North Goa. Candolim. Fort Aguada. Fort Aguada and Alorna

Aguada- This is one of the largest and most impressive forts of Goa that have survived to this day. Fort Aguada was built on a peninsula, which gave him an excellent opportunity to protect the mouth of the Mandovi River and, thereby, prevent enemy ships from penetrating deep into Portuguese territories.

The Portuguese who captured part were most afraid not of the local population, but of other Europeans. So, for example, in 1604, the Danes, despite the resistance of the forts, Gaspar Diaz and, broke through at the mouth of the Mandovi and burned quite a large number of Portuguese ships. In 1606, the Danes returned and settled near the mouth of the river, thus blocking the entrance to it, and significantly reducing the military potential of the Portuguese. In response, the Portuguese, holding a constant defense, built their own fort(1609 - 1612, reign of King Philip II the Pious).

Fort Aguada (“aguada” in Portuguese means “water”) was built according to the project Italian military architect who was hired by the Portuguese government in Lisbon. According to this project, the port was built in two parts: the first - a large fortress - was located on a hill and was connected to the second, coastal part, with fortified overground and underground passages. Both parts along the perimeter were surrounded by another, wide outer wall with watchtowers. These walls have hardly survived, although their ruins can still be found in the area.

Main fortress has a square shape, which is slightly distorted by three massive bastions at the corners. The entrance is in the fourth corner. Before each of the bastions was dug deep moat(without water), and the main gate was narrow, overlooking a steep bank and had a strong, iron-sheathed door. The embrasures of the fortress were wide enough to give a wide angle of fire. The maximum was here at the same time two hundred guns!

Fort Aguada is distinguished by the fact that under it there is a huge water tank, which can hold 2,376,000 gallons (over 10 million liters). It has five branches, and its vault rests on sixteen large columns. The tank is filled with natural sources fresh water, which are still in force (the largest is called "Mae de Agua" - "Mother of the Waters").

The coastal part of the fort currently houses jail which can only be viewed from the outside.

First lighthouse was built in the fortress in 1864 - 250 years after its foundation. However, it is considered one of the oldest in all of Asia. The lighthouse was used until 1976, when its functions were transferred to a new, more modern lighthouse, built near the walls of the fortress (you can also climb on it and admire the surroundings).

Inside the fort is little church, dedicated to the Mother of God - the patroness of travelers, in which sailors prayed upon arrival and before sailing. Standing outside the walls interesting statue- a man with a child in his arms and a woman breaking the chains. It is dedicated to all those who died fighting for India's independence from foreign invaders.

Attractions nearby: St Lawrence Church, Nerul Church,

Useful information about Fort Aguada in Goa

Location:

Northern part of Goa, on the peninsula across the strait (river) from

How to get there:

Bus stop "Sinquerim Bus Stop‎"
West of National Highway 66
Nearest port "Ferry Jetty"

Address:

Fort Aguada Road, Goa
India, Fort Aguada road

Aguada Fort is one of the largest and best preserved forts in Goa. It, like many others, was built by the Portuguese in 1612 to protect against the attacks of the Marathas and the Dutch.

The fort is strategically located very advantageously - at the mouth of the Mandovi River, to protect the then capital of Old Goa. Thus, a wonderful view opens up from any point of the fort.

The fort is divided into two parts - lower and upper. In the upper part there is a unique ancient five-level lighthouse 13 meters high. It is the oldest of its kind in all of Asia!

It was built in 1864, and in 1976 the lighthouse was closed, but, according to various sources, the lighthouse initially worked on an oil lamp (On this moment next to the fort there is a functioning lighthouse and you can go up there).

In the upper part there is also a huge well with several underground springs. There was a lot of water there, as much as 2,376,000 gallons (that's almost 9,000,000 liters!). This water was used by ships going to long voyages. Thanks to these sources, fresh water the fort owes its name, because "aguada" in Portuguese means "water". At the bottom of the fort is now a functioning prison. As you know, many foreigners get there for drug fraud. Oh, the prisoners of this prison are lucky, because not every criminal can boast of a sea view.

The walls of the fort are 5 meters high and 130 cm wide. No wonder he was never captured. But that is not all. At the foot of the fort, a dry moat was dug, which to this day remains insurmountable. And in the old days, the fort could boast of 200 guns!

