most luxurious hotels in Goa - Taj Fort Aguada Goa - is located freely.

Situated on the edge of Candolim Beach, the fort is considered one of the best preserved fortifications in Goa.

Address: Fort Aguada Rd, Candolim, Goa. How to get there: there is only one road to the fort, starting in Candolim - this is, in fact, the main street of the village. Drive all the way, don't miss the fort. If you turn right at the crossroads near Aguada itself, you will get to the coastal structures from the beach, and if you turn left, you will come to the main building of the fortress.

The Indian Fort Aguada in Goa is the largest fort that has survived to this day. It was built to protect the mouth of the navigable Mandovi River from enemy ships. Occupies a vast area on the cape, south of Candolim Beach.

Built in 1612 year, it is a monument of Portuguese military construction and a legacy of Goan history. The fort consisted, according to the plan, of two parts: the upper - fortress, lower – coastal part. They were connected to each other by overground and underground passages. The fortress itself has a square shape with deep ditches dug near the bastions. The fortress's embrasures provided a wide angle of fire.

There is a fortress on the territory 1864 was built four-story lighthouse. It is considered one of the oldest in Asia. Used until 1976. Then a modern lighthouse was built near the fortress, which still operates today. By visiting this place, tourists will be able to visually inspect both the old and new lighthouses.

Peculiarity Fort Aguada also in the fact that under it there is a huge water tank. Its capacity is approximately 10 million liters and it fills from natural sources. Here passing ships could replenish their supplies with drinking water. Literally translated from Portuguese “aguada” means “water”.

In the coastal part of the fort there is a prison, which is the only functioning prison state of Goa. It can only be viewed from the outside. It is clearly visible from the water or from the fortress.

There are a large number of peacocks in the vicinity of the fort. But when they see a person, they most often run away. Therefore, tourists should keep their cameras at the ready if they do not want to miss a great shot. The fortress itself offers a magnificent view. The area around is covered with dense vegetation. Nearby is Helipad, built in the 80s. It is known for periodically hosting large parties.

Fort opened from 10-00 to 18-00. To get to the lighthouse and fortress, you need to take a taxi or rent a motorcycle. This place is reached by a road called Fort Aguada Road and also the main street Candolim. Tourists can easily view part of the fort from the Sinquerime beach, which can be reached on foot.

Accommodation possible in hotel rooms of any category or rented houses. And even for particularly picky tourists, in the territory adjacent to the fort, on a hillside surrounded by tropical forest, there is the famous luxury hotel Fort Aguada Beach Resort.

Immediate food stations located on the beaches of Sinquerim and Candolim. Cafes and restaurants will offer an excellent menu with dishes of Indian, European and many other cuisines. Some cafes are equipped with showers for the convenience of tourists.

But it turns out, for example, in the same GOA there is not only sand, sea and sun, but also historical fortifications.

The grandest and one of the best preserved forts in the state, Aguada, was built by the Portuguese at a strategic position at the mouth of the Mandovi River in 1612 to protect against attacks by the Dutch and Marathas. Occupying the entire small peninsula on the southwestern edge of the Bardes region, this fort was once the most valued and key element of the Portuguese defensive system. At its best, its battery consisted of 79 guns.

Aguada originally consisted of a main fortification on top of a hill and several coastal bastions. One of them, located at the southern end of Sinquerim Beach, has now been converted into family-owned Tata is a five-star resort, and the other, facing Goa's capital Panaji, is the state's only functioning prison. The main fortification is surrounded by a deep, dry ditch around the perimeter for additional protection.

In the Middle Ages, the source of food water available on the territory of the fort was used to replenish supplies of passing ships, for which Aguada served as a stronghold on the route. This is where the name of the fortress came from - in Portuguese, “water” sounds like “agua”.

In 1864, the Portuguese erected a four-story lighthouse on the territory of the upper fortification, the oldest structure of this type in Asia.

In the mid-20th century, under the rule of dictator Salazar, the northern lower bastion of the fort was rebuilt into a prison, used primarily to hold political opponents of his reactionary regime.

Today, Goa's only functioning prison houses a large number of foreigners convicted of drug-related crimes. They say that there is no longer enough space in the cells, and new prisoners are being transferred to prisons in neighboring states.

