The fort was constructed in
1613 to guard against the Dutch and the Marathas.
It was a reference point for the vessels coming from Europe at that time. This old Portuguese fort
stands on the beach south ofCandolim, at the shore of the Mandovi River.
It was initially tasked with defense of shipping and the nearby Bardez sub district.
A
freshwater spring within the fort provided water supply to the ships that used
to stop by. This is how the fort got its name: Aguada, meaning Water. Crews of
passing ships would often visit to replenish their fresh water stores. On the
fort stands a four-storey Portuguese lighthouse, erected in 1864 and the oldest
of its kind in Asia. Built in 1612, it was once the grandstand of 79 cannons.
It has the capacity of storing 2,376,000 gallons of water, one of the biggest
freshwater storages of the time in whole of Asia. This fort is divided in two
segments: the upper part acted as fort and watering station, while the lower
part served as a safe berth for Portuguese ships. Whereas the upper part has a
moat, underground water storage chamber, gunpowder room, light house and
bastions, it also has a secret escape passage to use during time of war and
emergency. The lighthouse at initial stage is used to emit light once in 7
minutes. In 1834 it was changed to emit light creating eclipse every 30
seconds, however it was abandoned in 1976.
Fort
Aguada was the most prized and crucial fort of Portuguese. The fort is so large
that it envelops the entire peninsula at the south western tip of Bardez. Built
on the mouth of river Mandovi, it was strategically located and was the chief
defence of Portuguese against the Dutch and Marathas.
During
the Salazar Administration,
Fort Aguada was repurposed for use as a prison primarily, some claim, for
Salazar's political opponents. Many of
its inmates are Western tourists serving time for drug-related crimes.
This is the largest and the
best-preserved Portuguese bastion in Goa and was built in 1609-12, to control
the entry into the river Mandovi and to protect Old Goa from potential enemy
attacks.
A freshwater spring - from where the fort derives it's name - within the fort provided water supply to the ships that called there. Ringed by thick battlements, the heart of the fort was protected by two hundred cannons and a deep dry moat, which one still has to cross to get inside.
Strategically located at the estuary of the river Mandovi, this fort was constructed in 1612 as a guard against invasions from the Dutch and the Marathas. The walls of this fort are 5 metres high and 1.3 metres wide. Little surprise then that this remains to be the only fort that was not conquered by any invaders during the 450 yearlong rule of the Portuguese empire.
The area around the fort housed a large well and a number of springs that provided fresh drinking water to the voyagers that arrived by ship. "Agua" in Portuguese means water, thus the fort derived its name "Aguada" to denote a place where water is accumulated.
Steps lead down from the middle of the courtyard within to an enormous vaulted cistern capable of storing ten million litres of fresh water. The other unusual feature of the fort is a four-storey Portuguese lighthouse, erected in 1864 and the oldest of its kind in Asia.
An interesting feature in the precinct of the fort is a 13 metre high lighthouse. This lighthouse, built in 1864, initially used an oil lamp. It was later renovated and modernised in 1976.
This lighthouse was home to a gigantic bell that was retrieved from amongst the ruins of the St. Augustus monastery at Old Goa. However, the bell has now been moved to the Our Lady of Immaculate Conception church at Panaji.
Though the entire fort is no longer intact, some buildings that are still in good shape have been converted into a prison. Interestingly, it happens to be the largest prison in Goa.
A freshwater spring - from where the fort derives it's name - within the fort provided water supply to the ships that called there. Ringed by thick battlements, the heart of the fort was protected by two hundred cannons and a deep dry moat, which one still has to cross to get inside.
Strategically located at the estuary of the river Mandovi, this fort was constructed in 1612 as a guard against invasions from the Dutch and the Marathas. The walls of this fort are 5 metres high and 1.3 metres wide. Little surprise then that this remains to be the only fort that was not conquered by any invaders during the 450 yearlong rule of the Portuguese empire.
The area around the fort housed a large well and a number of springs that provided fresh drinking water to the voyagers that arrived by ship. "Agua" in Portuguese means water, thus the fort derived its name "Aguada" to denote a place where water is accumulated.
Steps lead down from the middle of the courtyard within to an enormous vaulted cistern capable of storing ten million litres of fresh water. The other unusual feature of the fort is a four-storey Portuguese lighthouse, erected in 1864 and the oldest of its kind in Asia.
An interesting feature in the precinct of the fort is a 13 metre high lighthouse. This lighthouse, built in 1864, initially used an oil lamp. It was later renovated and modernised in 1976.
This lighthouse was home to a gigantic bell that was retrieved from amongst the ruins of the St. Augustus monastery at Old Goa. However, the bell has now been moved to the Our Lady of Immaculate Conception church at Panaji.
Though the entire fort is no longer intact, some buildings that are still in good shape have been converted into a prison. Interestingly, it happens to be the largest prison in Goa.
En-oute to the fort, one comes across the church of St. Lawrence, the saint of the sailors. The Portuguese used to build churches on the outskirts of the forts to prevent the enemy from firing at a close range.
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