 Aguada Fort is without doubt the best preserved of the Portuguese bastions in Goa. Located at the mouth of river Mandovi, the fort was of strategic importance for the Portuguese as it controlled the entry of vessels to Goa and protect Old Goa that was at that point in time a Portuguese acquisition. The fort has got its name from a water spring. Aguada Fort is ringed by thick battlements and the center of the fort was protected by two powerful cannons.
This impressive fort is strategically located in the estuary of the river Mandovi. Constructed as a precaution against the invasion from Dutch and Marathas, the walls of the fort are 5 meter high and 1.3 m wide. The defense of the fort was so elaborate that it remained the only fort that was unconquered by any invader during the 450 years of Portuguese occupation. In the area adjoining the fort, there is a large well and a number of spring that provided a source for drinking water. Another important feature of the fort is the presence of a 13 meter high lighthouse. Initially it used to function with an oil lamp but at a later stage it was renovated into something more stable.
The lighthouse had a gigantic bell and it was retrieved from the ruins of St Augustus monastery. The bell has however found a place in Our Lady of Immaculate Conception at Panaji. The fort as a whole is no longer intact. Some portions have broken down. There are, however, some parts that still are in good shape and have been converted into prison. This is the largest prison in Goa. |