Getting to Fort Aguada is very easy - it is located on the southwestern tip of the Bardes district, near Sinquerim Beach. One of its lower bastions is located right on the beach, the second, almost destroyed, can only be reached on foot along the path along the coast or from the popular Sunset Point site (in English it roughly means “sunset viewing point”), located a few hundred meters to the west the upper fortification, behind the modern active lighthouse, and the third bastion, the one in which the prison is located, was erected on south side hill, and a paved road leads to it, going around the entire hill clockwise. Along the same road, which branches halfway, you can get to the main citadel of Fort Aguada, the lighthouse and Sunset Point, in the vicinity of which there are real peacocks.

On the northern side of the fort there is a rampart made of red-brown laterite, which goes deep into the bay, thus forming a dam between two small sandy bays. This beautiful place known as Sinquerim Beach. The Fort Aguada resort, which is one of the most expensive in India, dominates the beach from the lower slopes of a precipitous peninsula.

The fort ruins can only be reached by following the road from the Taj village, and then turning right at the sign. Nowadays, most of the fortress is a prison, and therefore there is no access to visitors. However, the fortress is worth a visit, if only to admire the beautiful views from the top of the hill, where the four-story Portuguese lighthouse is located. The lighthouse rises on one side over the vast expanses of sea, sand and palm trees of Calangute Beach, over Cabo Raj Bhavan or, as it is also called, Cabo Palace over the mouth of the Mandovi River, and on the other, at the tip of the Marmagao Peninsula.

In the Indian tourist state of Goa you can find a large number of attractions. very interesting and intricate, throughout the territory there are a large number of historical sites that shed light on the past of the state. Goan forts are always of particular interest.

Aguada Fort

Fort Aguada is one of the most significant forts in Goa and perhaps the best preserved to this day. It was built in 1612 to protect the mouth of the Mandovi River from the Maratha people and the Dutch.

There were 79 cannons around the perimeter of the fort. The lower part of the fort was intended for defense coastline. The upper one was for servicing the fort, it housed a storage facility drinking water. In this regard, sailors often visited the fort to replenish water supplies, hence the name “Aguada”, translated as “Water”. The 4-storey lighthouse of the fort attracts the most attention; it is the oldest lighthouse of its type in Asia. Now it no longer works.

The main part of the fort, where the lighthouse is located, is open to all tourists. In 2013, a complete reconstruction of this place was carried out. In the southern part of the fort, adjacent to the sea, there is a working prison. And in the northern part, adjacent to Sinquerim beach, there are the fort’s fortifications and the fashionable hotel Vivanta by Taj Fort Aguada 5*.

From the top platform of Fort Aguada there is a very picturesque view of the Mandovi River and.

Fort Aguada is located in North Goa on a cape south of Sinquerim. It can be reached from the main road from Candolim if you drive in a southerly direction. To get to the main structure, you should turn left at the intersection near the hill with the fort, and if you turn right, you can get to the coastal structures from Sinquerim.

Reis Magos Fort

Fort Reis Magos is one of the oldest in Goa, about 50 years older than Aguada. According to various sources, it was founded in 1490 or 1551 by Adil Shah. Other sources say that the Portuguese, under the leadership of Alfonso de Albuquerque, destroyed the Muslim coastal outpost and built Fort Reis Magos to protect the territories in 1543.

In 1739, Reis Magos played a key role in containing the Marathas, who at that time captured the entire territory of the Bardez district, with the exception of the forts of Aguada and Reis Magos. On the territory of the fort there were 31 cannons, barracks, a prison, underground storage facilities, a well for extracting fresh water and a large number of secret passages.

Currently, the fort has been reconstructed and turned into a museum. Price entrance tickets is about 50 rupees. Territory museum complex big enough. You can walk along the upper part of the fort, where the real cannons of those times stand.

From the top there is a beautiful view of the Mandovi River and the city of Panaji.

At the bottom of the fort there was a prison; these premises are now open to the public. The rooms that used to be prison cells are filled with paintings illustrating Goa's past. In one of the rooms at the top of the fort there is also something like a gallery, which contains drawings and caricatures by Goan authors of the 20th century.

Fort Reis Magos is located just three kilometers from Fort Aguada, on the banks of the Mandovi River. To get to Reis Magosa from Candolim, you need to go towards the village of Nerul and turn right towards Coco Beach, then drive along the coastline all the way to the fort.

