Rachol Fort is another place of tourist attraction. Adjacent to the Rachol Seminary, about 7 km away from the town of Margao, stands the wonderful Rachol Fort. The place has not much of a architectural delight but the scenic beauty of the place is very pleasing. The bastion is now a deserted place in ruins but only one gateway remains even to these days. You will find a Seminary here. When the fort was in use by the Portuguese troops, it encircled the hill atop which the seminary now stands.
Rachol Fort was the center of many a conflicts and the rulers of Vijayanagar and Bijapur fought long and bloody battles to take control of the fort. The fort was controlled by the Portuguese when it was agreed upon that military help would be extended. With Portuguese control over the fort, the firepower was immediately enhanced and in the days of its power, the fort was protected by more than 100 guns.
With Portuguese expansion, concern for territorial security became even more of a concern and new forts in new strategic locations were built. Deployment of guns elsewhere and reduction of strategic importance of the fort became a cause for its decay. After the Portuguese abandoned the fort, the rate of decay accelerated and today it is no more than a ruin of the once glorious fort. |