Near the fort stands the snow-white church of St. Lawrence - St. Sailors. On the territory of the church there is a small snow-white gazebo, which opens beautiful view to the fort and to Panaji. Opposite the church, traditionally, there is a Catholic cemetery.

Opposite the fort there is a helipad. But more often than helicopters, rave parties and bike races happen here.

On the territory of the fort there is one of the most expensive and famous hotels in Goa— Taj. There are two five-star hotels of this chain in Candolim - Taj Fort Aguada and Taj Holiday Village, separated from each other by a small roadway.

P.S. This fort is very popular among Indian tourists, along with Chapora Fort. Admission is free from 9.30 to 17.30.

P.P. S. Water is everything. There is no life without water. Apparently, the creators of this fort adhered to the same opinion.

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 defend against Dutch and Maratha attacks. 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. In their better days his battery consisted of 79 guns.

Aguada originally consisted of a main hilltop fortification and several coastal bastions. One of them, located on south end Sinkerim Beach, now converted into a five-star resort owned by the Tata family, and the other, overlooking the capital of Goa, Panaji, is the state's only operating prison. The main fortification is surrounded by a deep dry moat 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 the supplies of passing ships, for which Aguada served as a stronghold on the route. Hence the name of the fortress - in Portuguese "water" sounds like "agua".

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

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

Nowadays, this is the only functioning prison Goa contains a large number of foreigners convicted of drug-related crimes. They say that there are no more places in the cells, and new prisoners are being redirected to prisons in neighboring states.

Getting to Fort Aguada is very easy - it is located on the southwestern tip of the Bardes district, in the Sinquerim beach area. 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 "point for watching the sunset"), located a few hundred meters west of the upper fortification, behind the modern operating lighthouse, and the third bastion, the one in which the prison is located, was erected on south side hill, and an asphalt road leads to it, bending around the entire hill in a clockwise direction. Along the same road, which branches halfway, you can also get to the main citadel of Fort Aguada, the lighthouse and Sunset Point, in the vicinity of which real peacocks are found.

WITH north side The fort has a rampart made of red-brown laterite, which deepens into the bay, thus forming a dam between two small sandy bays. This beautiful place known as Sinquerim Beach. The resort of Fort Aguada, which is one of the most expensive in India, reigns over the beach from the lower slopes of a steep peninsula.

The fortress ruins can only be reached by the road from the Taj village, and then turn right at the sign. Now there is a prison on most of the fortress, and therefore there is no access for visitors. Nevertheless, the fortress is worth a visit, if only to admire great views from the top of the hill where the four-storey Portuguese lighthouse is located. The lighthouse towers 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.

Forts in Goa are a must see Goa, it is not necessary to visit all of them, but at least one or two is highly desirable! Beaches are beaches, shopping is shopping, and you must see the ancient ruins, which once ran strange white people in funny hats and with spears. If only because there are only two sights in Goa, and amazing photos are obtained in the forts! We climbed with Maxim almost all the forts of Goa, below is information on how to get there, where they are, plus photos and reviews. historical facts and I won’t bore you with dates, who are very interested - you can find it in Google.

Aguada Fort in North Goa

If you are staying in Candolim or Calangute, the easiest way for you to get to Fort Aguada, it is located nearby, on a cape, south of the beach Candolim and Sinkerim, at the mouth of the Mandovi River.

Are you driving along main road from Candolim, you reach the crossroads and turn right. Quite a bit - and Fort Aguada! Don't miss.

The views there are amazing, the fort itself is very large, consists of several parts. Entrance is free, there are usually a lot of tourists, mostly Indian. There is also Senkerim beach, you can swim. But the waves on this beach are usually big.

View of Fort Aguada

And this is Fort Aguada inside

And I'm on the fort wall

Chapora Fort in North Goa

But it will be easier to get to Chapora for those who stayed in the Siolim area. If you live in Arambol or Anjuna and have your own transport, Chapora is also a ridiculous distance. Tourists are also taken there, there are Europeans, Russians, and Indians. Getting there by bike is quick and easy.

Fort Chapora is almost completely destroyed, leaving a few walls and fortifications. But what is worth climbing this fort is the stunning views of Morjim, and on the other side of Vagator and Chapora.