Chapora Fort

The fort was built on a high hill, in a place clearly visible in all directions, thanks to which it occupied an important strategic position and made it possible to observe the mouth of the Chapora River. Sometimes the fort is also called Shahpur. The fort itself was built over 500 years ago by Adil Shah Baijapur. In 1617 (and according to some sources in 1717) the fortress was captured by the Portuguese and reconstructed into a fort. The fort was captured by the Marathas several times before 1741. Chapora Fort was held by the Portuguese until 1890, when it was abandoned.

Currently, the fort is open to the public; unfortunately, no reconstruction has been carried out there. This fort is not as well preserved as other Goan forts. Today, only the defensive wall, entrances and monument remain. Nevertheless, the fort deserves attention, if only because it offers a simply stunning view of Vagator Beach, and on the other hand, of the Chapora River and the village of Morjim, located on the other side of this river.

Chapora Fort is located in North Goa near the village of the same name, at the confluence of the Chapora River. The village of Chapora is located just north of the large village of Vagator.

Fort Tiracol (Tiracol / Tirakol / Terekol / Terekhol Fort)

The exact date of construction of Fort Tiracol is unknown. In 1764, Fort Tiracol was reconstructed by the Portuguese. Tiracol has always been a small fort. During the time of the Portuguese, it housed the Church of St. Anthony.

Currently, the entire fort area has been converted into the exclusive Fort Tiracol Boutique Hotel. As a tourist attraction, Fort Tirakol is not of particular interest, but the hotel restaurant offers beautiful views of Kerim and the Terekol River.

Fort Tiracol is located in the most northern point state of Goa. To get to the fort, you need to constantly go north, all the way to Kerim, and then cross the Tirakol (Terekol) river along big bridge or by ferry. After the crossing you should go left.

Fort Korjuem (Corjuem Fort)

Korjum Fort is located deep in North Goa. It was built by the Portuguese in 1705. Once upon a time, Ursula Lancastre from Portugal, known for posing as a man for a long time, served here as a soldier. She understood that, being a woman, it was almost impossible for her to build a career, much less achieve success in the military sphere. Her plan was a success, and, pretending to be a man, she managed to travel around the world. In Goa, her deception was revealed, and she ended up marrying a guard captain.

The territory of Fort Korjum is not very large; it has not been reconstructed. To get to the fort, for example, from Calangute, you need to go towards Mapusa, then to Aldona. After Aldona you need to drive over the bridge over the Mapsa River and turn left, soon you will see Fort Korjum on the left side. To get to the fort from South Goa, you need to go towards Panaji, over the bridge over the Mandovi River, then Porvorim and turn right towards Aldona, then the same path.

Alorna Fort

Another fort located in the mainland of Goa, deep in North Goa. Fort Alorna is located on the banks of the Chapora River, far from the sea.

It was built in the 17th century. The fort is relatively small in size; it had 4 cannons. In 1746, Fort Alorna was captured by the Marquis of Castello Novo, also known as the Marquis of Alorna. In 1781, the fort was conquered by Dom Frederico Guilherme de Souza and was used to defend against attacks by the Maratha people from the north.

Currently, the fort is in an abandoned state, but, nevertheless, it is quite well preserved. As a tourist attraction, Fort Alorna is not popular, there are no tourists here, the place is very quiet and peaceful. Fort Alorna offers a good view of the Chapora River basin.

You can get to the fort by driving through the town of Mapusa, then Bardez, Revora. You need to cross the Chapora River. It is very easy to get lost in these places, so be sure to study the map before your trip.

Fort Nanus (Nanuz / Nanus Fort)

Nanus Fort is also located in the mainland part of the state, it is the farthest fort from the sea among all the Goan forts. This is the reason why there are no tourists here at all. The territory of the fort is small; only small parts of the fort have survived to this day.

Nanus Fort is located in North Goa, in the Satari district. The road to the fort can be quite long if you come from the tourist areas of Goa, for example, from Calangute. The Satari taluka is located in a remote area, bordered to the north by the state of Maharashtra and to the east by the state of Karnataka. Fort Nanus is located near the town of Valpoi, largest city Sattari district.

Fort Cabo da Rama (Cabo De Rama Fort / Cape Rama Fort)

Cabo Da Rama is the largest Goan fort, covering an area of ​​179,600 square meters. The fort is located in South Goa.

