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Aguada Fort is the largest and the best-preserved Portuguese bastion in
Goa. This major tourist destination in Goa, is situated 18 Km from Panjim,
Goa's capital. When, earlier forts such as Reis Magos, Gaspar Dias and
Cabo proved too weak to resist Dutch and the Marathas invasions, the Portuguese
build this fort during the period between 1609-12. The fort was temporarily
occupied by British in 1798 during their struggles against Tipu Sultan.
The fort was also used as a reference point for vessels coming from Europe.
Now much of the fort serves as a prison.
The fort stands atop the Sinquerim Plateau, overlooking
the south of the Mandovi river and the greenery. Views from the top
of the fort are spectacular, where one can get a complete view of the
fort, also the views right across to Calangute beach in the North, the
Arabian Sea to the west and the Nerul River to the South.
Built of laterite stone, the fort is considered as the
finest example of Portuguese Military architecture. Consists of an an
irregular quadrangle of 5 metres high and 1.3 metres wide laterite walls,
it houses two parts; lower part and an upper part. The lower part of the
fort with bastions all around provided a safe resting place for Portuguese
ships. It was also used as their water storing point. It has the capacity
to store one crore and 6 lakhs liters of natural rain water. The word
Aguada in Portuguese means water reservoir. This is how the fort got its
name. The upper fort, located about 200 ft above sea level houses lighthouse,
an underground water storage chamber (capacity of this is 23,76,000 gallons),
bastions, and a gun powder room. The upper fort also houses a secret escape
tunnel to use during the time of emergency.
To enter the fort, one have to pass through the lane
running west from the north end of Panaji's bridge over the Mandovi. The
main gate is situated in the southeast corner of the fort. Near to this
is the Light House (1846). The oldest of its kind in Asia, locals were
obliged to contribute wicks to its oil burning light. It is a 13 metre
high circular four storey building which was initially used as an oil
lamp and later renovated in 1976. It once housed the great bell from the
Church of St Augustine in Old Goa and later moved to the Church of Our
Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Panaji. From here, one can get the
panoramic view of the Miramar beach stretching southward and the Panaji
city. Located just to the west of Fort Aguada is the new lighthouse.
The fort's church, dedicated to St. Lawrence, patron
saint of sailors is situated 1.5 km east of the fort. Completed in 1634,
it altar shows St. Lawrence clasping a boat.
Behind two miles away the fort rises the old Reis Magos Fort (built in
1490's by Adil Shah, then taken by Albuquerque's nephew and rebuilt it
in 1707). The lane continue through Verim and Nerul fishing villages.
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Monuments 
