Aguada Fort

Aguada Fort is a majestic piece of architecture situated at a distance of 15 kilometres from Panjim The closest beach to Aguada Fort is the famous and happening Candolim Beach that is 4 kilometres away from the fort. This fort can be reached by travelling approximately 49 km from Margao Railway Station. This fort has a historical significance. It was constructed to prevent the entry of enemy ships through the mouth of the Mandovi River. This feat was necessary for protecting old Goa from the attacks of Dutch and also Marathas. Aguada Fort is a major tourist destination of Goa and it is also a heritage site. Aguada Fort makes for a must visit location of Goa tourism package.

This fort was lavishly constructed by the Portuguese colonial rulers on the beach to the south of Candolim sharing the shores of the Mandovi River in the year 1612. There was a freshwater fountain within the fort that was destined to provide water supply to the ships that stopped by at the fort in the ancient period. This is also in a way the history behind the fort attaining its name, as the word ‘Aguada’ means ‘water’. The fort is fortified by an amazing two hundred cannons and a deep moat, which is dry now but which one still has to cross to enter the fort.

Aguada Fort is famed to be the first light house in Asia. This light house along with a central jail was built during the 19th century close to the fort. This Central Jail still serves as a jail. This fort occupied a strategic position in the history of Goa as it served as the first line of defence for the Portuguese during their rule over Goa. The fort was equipped with ammunition rooms and barracks and the lighthouse shelters a huge bell that was retrieved from the ruins of the St. Augustine Tower situated at Old Goa. Later on, the bell was transported to the Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception in Panaji.