Kaba De Rama Fort (also known as Cape Rama) was founded in 1679 by Shivaj Maharaj, the Maratha king. The fort was named in honor of Rama, one of the earthly incarnations of the Hindu god Vishnu. The Indian epic Ramayana describes how Rama, along with his wife Sita, hid in these places. In 1763, the Kaba Da Rama fort was captured by the Portuguese and reconstructed. From 1932 to 1955, the fort's bastions served as a prison.

The fort is not very well preserved to this day. All that remains are the fortress walls and a platform on which several cannons from the Portuguese colonial times are installed. From this site there is an excellent view of sea ​​coast. There is also a functioning Church of St. Anthony on the fort grounds.

You can reach the fort from the north of the state via the NH17 road. You should turn right near the village of Balli, where there is a sign for road to Fatorpa, or a little earlier, near the city of Cuncolim. From the more southern part of the state you need to go towards Agonda. Fort Cabo de Rama is located between the beaches of Cola and Canaguinim.

Mormugao Fort

Another fort located in South Goa. Distinctive feature Mormugao Fort is that it was originally designed and built by the Portuguese, unlike most Goan forts, which were built on the foundations of already built Indian fortresses.

Construction work began in 1624. The Portuguese began to build a powerful fort on south coast Mormugao Bay in order to protect against possible attacks from opponents. From the high rocky shore chosen for the construction of the fort, the entire water area of ​​the Arabian Sea was clearly visible in both directions. The Goan Viceroy Don Francisco da Gama personally laid the foundation stone of the fort.

Between 1640 and 1643, the fort was able to withstand a siege by the Dutch fleet. In 1683, Portuguese territories were attacked by Sambhaji's troops. The troops of the ruler of the Mughal Empire, Aurangzeb, saved the Portuguese from imminent defeat. After this, Viceroy Francisco de Tavora ordered the transfer of the capital of the Portuguese colony from Mormugao.

In 1685, under the leadership of the Jesuit priest Teotonio Rebelo, the modernization of the fort began. It is assumed that at that time the Mormugao Fort was one of the largest structures of its type in the Portuguese colony. The length of the fortress walls was 10 kilometers. In total, the fort had 24 tower bastions armed with 54 cast guns. On the territory of Fort Mormugao there was a church, 3 armory warehouses, a small workshop for the production of gunpowder, guard barracks, and 5 prison premises. There were also 5 sources of drinking water, one of which had medicinal properties, due to the content of sulfur compounds.

In 1703, Mormugao Fort officially became the residence of the Viceroys and Governors of Goa. Mormugao was the capital until 1759, after which the capital was moved to the city of Panaji.

Unfortunately, such a powerful structure in the old days has been poorly preserved to this day. Now you can see only some sections of the fortress wall, a small chapel and two sources of fresh water.

Fort Mormugao is located in the northwestern part of Cape Mormugao, near the largest Goan city, Vasco da Gama.

Despite the fact that I lived for three months in Calangute in close proximity to one of the main attractions - Fort Aguada, it was only two months later that I finally reached it.

And the point here is not that the place is not very interesting, rather, on the contrary: I thought this fort was too publicized tourist place, that’s why I was in no hurry to visit here.

A short excursion into history

The fort was built by the Portuguese back in the 17th century and played an important role in providing security from attacks by the Marathas and other would-be conquerors, as it is located right where the Mandovi River flows into the Arabian Sea.

Fort Aguada is distinguished by its impressive size; its appearance combines several styles: Portuguese and Indian. It is noteworthy that all the fortifications have been preserved in fairly good condition.

There is also a lighthouse here, which is considered one of the largest in all of Asia. True, now it is not active, but rather for exhibition, although it was turned off only about 40 years ago due to the lack of need for it.

The fort is a typical structure from the Portuguese rule and is built from Mangalorean red stone, so beloved by all the locals. The lion's share of structures in Goa, including houses, were built from this stone. Goans still use it as a building material.

How to get to the fort

Fort Aguada is located in one of the most famous resort villages - Candolim. The best way to get to the fort is on a rented bike (you can rent it for $2.5-3 per day at any rental office, of which there are countless numbers), without which it is quite difficult to get there, or by taxi (about $1.5-2 per kilometer). A trip from Calangute to the fort will cost approximately $5-8 (300-500 rupees). From Arambol a taxi will cost $12-17 (700-1000 rupees).