I strongly advise you to change into shoes suitable for hiking. The slope on Chapora is steep, it is slippery there, the stones crumble, we saw several people who fell unsuccessfully.

Chapora fort walls

And another wall

Beach view

Fort Tiracol

Tiracol is located on northern border state of Goa. Next is the state of Maharashtra. If you go to Fort Tiracol, I advise you to combine the trip with the exploration of Fort Redi and famous beach Paradise.

Tiracol is a restored fort, it is clean, well-groomed, painted, there is even a hotel. The fort itself is small, you can get around it in a few minutes. Entrance is free, there are guards, in general - everything is civilized, which is even surprising for India.

Church in Fort Tiracol

Tiracol walls restored

This is me in the turret, from where the soldiers of the fort fired back

Fort Cabo de Rama in South Goa

Fort Cabo de Rama made the strongest impression on us! If we consider all the forts of Goa, Cabo de Rama is the most exciting. Extraordinary place! From north goa it will be a long way to get to the fort, although many people drive, especially if they have their own transport. Fort Cabo de Rama, huge and dilapidated. But there still remains an atmosphere of antiquity, mystery and militancy.

I advise you to leave for the Cabo de Rama fort as early as possible. It will take you three hours to walk around the entire territory. If you go at lunchtime, the heat on the mountain will be unbearable. And you need to get around the entire fort and not be limited to a small piece, designed specifically for tourists.

The supporting wall at the fort is long, long. We went through it all

Going around the entire fort of Cabo de Rama, frankly, is not easy!

Fort's ancient cannon

Remains of some buildings

Sea view from the fort of Cabo de Rama

redi fort

The correct name for this fort is Yashvantgad. But it is better known as Redi Fort, named after the name of the village located nearby. Redi Fort is located not in Goa, but in the neighboring state of Maharashtra, but I included it in this article. If you are relaxing in North Goa, you should get to the fort. He is extraordinary! Huge, ruined, entwined with the roots of old trees, in vines and bushes, with caves and wells - the views are mesmerizing!

Fort Redi is located in the forest, so there is shade and you can explore the fort at any time, even in the heat.

If you drive a few more minutes, you will get there. There you can relax and swim. I advise you to take food with you, something that does not spoil quickly - bananas, roti cakes. Trip to Redi Fort and paradise beach usually takes at least half a day, or even the whole day.
However, we did not take anything except water. But they did not remain hungry - they had a bite to eat with local cafe in the nearest village.

Fort Aguada (Fort Aguada) - a huge fortress of the XVII century, built by the Portuguese during the colonization of India on the coast Arabian Sea and the mouth of the Mandovi River. At present, the fort closely borders on the outskirts of the popular goa beach Candolim is considered one of the best preserved fortifications in the state.

The territory of the fort is quite large, it occupies the entire peninsula at the southwestern tip of the Bardez region. The fort consists of several buildings arranged in a semicircle on the edge of a hill. The impregnable walls of the fort, surrounded by a moat, hide a large courtyard, where one of the most interesting objects fortresses - old lighthouse unfortunately no longer active. The lighthouse of Fort Aguada is visible from afar and has an unusual barrel-like shape.

Now Fort Aguada in Goa is primarily known as a sightseeing attraction of North Goa, although some parts of it continue to be used - one of them houses a five-star hotel with a small sandy beach Aguada, the other is the operating prison of the state of Goa.

It is also worth noting that due to the location of the fort on a hill, it offers wonderful views of the sea and coastal cliffs which may be attractive to photography lovers.

A bit of history

This imposing fort of the state of Goa - Aguada - was built by the Portuguese colonists in 1612 to protect against the attacks of the Dutch and Marathas.

Due to its strategically important position - located on a hill at the southwestern tip of a significant peninsula, near the mouth of the river - the fort was the most key link in the Portuguese defensive system, the initial task of which was to protect shipping and nearby territory. In the best days of the fort, its battery consisted of 79 guns.

The name of the fort comes from the Portuguese word "agua", which means "water", due to the fact that the source of fresh water available on the territory of the fort was used to replenish the supplies of ships passing by. Fort Aguada had a water storage capacity of 2,376,000 gallons, that is, more than 10.8 million liters.