While driving towards the fort on the main road from Candolim, you will need to turn left at the T-junction.

And on the right at the T-junction there will be a turn towards the Taj Hotel. Climbing up a small serpentine road, passing a simple fishing village (not the most pleasant smells will follow you along this section, so be careful), you will reach a small road intersection. If you go straight, you will end up in the prison of Fort Aguada,

and turning right you will reach the fort itself in just three minutes.

If you are traveling by taxi, just tell the driver where you need to be dropped off. Every rickshaw or taxi driver knows where Fort Aguada is located.

You can also get to the fort by public transport, but there is no point in doing this, since not every bus goes directly here. Final stop Most routes will have the very first fork where the T-junction is located. It’s quite a chore to cover the remaining distance on foot, so go to Fort Aguada public transport there's no point.

What to see

You can spend several hours at the fort, leisurely walking along the powerful and majestic walls of this structure and admiring the views that open from a bird's eye view. The state capital, the city of Panaji, is clearly visible from the walls.

The fort opens its doors to all visitors at 8-30 am, entry is, of course, free.

Keep in mind that it closes at 17-30, so arrive early. Not knowing the closing time, I once arrived here at 17-30. Of course, I managed to walk for about 20 minutes (Indians are always late everywhere, so they closed the fort only at 18-00), but my walk was constantly accompanied by screams and whistles from the guards who were trying to expel huge groups of Indian tourists from the territory. If you are a fan of getting up early, then you are doubly lucky, since in the morning there are very few people here and you can calmly walk around and carefully examine all the buildings.

This place is always full of tourists, usually Indians and organized groups Europeans. It seems to me that there is no point in taking a tour from a guide, since you can get to Fort Aguada on your own, and the information that the guides will convey to you can be read on Wikipedia.

If you decide to take sightseeing tour, then its cost will fluctuate around 20-35 dollars per person. You can buy it at any agency on the street in Goa, or get it from your hotel guide. Many "street" agencies offer excursions cheaper than in hotels. You will be offered a Russian guide everywhere, so don’t worry about not knowing the local language.

Just below the fort there is a working prison. Earlier it contained opponents of the Portuguese colonization regime. All undesirables were sent here. Now there are mainly criminals detained for possession and distribution of drugs, as well as those who have problems with Indian visas. Yes, if you stay longer without official permission, you risk ending up in this very prison. I don’t recommend checking whether the authorities will notice your lack of documents for a longer stay, even if you really want to.

Some cells offer stunning views of the sea and you can always breathe in the salty sea breeze, but the romance of 19th century novels meets the harsh reality of disgusting food and bars on the windows.

At first glance, you can’t tell that there is a prison here: a half-abandoned building (at least that’s what it looks like from the outside), a lone guard sitting on a stool and having only a baton as a weapon, which he prudently holds in his hands, as well as excellent views .

Even the gate, which should inspire fear in all new arrivals, looks somehow not at all intimidating, but, on the contrary, intriguing. For example, when I saw them, and the prison itself, a completely reasonable question arose: “Why doesn’t anyone escape here every day?” This building does not inspire any confidence in its reliability or impeccable security.

Souvenir shops

In the immediate vicinity of the fort, where the parking lot is located, there are several souvenir shops. You can buy a standard set there: saris, Aladdin pants, T-shirts with Indian prints, figurines of gods and much more.

Also nearby you will see mobile food stalls with local food, where you can buy light snacks or soft drinks at slightly inflated prices: for example, a bottle of water will be offered to you for $0.6 or 40 rupees (in a store it costs $0.3 or 20 rupees). The price of food is twice as much as the store price.

By the way, parking, as well as entrance to the fort territory, is completely free, so don’t even think about paying some enterprising locals “entrance and parking fees.”

I had a similar situation in , when they wanted to charge me some rupees for entering the territory of the most free of the free attractions - the Gateway of India. These local “businessmen” are not at all embarrassed by the police who walk around, they simply diligently select not the brightest or newly arrived tourists and try to rip off some money from them.

On a note

In any case, if you have the opportunity to visit this place, then you should take it. And, as I already said, come here early, right before the opening (8-30 am). At this time there are few people here, and the weather has not yet had time to get better. Gorgeous photographs and many positive memories are guaranteed to you.

Be sure to bring a bottle of water (at least buy it in the parking lot near the fort), sunglasses and a baseball cap.