Fort Aguada is divided into two parts:

• the upper one, which was of considerable size, directly carried the functions of a fort and was used for storage (it included a moat, underground chambers for storing water, gunpowder stores, bastions equipped with cannons, and secret passages for use in emergency situations);
• lower - served safe place for mooring Portuguese ships.

In 1864, a four-story lighthouse was erected on the territory of the upper fortification, which is the oldest of its kind in all of Asia. It was used until 1976, when it was turned off as unnecessary.

In the middle of the 20th century, during the reign of Salazar in Portugal, one of the bastions of the fort was converted into a prison, which was used mainly to contain political opponents of the current regime.

Fort Aguada today

The fort is a typical structure of the Portuguese rule, it is distinguished by its impressive size and a mixture of styles - Portuguese and Indian. The fort was built from Mangalore red stone, which has been mined for centuries in these places and is still used as a building material. Due to the quality of the material, all the fortifications have not changed much over the past few hundred years.

Currently, Fort Aguada is not only a historical landmark, popular among local population and tourists - some of its parts perform completely different functions. So, one of the coastal bastions, located at the southern end of Sinquerim beach, is now converted into a five-star hotel Taj Fort Aguada Resort, which has big variety rooms of the highest class, and the other, overlooking the capital of Goa, Panaji, continues to operate as a prison (moreover, the only one in Goa).

Now the walls of this prison contain not political prisoners, but mainly criminals detained for drug trafficking, as well as those who violated the rules for using an Indian visa. Accordingly, there are a large number of foreigners among the prisoners.

What to see, useful information for tourists

Fort Aguada today is a beautifully preserved monument that tells the story of several centuries history of goa and impressive in scale. For a fairly complete inspection of the territory of the fort, it will take several hours to have time to walk along the powerful and impressive walls of this structure and admire the views that open from the upper platform of the fort. From the walls, the capital of the state, the city of Panaji, is perfectly visible.

The doors of the fort are open daily from 8:30 to 17:30, entrance, as well as parking near it, is free for everyone. However, keep in mind that some enterprising locals like to approach inexperienced tourists and ask for payment until the local guards see it.

The best time to visit is in the morning, when there are not so many people here and it is not very hot, so you can safely explore the entire territory. Since the fort is very popular as a tourist attraction, a large number of people usually come here for lunch. organized groups Europeans and local residents.

You can get to Fort Aguada, either by getting on your own or by ordering a sightseeing tour at one of the many Goa agencies offering the organization of tourist trips.

To view the fort, it is advisable to take a bottle of water, sunglasses and some kind of hat with you.

In the immediate vicinity of the fort, next to the parking lot, there are several souvenir shops, as well as mobile kiosks with food, snacks and soft drinks. However, keep in mind that prices here are higher than in regular stores.

Panorama of Fort Aguada on Google Maps, online tour

How to get to Fort Aguada in Goa (India)

Fort Aguada is located on the southwestern tip of the Bardes district, in one of the most famous resort villages of Goa - Candolim, next to the Sinquerim beach. One of the lower bastions of the fort is located right on the beach, so it is easy to get to it directly from the beach, to the second, almost destroyed, you can walk along the coast.

If you need to get to the fort from the nearest resorts of North Goa, then in terms of time and cost, one of best options to get here will be reached on a rented bike. You can take transport at any of the numerous rental points, for this you will need driver license international standard.

There is only one road leading to the fort, starting in Candolim and being, in fact, main street villages. Where it hits a T-junction, you need to turn left (turn right to the Taj Fort Aguada Hotel), after which the road will wind a little, going up the hill, and eventually lead to a parking lot next to the fort. If you turn right at the crossroads near the fort, you will get to the coastal facilities from the beach side, and if you turn left - to the main building of the fortress.

Fort Aguada coordinates for the navigator: 15.492476, 73.773461.

Concerning public transport, then getting here on it is not very convenient, since final stop most routes is the first T-junction. Accordingly, then you have to go to the fort on foot.

Another option to visit the famous Portuguese fort is to book excursion tour. This can be done, for example, from Panaji (16 km), Morjim (25 km), Arambol (30 km). In this case, the transfer will be taken over by the travel agency.

You can also get to Fort Aguada quickly and comfortably using the services of one of the local taxi services.

Video about Fort Aguada in the Indian state of Goa